Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Economic Conditions    3. International Relations (General)    4. International Relations - General    5. International relations    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Security, International    10. World politics    11. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    12. Political Science / General   

Reviews (55)

Starts Slow, Finishes Strong
This is a fairly ambitious book about Mr. Duncan's conviction that the dollar will soon collapse.Written to convince readers of the author's thesis, it is filled with graphs and other technical charts that provide evidence for his theories.The first two parts list graphs publicly available from the Federal Reserve website and then weave together a doomsday scenario based on the increasing debt of the world and the trade deficit.Lacking anecdotes, only a technical analyst would enjoy the first half of the book, because it is written in a textbook style.Part Three, starting with monetarism, is where the book revs up.The author explains that monetarism, i.e. pumping money into the economy to make it better during bad times, is like pouring water over a drowning child.He states, "The failure of those attempts will be the death of monetarism, which claims that any economic difficulty can be overcome simply by adjusting the money supply up or down depending on the circumstances.It will be death through drowning."For people who wonder what is going on when the Federal Reserve raises or lowers interest rates, this book provides a basic but very well-written overview of monetarism (the guiding light behind the modern-day Fed) and may also provide some tangential insight into Bernacke's academic writings (Bernacke perfers inflation targeting rather than regulating the money supply, and the book seems to validate Bernacke's ideas).Grieder's _Secrets of the Temple_ is a much more detailed and fun to read book about monetarism and the Fed, and if you are able to invest the time, it is a better read.However, it lacks Mr. Duncan's concise explanation of monetarism as well as Mr. Duncan's proposals on how to fix the problems we face.One idea, a global minimum wage for export-based industries in other countries, is very interesting.He even promulgates a possible enforcement mechanism for this, and one has to give him credit for at least trying to suggest a solution.If successful, a global minimum wage should reduce the trade deficit we have with other countries and will spread Henry Ford's philosophy about rank-and-file workers being able to afford the products they make.I wish the author had either bypassed or made more fun to read the first two parts.It appears Mr. Duncan may have approached this book as a dissertation or textbook at first and added more relevant sections later on.Indeed, the last chapter focuses on the "Bernacke put," which is difficult to understand but at least shows that the author tried to make his book as current and relevant as possible.Overall, this is a quick read that makes its points using good evidence.It would have been helpful if the author added a section suggesting what the individual investor can do to protect himself or herself in the future.I am _not_ making recommendations here, but other than gold, you may also consider investing in currency ETFs if you agree with the author.

A disturbing book
The United States is living beyond its means because the rest of the world accepts dollar denominated securities in exchange for goods and services.According to some people, the world's appetite for Amercian paper is inexhaustible.The Chinese, the Japanese, the Koreans, the Europeans, the oil exporters - they all love the dollar and want to hold many more of them.Other people - including the author of this book - believe that the huge US current account deficit is unsustainable and will destroy the dollar's position as the world's reserve currency.Who is right?Paul Volcker, Warren Buffet and several other prominent investors have taken the pessimistic view.Even the Fed admits that the "imbalances" will eventually correct themselves, albeit"in an orderly fashion."But how can this happen without a large fall in the value of the dollar?.As Richard Duncan explains, this problem has been caused by free trade between high wage and low wage countries.The low wage countries have accumulated enormous dollar reserves while our net investment position with the rest of the world has gone into the red by some $3 trillion.Some one once said that losing Saudi Arabia would be like losing the Federal Reserve.When and if the dollar ceases to be the world's reserve currency, it will be like losing Saudi Arabia and much more besides.

an educational book
This book is good if you want to understand more about global economics, (which is why I bought the book).It is rather doom and gloom, and it was published in 2002 so the info isn't as up to date as it could be, but I have still found it very informative.Not a light read--will make your brain work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Depressions    5. Economic Conditions    6. Economics - Comparative    7. Economics - General    8. Financial crises    9. Money & Monetary Policy    10. United States    11. Business & Economics / Economics / General    12. Financial accounting    13. Monetary economics   

Reviews (1)

