Reviews (2)

Interesting Work
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. First, and this is purely a stylistic point, I believe it could have been far better edited. It was an avalanche of statistics, statistical analyses, and presented results without a lot of discussion of why relationships emerged. Their first goal -- showing development does not "cause" democratization is, I believe, a revamp of earlier published work. It is, nonetheless, an important finding that is worth repeating. Monumental Work!!!
Too many conjectures and too many theories have been addressed concerning the relationship between polities and material well-being in the world. But they have been raised without a proper test of them, without empirics. This book completely cleans all kinds of intellectual garbages, clarifies the existing arguments, and above all provides a series of the sohpisticated tests. Adam Przeworski and his comrades did a marvelous job. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. Development - Economic Development    3. Economic Conditions    4. Economic development    5. General    6. History & Theory - General    7. Political Science    8. Political aspects    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Development economics    12. Political Science / General    13. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (5)

Great Experience
Delivered before expected, and the book was in better shape then they said.Overall I am very happy and will buy other textbooks from this company.

Excellent Book to Use for Studying Economy !
After I studied a few chapters. I evaluate this book is a good book for a college where the course requires for online study. It came with DVD and key code so you can access online to review and do assignment. The detail concept about the economy is excellent and up-to-date of current economy.

A Decent Book-Not something I would pick up on my own
I needed this book for my macroeconomics class. The videos on the CD are interesting but not necessary to understand the book content. They don't really relate to the book but rather on current events and real life situtations. The book can be boring at times, but explains things pretty well. I wouldn't pick up this book if it wasn't for the course I'm taking. It gets confusing at certain parts. ... Read more

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

Reviews (11)

Empty Logic
There are good books on demographics and the depopulation crisis that is fast approaching, but this is not one of them.The author, Phillip Longman, ignores the obvious causes of depopulation while at the same suggesting solutions which, at best, can only be temporary fixes.
Response to Anders Tronsen
Given the nature of the medium in which we are writing, W. Hinkley cannot be faulted for not providing an exhaustive treatment of the "issues" that you raised. Yet the issues you've given us--war, famine, natural causes--and YOUR failure to address them indicates your own duplicity.
What Planet Does This Man Live On?
Looking at the reality of the world population growth one wonders where Mr. Longman gets his ideas from. The world population will reach nearly 9,000,000,000 in the next 40 years. One must ask, where are those people coming from if not from increased births. The global economy of the future will suffer from a plethora of people not a lack of them. It should be of no surprise that the countries that have taken over the employment opportunities formerly enjoyed by the more developed countries are the ones whose populations are growing. Paying people to have children has long been a tradition in the U.S. Only we call it Welfare. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Age distribution (Demography)    2. Demographic transition    3. Demography    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economic development    6. Fertility, Human    7. Human Population    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Population    10. Public Policy - Social Policy    11. Social Policy    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Population & demography   

Reviews (5)

brilliant ideas, mediocre writing
This is probably as good an introduction to Sassen's work as any, as she covers most of her major ideas with relative brevity. The title is rather misleading (as is the case of Stiglitz's (later published) work of the same name)--she focuses on the dynamics and effects of globalization and does not discuss organized resistance by social movements to it. Sassen sees three macro-level phenomena at work--the hypermobility of capital, the "unbundling" of state sovereignty, and the rise of global cities. It is the last of these ideas for which she is probably best known. She does not really get into an analysis of the hypermobility of capital here, but many other authors have covered that matter. Her analyses of the unbundling of state sovereignty and the rise of global cities are far more original. Against the background of these macro-phenomena, Sassen also analyzes the rise of the service economy, immigration patterns, and the changing roles of women.
Warning: Contents Older than Globalization
What purports to be a book on globalization is actually only peripherally about globalization writ large. Sassen is interested in more specific aspects of globalization: its impact on migration (the huge theme of this book), its place-specificity, and its resultant dispersal of powers that used to belong solely to the nation-state. Her points are good, but you don't need this book to get them, since she's made them all elsewhere and ages ago; in brief, the occasional new insights are not worth it. Muddled and Confused
This book suffers from the kind of obfuscated language that a growing number of scholars seem to be able to get away with.Don't get me wrong: there are some interesting ideas in here.But their rewards do not outweigh the costs of sifting through the jargon-laden prose.The author should take a basic writing course. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. Forecasting    3. International Relations - General    4. International relations    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Public Policy - Economic Policy    9. Economic theory & philosophy    10. Globalization    11. Macroeconomics    12. Political science & theory   

