Book Description

Now available from Waveland Press at a special low price, this highly regarded edition updates Gramlich's previous work with new material and real-world examples--including acid rain, minimum wages, public employment, matching grants, national defense, and so on--drawn from his Congressional Budget Office experience. It effectively shows how the logic of benefit-cost analysis can be applied to a wide range of policy measures and translates the technical debates of economists. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

German Unification and the Union of Europeexplores the effects of Germany's unification in 1990 on its policies toward the European Union. Jeffrey Anderson examines the interplay between the domestic politics of unification and the supranational politics of integration, attempting to explain the complex pattern of continuity and change in Germany's policies toward Europe. The book utilizes leading theories of political economy, and is based on detailed archival research and numerous interviews with politicians, civil servants and interest group representatives in both Germany and Brussels. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Hardbound. New economic conditions brought about by political seachange, international trade agreements, and technological advances have posed new problems and challenges for many countries and trade communities. This book addresses a wide range of topical issues in commercial policy that will continue to be pertinent for some years.

Under examination are bilateral trade agreements, foreign direct investment strategies, regional and global integration; trade reforms; privatization; capital flows; portfolio diversification, and international and technological competitiveness.

Particular topics under scrutiny include the causes and remedies of the US trade deficit; the difficulties in penetrating Japanese markets; inflation indicators in the UK; NAFTA, the Uruguay Round and Common Agricultural Policy; industrial and technology policies in the US, and globalization in the airline industry. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the most enduring legacies of the 1980s has been the programme of privatizations that the Thatcher government set in train in the first half of the decade. Whole sectors of the UK economy which were formerly part of the public sector were sold off to the private sector. Some were bought out by their employees; others were bought by the public at large. Some public services were contracted out to the private sector; others were placed on a more commercial footing. The UK privatization programme had an influence on economic policy throughout the world. Programmes were also initiated in Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, North America, and, most recently, East and Central Europe. The purpose of this book, a companion volume to The Regulatory Challenge by the same editors, is to stand back and examine what has been learnt from the extensive programme of privatization that the UK government has completed, and to consider what aspects of privatization remain to be done. It attempts to evaluate systematically the privatizations that have been undertaken in different sectors of the UK economy over the last ten years. It examines what has happened and why, where the successes and failures have been, what lessons can be learnt for the design of privatization programmes elsewhere, and what the UK government can still usefully do in this area. ... Read more

Book Description

Jane Duckett uses research on the northern city of Tianjin during the 1990s to examine how individual departments of the Chinese state are establishing their own businesses, and why. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

This book is a collection of eight case studies of relationships between airline executives and federal regulatory agencies from the passage of the Air Commerce Act in 1926 to the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978.By focusing on the lives and personalities of individual entrepreneurs, W. David Lewis and his contributors hope to explore the interaction between technology, government regulation, and entrepreneurship.

Each essay in the book focuses on a particular airline executive, such as Eddie Rickenbacker, Robert Six, and Donald Nyrop. Lewis has been careful to give a variety of perspectives: Airlines of various types are representedlarge and small, scheduled and unscheduled. Some of the executives profiled were known for having adversative relationships with federal regulators, whereas others wholeheartedly accepted regulation and thrived under it.

There have been public calls for a return to airline regulation, and Lewis thinks it is not inconceivable that regulation may ultimately return if problems continue and conditions deteriorate further. But, he says, it is well to remember that deregulation occurred because there were flaws in the regulatory system it replaced. This collection of essaysscholarly and well documented but written in a lively style suitable for specialists and nonspecialists alikeprovides a long-range perspective on the issue of airline deregulation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Interesting Study of the Airline Industry
Okay, for starters, you probably do not want to read this book unless (a) you are fascinated by the airline industry (as I am) or (b) you are trying to impress some professor or teacher. Believe me, if you're the latter, you could write a really great paper based on this book.

The book is a collection of eight case studies by various authors, each examining the relationship between various airline executives and the federal government during the period of time the government heavily regulated the airline industry (roughly 1926 to 1978).

In all likelihood, sufficient time has passed for most people to have forgotten what airlines were like in the time of federal regulation. Some have even called for a reinstituion of regulation,but unlike W. David Lewis, the editor fo the book, I do not believe the government will ever attempt regulation again. If it were going to do so, it probably would have done so in the wake of the 9/11 crisis and its affect on the airlines.

The book does an excellent job of covering various types of airlines and their relationships with the government, with a focus on executives from the various airlines.

The executives profiled are among some of the most prominent characters to have passed through the industry, and this is an industry that has had more than its fair share of characters. Some had adversarial relationships with the government during the time of federal regualtion; others thrived in the regulated environment.