Informative, Engaging, and Timely!
At a time of renewed debate over Medicare and Social Security, this is an important and insightful look at the origins and effects of America��s distinctive public-private system of social welfare.Hacker��s main point is that the American ��welfare regime�� (he prefers this formulation to the common term, ��welfare state��) is a lot larger than most people think because, unlike most European nations, the United States relies heavily on private social benefits provided by employers, for example, private health insurance.The book carefully explains why private benefits play such a large role in the United States, why the role of private benefits differs between the two biggest areas of U.S. social policy -- health insurance and retirement pensions -- and what difference all this makes for the politics of U.S. social policy and the nature of present political debates.The book is original and well-researched.And even if you delve into the more theoretical parts of the book, it's a joy to read -- a rare combination of academic rigor, lucid prose, and clear thinking about current affairs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. Economics - General    3. General    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Privatization    8. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    9. Social policy    10. United States    11. Welfare state    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Political Science / General    14. Social welfare & social services    15. USA   

Editorial Review

John Perkins started and stopped writing Read more

Reviews (431)

Yawn...
While it does contain a few interesting bits here and there (mainly in the first half of the book) this book fails to live up to the buzz surrounding it. There were few actual "insider" details (or details of any kind, in fact) and the author's voice grated on my nerves -- very self-serving. I suppose those interested in U.S. foreign and overseas development policy during the Cold War and post-Cold War era will find it worth reading, but getting through it is something of a chore. It took all my will power to plow through the last quarter of the book...

Sadly not the book it's been touted to be
The premise for "Confessions Of An Economic Hitman (COHM)" couldn't be more intriguing and the book did after all sell tons of copies and has remained on most booksellers' recommended reading list for ages. So my expectations were high for John Perkins' blow out confessional, the product of a conscience that struggled with but manfully prevailed against the temptations of a financially lucrative and high flying career as an "economic hit man".
enlightening insight into US foreign economic policy
I am so glad I read this book. While it has been critized for relying largely on the testimony of the author, John Perkins' book fits squarely into a lineage of books that are beginning to reveal the United States' plans for "global empire." Like Chomsky, Perkins reveals the actions behind the double-speak and PR-sanitized language that occludes the economic domination that is really going on in the form of "aid," "development," etc.
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Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Business    5. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    6. Economic Conditions    7. Economists    8. Energy consultants    9. Globalization    10. Government & Business    11. Intelligence officers    12. International Relations - Trade & Tariffs    13. National Security Agency    14. Perkins, John,    15. Political Science    16. Politics/International Relations    17. United States    18. Biography: general    19. Current Events / Political    20. International finance    21. USA   

Reviews (11)

Reinventing Government
This is an excellent book that covers all of the facts about our old and new government laws in comparison to current events that occur within our society. Regulations and guidelines are also described about the Private and Public Sector and how they differ.It is definately a great book.

With low expectations, it is good
Firstly, let me say that I agree with most of the other readers when they write that this book was neither academic nor "reinventive".I will say that this was strictly an idea book, a motivator to the masses.So long as one doesn't expect emperical research, evenhanded arguements, or even updated conclusions, they are fine.When reading this book, don't expect, nor should you expect, to be handed ideas on a platter to run with.Rather, they present the optimum view of their vision.Whether it is right, wrong or impossible, they put forth thoughts that could spark change.The change that I am speaking of is not a grand sweeping motion that will forever alter the government, but rather pieces of an idea.Even if these particular ideas are not implemented, the chances of them sparking new ways of approach or implementation are greater. Foolishness, Fads, and Folly
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, US Defense Contractors were also on the verge of collapse, that is until someone had the bright idea of privatizing the government. Current government privatization efforts have resulted in huge contracts costing the American taxpayer double and triple the cost of the original government employees. This book is a Conservative Pipe Dream, a guide to a fantasy bureaucracy that never existed, and a bomb that has totally disrupted the efficient operation and security of the Federal Government. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Administrative agencies    2. Bureaucracy    3. Entrepreneurship    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Government productivity    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Central government    10. Civil service & public sector    11. Political Science / Economic Conditions   