Editorial Review

John Kenneth Galbraith has been immersed in economics for most of his long and remarkable life. The purpose of this extended essay is to illuminate examples of "innocent fraud" or the gulf between perception and reality in the modern American economic system--a system he had a hand in creating during his tenure in FDR's administration. Though tackling serious subjects, the book sparkles with wit and sly understatement. "A marked enjoyment can be found in identifying self-serving belief and contrived nonsense," he writes, clearly enjoying himself. Read more

Reviews (12)

One of Galbraith's shorter and more polemical works
Canadian-born John Kenneth Galbraith is probably one of the most influential economists in the West over the last 60 years.As a flag-bearer of progressive politics and liberals, he has a steady history of writing economics treatise that argue his beliefs.His latest offering is a short polemic against corporate bureaucracy.Titled "The Economics of Innocent Fraud", this book shows how the modern capitalistic economy found in the US is really an economy driven by a small class of corporate managers.They, not consumers and not share-holders, are in the driver's seat.They determine what gets made, who gets paid, and what people can buy in the marketplace of goods, services, and most importantly, ideas.As such, this class is beholden to noone but themselves.The books ideas are not new, though for such a major economic figure to take it up and argue it with such obvious partisanship is quite new.The problem with this book is its writing style.It seems to follow a stream-of-consciousness style, which makes it difficult to understand what the author is trying to say.The book contains many sentences that are not grammatically correct in any sense of the word.Overall, the book's editors needed to have done a better job.

Short Poke at Conventional Wisdom
There is certainly fraud in economics however I question the innocence. Mr. Galbraith points out a handful of accepted truths about economics that are, quite frankly, false. Perhaps the biggest fraud is the idea the shareholders are part owners of the companies they invest in. This idea has been pushed most recently by internet trading companies who like to give small investors the impression that they literally own a piece of the company. You might as well claim to own part of the moon. Despite being an investor and `part owner' of the company I worked for they still laid me off without my permission or consultation. Even the board of directors is created by and for management. Mr. Galbraith describes the annual shareholder meetings as resembling a "Covenanted Baptist Church service". What further proof do you need of the impotence of the shareholder than the continuing and inexorable rise in management salaries through the early part of the decade as the market tanked. Imagine sports athletes being in charge of setting their own salaries and it becomes clear how CEO's can now earn 470 times the salary of the lowest paid worker in the company they manage.
Old wine in a thin new bottle by a master vintner
John Kenneth Galbraith is one of the most popular writers on Economics the world has ever known. It is close to half a century ago that he first warned us about 'the affluent society' and the dangers of being too addicted to ' the conventional wisdom' Now at the heroic age of ninety - five he has written this present little work which also aims to wake us up, to stir us to new awareness. And to make us understand that our ordinary present , common- sense understanding of the Economic world is not realistic and true. Instead we live in a world in which we are taken up by a whole list of ' innocent frauds'. The gadfly Galbraith, the truthteller who sees what no one else does is now going to rip the mask off once again. And he is going to lay bare the naked truth of our economic life and reality.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporations    5. Corrupt practices    6. Economic Conditions    7. Economics - General    8. Fraud    9. Political corruption    10. Truth    11. Business & Economics / Economic Conditions   

Subjects:  1. Economic Conditions    2. Economic History    3. Economic policy    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Latin America    8. Latin America - General    9. History / Latin America    10. World history   

Reviews (51)

Required Reading for thoughtful individuals.
A must read perspective to understand current mega-societal economic, legal and political trends.

10 Years Later and it's coming true
I first read this book in 1996 and found it very interesting. It certainly gives a good history lesson. Last year, I decided to reread it. I have found many of their predictions come true, and none have been proven false yet. Unfortunately, I do believe the authors underestimated the power of the OECD to bully so called tax havens into capitulating. It is now almost impossible to open an offshore account as an American citizen. Not because it is illegal, but because offshore banks refuse to deal with the reporting requiremtns for Americans. A must read for any enlightened individual.

Very fanciful, not data-driven
This vision of the future reminded me of common errors on physics tests where the student leaves out a variable or two and makes a wildly incorrect prediction of an object's future behavior.People have many connections to a place, which do not depend merely on their own security or on currency fluctuations.These emotional and cultural connections will keep people from being entirely atomized and "at-will" citizens for a long time to come.
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Development - Economic Development    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economics - General    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Business & Economics / Economic Conditions    9. Media studies    10. Media, information & communication industries   

Reviews (5)