Editorial Review

Most American conservatives take it as an article of faith that the less governmental involvement in affairs of the market and pocketbook the better. The rich do not, whatever they might say--for much of their wealth comes from the "power and preferment of government." So writes Kevin Phillips, the accomplished historian and one-time Washington insider, in this extraordinary survey of plutocracy, excess, and reform. "Laissez-faire is a pretense," he argues; as the wealth of the rich has grown, so has its control over government, making politics a hostage of money. Examining cycles of economic growth and decline from the founding days of the republic to the recent collapse of technology stocks, Phillips dispels notions of trickle-down wealth creation, pricks holes in speculative bubbles, and decries the ever-increasing "financialization" of the economy--all of which, he argues, have served to reduce the well-being of ordinary Americans and government alike. Highly readable for all its charts and graphs, Phillips's book offers a refreshing--and, of course, controversial--blend of economic history and social criticism. His conclusions won't please all readers, but just about everyone who comes to his pages will feel hackles rising. Read more

Reviews (131)

Intriguing in Places, Sermonizing in Others
Kevin Phillips is not a bad man. He genuinely has an interest in the admittedly complex topic of economics, wealth consolidation and its effects on democratic institutions. The problem with Phillips' book is not that he has shed his Republican affiliation to take up the cause of progressive crusading, but that it often shifts from the gripping to the mind-numbingly technical without warning.
The Game!
The middle class is not democratizing economically or politically.The middle class is not taking control of its money and instead the middle is rapidly transferring money from its savings into the massive market profits for the super rich.The middle class should immediately abandon any transfers from savings into the stock market and preserve their wealth, but instead they will be lured into hedge funds and mutual markets speculating that someday they will be super rich.
a modern day truth teller
I've always been impressed with the honesty and integrity of Kevin Phillips. Coming out of the conservative movement, Phillips nevertheless places truth, and a deep concern for the well being of American democracy, well over and above mere partisanship. The current corrupt leadership in Washington DC could learn a thing or two here, where Phillips turns a critical eye to the age old tension between democracy and the tendency toward an oligarchy. Lately, it seems that democracy has been the loser in this struggle.
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Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Political Science    5. Political corruption    6. Politics - Current Events    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics and government    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Representative government and    11. Representative government and representation    12. United States    13. United States - General    14. Wealth    15. Political ideologies    16. Social Science / Poverty    17. Social history    18. USA   

Reviews (98)

Been here, seen it, lived in it....leaving
Alex Kerr's book is excellent. I have lived in Japan for 16 years and am leaving now. I have asked many of the same questions he asks and heard many of the same responses. Many well-educated or well-traveled Japanese know that their government in out of control in the hands of anonymous bureaucrats.
Bravo for Kerr!
If you have lived in Japan for more than a couple years, and tried to work and integrate here, then you will easily understand the venom Kerr spews forth in this book. Mere tourists would likely be blind to much of this.
A cautionary work on Japan's self-inflicted challenges
Dogs and Demons presents a scathing but poignant indictment of many facets of post-Meiji Japanese society, describing with a solemn but not disconsolate tone the two self-reinventions of modern Japan as maladaptations rather than true renaissances.
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Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Current Affairs    3. History: World    4. International    5. International Relations - General    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Business & Economics / Economic Conditions   

Reviews (2)

Good history, but outdated
This book serves as a good history of Latin America's economic history until the late 1980s.Of course, given its publication in 1995, not much more could be expected.However, if you are looking for a good understanding of Latin America's main eocnomies, it is not sufficient, since the changes that most countries have faced in the 1990s and early 2000s are dramatic.For example, there is very little in this book dealing with privatization (the wave that hit the region in the early 1990s), or even the control of inflation and the (limited) opening of markets to international trade. Latin America's Economy
This book is probably one of the most widely used for classes on Latin American Economic Development. It is well-structured and combines a revision of the main historic events that had impacted the economic development of Latin America with alternative theoretical explanations.It gives special priority to topics such as inflation, debt crisis and poverty and inequality that are crucial for the understanding of the Latin American economic evolution.Moreover, the text does not forget about the role played by the interaction between politics and economics.In this sense, the chapter on populism is remarkable.However, many of the statistical tables are outdated and in my modest opinion, a future revision of the book should include a chapter on the neoliberal reforms and their consequences. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economics - General    6. Finance    7. Business & Economics / Economics / General    8. Central America    9. Macroeconomics    10. South America   

Reviews (1)

First Draft Text Book, A Joke
This book has so many obnoxious errors in it. Every thing from textual to printing to the index.
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Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Economic Conditions    6. Economic geography    7. Economic history    8. Economics - General    9. International - Economics    10. Economics    11. Science / Geography   

Reviews (1)

Choice
Handbook of markets and economies: East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand.ed. by Anthony Pecotich and Clifford J. Shultz II.M.E. Sharpe, 2006. 712p bibl index afp ISBN 0-7656-0972-X, $139.95 . Reviewed in 2006jun CHOICE.*More from M.E. Sharpe *
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Subjects:  1. Asia    2. Australia    3. Business & Economics    4. Business / Economics / Finance    5. Business/Economics    6. Economic Conditions    7. Economics - Comparative    8. Handbooks, manuals, etc    9. Marketing    10. Marketing - General    11. New Zealand    12. Economics   

Editorial Review

CNBC, day trading, the Motley Fool, Silicon Investor--not since the 1920s has there been such an intense fascination with the U.S. stock market. For an increasing number of Americans, logging on to Yahoo! Finance is a habit more precious than that morning cup of joe (as thousands of SBUX and YHOO shareholders know too well). Yet while the market continues to go higher, many of us can't get Alan Greenspan's famous line out of our heads. In Read more

Reviews (83)

Rational Analysis
I read the second edition of this book since it is enlarged with the study of the housing market. The phenomenon of bubbles and negative bubbles or collapses is described extremely well by means of statistical data of markets for over a century and a half. The raw data is adjusted to inflation to give a realistic perspective of the trends and patterns. Bubbles seem to be occurring at regular intervals typically based on the "new era" story and everyone believes at least during the heady days that good times are here to stay. But as shown by proven evidence of the past, no bubble has sustained itself permanently and good reason prevails sooner or later. When this happens, the bloated bubble collapses and the hangover is terrible. The story so far is quite simple. But what makes this book so interesting is the depth of research and the manner in which the phenomenon is studied and explained.
Oh Yes I Agree
New Haven's Robert J. Shiller, is a highly regarded expert on market volatility. Shiller chose Alan Greenspan's term "irrational exuberance" for the title of this book alluding to the trend of stock market highs and the frame of minds lurking in the background that propagated that trend. What goes up must come down eventually. I see three statements regarding this grizzly business surfacing in this book. He addresses historical and social foundations for current trends. Secondly, he renders warnings on privatization and ill investments of Social Security and private retirement funds as opposed to plans that minimize risk-management principles and lastly Mister Shiller constructs a reassessment of investment principles and alternatives for the future player. The emergence of information at our fingertips via the Internet and an never ending trend in television, newspaper and radio news to over editorialize the actual events like chocolate shots covering a vanilla cone distort and gloss over every aspect of our lives today. Are we going to have another `storm of the century' or will the skies be sunny and warm tomorrow? Your guess is as good as mine. I think that is the point that Shiller is making in his book. What goes? Anything that makes you feel good for the next 15 minutes and don't think beyond that. I think we are headed for that place down below in a hand basket but I don't want to think too far ahead.

How To Explain Investors' Behavior
Robert Shiller starts his book by stressing the troubling lack of credibility of research and analysis being done on the stock market, to say nothing of the clarity and accuracy with which it is communicated to the public. "To be fair to the Wall Street professionals whose views appear in the media, it is difficult for them to correct the basic misconceptions about the market because they are limited by the blurbs and sound bites afforded them. One would need to write books to straighten these things out, writes the author. This is such a book."
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economics (General)    6. Economics - General    7. Investments & Securities - General    8. Investments & Securities - Stocks    9. Stocks    10. Business & Economics / Economic Conditions   

Reviews (11)

Neoliberal Bias, Pro Globalization/Free Trade Propaganda
Very politically manipulative primer that only gives 5/8 of the story. I add 1/8 because the author does acknowlege some of the huge problems caused by unbridled global capitalism, but then quickly glosses them over basically saying that these effects are unfortunate, but that free global trade is best for everyone in the long run. There is a lot of interesting incidental information as various terms are explained, but too often this reference becomes a one-sided sermon for free trade. These are the same deceptions that Robert Reich started pushing under Clinton. Repubs kept the song going without missing a beat. Most of both Dem and Repub reps support neoliberal policies - the rich get richer in both parties. Feel free to read to learn about terms, just be aware that the author is leading you down a highly biased path.