Useful information, but in need of an editor.
Having spent a fair amount of time in Nicaragua, and considered living there, I would say that this book contains accurate information and probably helpful perspectives on many things.If you are thinking about living and/or investing in Nicaragua, I would say this would be a must-have.Even one little piece of information or advice could make a big difference.Its a valuable resource.
Helpful source for expats or expat hopefuls
First off, this is not a guidebook with information about hotels or restaurants, BUT it is a helpful guide for people thinking about living/investing in Nicaragua and who want to learn what to expect as an expat.
The Nicaragua Bible
Tim Rogers has written "The Bible" for all who are interested in either living and or investing in the new Nicaragua.He knows the country inside out, and shares his unique and sensitive perspective with his readers. If you only buy one book on Nicargua, this should be it!
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Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business/Economics    3. Economic Conditions   

Subjects:  1. Africa, Sub-Saharan    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Capitalism    6. Commerce    7. Economic Conditions    8. Economic policy    9. Economics - General    10. Free enterprise    11. Marketing - General    12. Public Policy - Economic Policy    13. Business & Economics / Economics / General    14. Development economics    15. Microeconomics    16. Sub-Saharan Africa   

Reviews (1)

Economics isn't just about money!
"Economics is the study of how scarce resources are allocated among competing uses."- Steven Hackett starts with the basics, perhaps recognizing that many readers (like this reviewer)have a limited, if not non-existent level of knowledge of a subject that controls our lives.Contrary to widespread opinion, economics is not the dismal science, and neither is it an esoteric exercise that is limited to the likes of Alan Greenspan.Hackett's definition of scarcity is similarly enlightening as his definition of economics - "something is said to be scarce when, at a zero price, more is wanted than is available."So most things are scarce, and everyone makes economic decisions about allocating scarce resources, whether or not those allocation decisions involve money and market transactions. From those basic definitions and more, Hackett proceeds to explain and expand upon the value systems and the allocation decisions that we make as individuals and as a society.As the title implies, "Environmental and Natural Resource Economics" concentrates on the decisions that are made about the use of natural resources, including wilderness, forests, minerals, and fisheries. He also discusses pollution and the options for controlling pollution, including market mechanisms for pollution reduction.Sustainable development is a major theme of the book and Hackett explains a variety of approaches to sustainability.For anyone who wants more than an emotional opinion on the environment and the choices that society must make in its use of the environment, Steven Hackett provides a readable and valuable introduction to a subject of critical importance. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - Economic Development    5. Development - Sustainable Development    6. Economic Conditions    7. Public Policy - General   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Capital market    5. Developing countries    6. Economic Conditions    7. Economics - Comparative    8. Financial crises    9. Free Enterprise    10. International - Economics    11. Business & Economics / Economic Conditions    12. Economic theory & philosophy    13. Finance   

Reviews (1)

Getting Knowlegde
This is a relly good book for students to understand more about poverty and discrimination in the American society. I will recommended to anyine who is intereted about issues such as welfare poverty and so on. I thinkyou wil enjoy this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Contemporary Economic Situations And Conditions    3. Discrimination    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economic assistance, Domestic    6. Economics - General    7. Poor    8. Poverty    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Business & Economics / Economics / General    12. Economics   

Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. Dictionaries - General    3. Economic Conditions    4. English as a Second Language    5. English language    6. Picture dictionaries, English    7. Picture dictionaries, Russian    8. Political Science    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Reference    11. Russian    12. American English    13. Bilingual dictionaries    14. ELT dictionaries & reference    15. English Language Learning (ESL) | Picture Dictionary Programs | Oxford Picture Dictionary Program    16. Foreign Language Study / English as a Second Language   

Reviews (8)

Thought-provoking
Not being an American, I cannot judge whether the poverty situation described in this book is still as prevalent as it was in the early 1960's.
Written 40 years ago, but still powerful and germane in 2005
What is most amazing about Harrington's book is how accurately it describes today's society.The impact of this book, first published in the early 60s, is testament to the power that a single book can have on a nation and its people.It directly affected the thoughts and actions of President Johnson's "war on poverty".Unfortunately, this "war on poverty" may never come to a conclusion, even in the richest country in the world.
THE POOR ARE WITH YOU ALWAYS...
This is the seminal work on the poor in America, analyzed within the context of government proffered, anti-poverty programs. It is a scathing critique and analysis of the war on poverty, where bold rhetoric and political grandstanding have often supplantedaction. The author in his analysis categorizes poverty as a cultural and often institutional way of life that would require radical innovations, social planning, and long term financial investment, were the government really serious about eradicating poverty in America. What is amazing is that the arguments made by the author, when he wrote this book forty years ago, are still sound today. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1961-1974    2. Economic Conditions    3. Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    4. Politics - Current Events    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Poor    7. Poverty    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Social Science / General    11. USA   