Informative, easy to read, interesting
This is a nice little book to read in segments. The book is divided into 81 essays, each about 3 pages long, and each answering a question about the global economy. You can read 3 short pages and then set the book down.
A book for beginners that beginners can understand!
As I am taking my first class ever on Economics, which is focused on Microeconomics, this book comes in handy as a reference book where I can find a down-to-earth discussion of basic concepts that relate to Macroeconomics. It pretty much did for me in Economics what "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Understanding Money & Investing" did for investing. It is broken down in a chapter-like fashion, much in the style of the dummies guides and written in layman's tems by Mr. Epping, an American who holds a degree in International Finance from Yale, who has held management positions all over Europe and who is fluent in six languages. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Finance    6. International - Economics    7. International - General    8. International Economics (General)    9. International finance    10. Business & Economics / General   

Reviews (4)

Happiness, not good enough as a goal?
This book is probably the most complete Western book about happiness. Robert Lane recommends that to the goal of happiness should be added the goals of justice and personal development.He uses "happiness" with the meaning of "satisfaction with life", or with "Subjective Well Being" (SWB). The difference being that happiness is a fleeting emotion and satisfaction with life a more profound view.
Modestly topples most of conventional economics
Have you noticed that in spite of great increases in wealth and improvements in technology in the last few decades, people don't seem to be any happier today than they used to be?Lane tackles this question head on, and finds some interesting answers.This book modestly blows most of today's conventional economics right out of the water.
A good start to a big question
I agree with the previous reviewer that this book doesn't have all the answers, and that Lane often spends too much time pressing the same points.That said, Lane supports his conclusions well, and presents his central message clearly.For someone without much philosophy background (i.e. me), Lane's discussion of the trinity of ultimate goods was valuable and instructive.To recently graduated students: this is book is a great reason to use your alumni library privleges. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Economic Conditions    4. Economics (Specific Aspects)    5. Economics - General    6. Ethics & Moral Philosophy    7. Free Enterprise    8. Philosophy (Specific Aspects)    9. Political Ideologies - Democracy    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Economic theory & philosophy    12. Political Science / Democracy    13. Social theory   

Reviews (39)

Every American should read this book
Whatever your political preferences are, there is no denying the financial issues we face in our near future due to our current increasing deficits and entitlement spending.The detailed accounts in this book of the fiscal policies, past and present, as set by America's leaders should be engrained in the thoughts of all Americans; especially come Election Day.Mr. Peterson provides abundant detail and appropriate political blame combined with practical (and often painful) solutions to shed light on the financial elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.It is time to raise the accountability bar for our leaders and for ourselves."Running on Empty" is a non-partisan account of America's future as it stands today.Every American should read this book and think about what they can do to help right the ship and ensure a strong nation in the future.

Very comprehensive- a wake up call to America
I wish more Americans would read this book.
Republicans, Democrats, and Fiscal Deception
Pete Peterson is a former member of the Nixon administration where he served as the Secretary of Commerce. He has worked with budgets and forecasting and he has some important concerns about the fiscal health of the United States government. He presents some of these concerns in this book, showing how Republicans and Democrats alike are playing Russian roulette with the taxpayer's money.
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Subjects:  1. Budget    2. Budget deficits    3. Economic Policy    4. Fiscal policy    5. Government - U.S. Government    6. Government spending policy    7. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    8. Political Process - General    9. Political Process - Political Parties    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Public Policy - Economic Policy    14. U.S. Political Parties    15. United States    16. Political Science / Economic Conditions