Reviews (2)

A Venture In Social Forecasting
The Coming of the Post Industrial Society; A Venture in Social Forecasting by Daniel Bell The shape of things to come
Absolutely amazing book! Castells has done it again! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economic History    6. Economics - Theory    7. Forecasting    8. Industry    9. Social change    10. Social history    11. Twentieth century    12. Business & Economics / Economic History    13. Business & Economics-Economics - Theory    14. Political Science-Economic Conditions    15. Political economy    16. Social groups & communities    17. Social prediction   

Reviews (19)

Seems like Coop Boards have more power than the IRS
This book was great!Another fascinating look at the New York real estate market and where there is no limit on what you'll pay for a place to live.Very interesting in how those coop boards can bring potential owners to their knees.The book was well written and provided much insight into property ownership and real estate brokers.

The Sky's The Limit - That says it all!
Gains takes you inside the history of many of the top buildings in NYC (A.K.A.- good buildings or GBs) as well as a beginning to present time chronicle of the often stuffy co-ops and the new money, free-frawl condo market. From the builders to the star brokers and super famous buyers, you get a real sense of how top end real estate shakes out in the big city.
Real Estate in the Big Apple
Fifth Avenue is the address against which all others are measured, according to Gaines.It is 6.5 miles long, mostly high-end retail space and skyscraper office buildings.On the 1.5 miles facing Central Park there lives the greatest consolidation of private wealth assembled in one place.
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Subjects:  1. Apartment houses    2. Apartments    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Economic Conditions    6. Government - U.S. Government    7. New York    8. New York (State)    9. New York - Local History    10. Political Science    11. Politics / Current Events    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Real Estate - General    14. Real Estate - Sales    15. Real Estate Economics    16. Residential real estate    17. Current Events / American    18. Sociology, Social Studies    19. USA   

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Economic Conditions    3. Evaluation    4. International - Economics    5. International Relations - General    6. International economic integration    7. Political Science    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Regional economics    10. Regionalism    11. International economics    12. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Eastern Europe - General    4. Economic Conditions    5. Economic policy    6. History    7. History: World    8. Politics and government    9. Post-communism    10. Romania    11. European history: postwar, from c 1945 -    12. History / Europe / Eastern    13. Political structures: democracy    14. Political structures: totalitarianism & dictatorship    15. Social history    16. Transitional economies    17. c 1990 to c 2000   

Reviews (3)

Her insights and analysis holds value for any medium-sized American city
Power Failure: Politics, Patronage And The Economic Future Of Buffalo, NY analyzes the history of the urban planning process in her native Buffalo: a process which ultimately failed. Dillaway is a community development expert as well, with long-time family roots in the area: her survey of the city's political and economic process traces the evolution of Buffalo, themes in turf battles and ethnic conflicts, and more. Her insights and analysis holds value for any medium-sized American city and for any who would better understand the urban planning process as a whole.
Failure of too much power without leadership
This relatively short (218 pp.), concise dissertation of fifty years of the decline of Buffalo, New York from its position in 1900 as one of Americas' leading cities, to its inability to adapt to the post World War II economic shifts (40,000 jobs lost in one fell swoop from one firm alone in the late 1940s), and its following fifty years of turmoil, provides a sad litany of urban decline.
No one likes a tattle tale- Not Naming Names Broadens Appeal.
This extensively documented study reads well because it does not bog down in petty name calling, and because of the incredible access to which she seems to have been afforded.The only people who could tell their story did so with the urgency of a tale that is not singular to Buffalo, rather, every industrial northern city of any importance has experienced some version of this story.Only the names change, and that is why I take 180 degree exception to above review.
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Subjects:  1. Buffalo (N.Y.)    2. Economic Conditions    3. Government - Local    4. Government - State & Provincial    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History - U.S.    8. History: American    9. New York - Local History    10. New York - State Government    11. Political History    12. Politics and government    13. United States - State & Local - General    14. United States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic    15. Area / regional studies    16. USA   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (5)

Nice handy guide
I wish I would have had it during Macroeconomics class for a reference.

A reference guide
I expected a guide that would assist in determining where we were in the business cycle. This wasn't really it. The book is structured more like an encyclopedia - analyzing each indicator in detail and in isolation. A fine addition to anyone's economic reference books, but disappointed me by failing to treat the economy as an organic whole.

If only economics were that easy
True to the style of The Economist, this book makes everything seem easier than it really is. However, for people who spend too much time thinking about economic issues, this is actually rather refreshing, much like a cold beer after a long day's work.