Interestingly, some of th airlines documented and featured no longer exist. Eastern Airlines, for example, was an airline that ultimately failed once dereguation took place, although its doom may have been more the fault of its chief executive at the time and his adversarial relationships with his labor unions (for more on this, see the book "Hard Landing").

The book itself does not draw any final conclusions, leaving any ultimate conclusion to the reader. I would love to see a follow-up, with a further examination of other airline executives and their relationships with the government both during and after federal regulation.

A great scholarly work, but definitely not for the casual reader. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

‘This book will be invaluable both to researchers wanting to understand the latest developments in theory and practise, and to those in the policy process wishing to design and implement climate change policies using the flexibility mechanisms.’

- Frank Convery, University College Dublin, Ireland

The Kyoto Protocol introduced international flexible mechanisms into climate policy and, since then, the design and most effective use of flexible instruments have become key areas for climate policy research. Instruments for Climate Policy focuses on economic and political aspects related to the recent proposals and the debate on limits in flexibility, and discusses EU and US perspectives on climate policy instruments and strategies.

This is followed by chapters on economic efficiency and the use of flexible instruments as well as contributions to the debate on ‘when flexibility’, on the arguments behind the EU ceilings proposal and on voluntary approaches to climate policy. One of the main conclusions reached with respect to proposals for limiting flexibility is the need to evaluate simultaneously their economic, ecological and international political consequences. The authors include both important policymakers and leading academics in the area.

Academics, researchers, policymakers, NGOs, and journalists interested in environmental economics will all find this an illuminating volume, as will political scientists. ... Read more

Book Description

The book is the culmination of two years of research led by GezaFeketekuty. Among the book's 21 authors are current members ofCongress, former government officials, representatives of Americanbusiness, and prominent academic and policy institute thinkers. According to the authors, challenges resulting from the globalizationof production and the integration of former socialist economies intothe world market economy create the need for new trade negotiations atboth the regional and global level.Government policies andregulations that constitute barriers to foreign trade and investmentstill need to be overcome. Anticompetitive practices such astrade-restricting cartels need to be eliminated.Philosophical andpolitical differences over how trade agreements should deal with issuessuch as labor and the environment need to be resolved.The bookprovides a comprehensive review of the issues confronting U.S. tradepolicymakers and outlines a strategy to deal with them.The book isessential reading for public officials, business leaders and privatecitizens who wish to think broadly about American's role in the globaleconomy of the 21st century. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A TPB intro for beginner to Dr. Doom saga; also a handbook
"Villainy of Dr. Doom" TP, essentially is a collection string together culled from the original comicbook form. Mainly, it serves as an introduction & a further characterization to Dr. Doom persona and his mystic.

His origin,culled from Fantastic four annual #5. Stan Lee,notably, created one of the best origins of any characters, and certainly the best villain origin in Dr. Doom. Dr. Doom origin story has plenty of substances mixed immaculately,they are, his character depths & widths,political intrigues,layered story,grey areas about Doom's persona.Did he had an embedded misanthropic personality since birth? In growing up as a child,evidently, that point of view is perceptively contrasting.Perhaps, he started to detest mankind after an injusticed incident struck him and his father, thus,he began to reasoned all he had to do was stoond on his two-feet & gave back in ten-folds, of what he is receiving.

His origin,is a classic and masterfully told & should stand favorably alongside to other great stories, especially against other origin tales.Since a child Victor Von Doom (aka Dr. Doom),experienced a misfortunate incidence & a tragic loss.In my opinion,that effected a contribution to his hateful nature & pessimistic outlook towards mankind.In his adolescenct, until his early manhood life,it indeed show us how Doom strive to work hard & gain knowledge by scholarly studying in school,his proclivity to master the art of sorcery accorded indirectly from his long-deceased mother, his talent and interest for technology & robotics, which will become an infamously etched to his persona,& the unfortunate first meeting between him and Reed Richards on school,notably,that contributely pushes his ego and urges to the far edge, an untoward accident occured which permanently scarred his face for life.

The other note-worthy story to me is the 4-part story. A story sets in Latveria.It is a domestic story of Dr. Doom in context of his home country, Latveria & of him, as their absolute ruler.It gives us a look how Doom rule Latveria, the extent of his power, how his people think & behave to him, and the place Latveria itself, what is look like.

The others stories are quite good. Excellent buy as a keepsake.Especially recommended for beginners, as the book can served as an introduction to the Marvel's famous villain.Highest possible recommendation.

JACK KIRBY IS STILL THE KING OF COMIC BOOKS!!!
JACK KIRBY IS STILL THE KING OF COMIC BOOKS!!! Yes, I hate to admit it, but I agree with most of the other reviewers that the writing in this graphic novel reprint of some old FANTASTIC FOUR stories is not Kirby's best work--or even the best Dr. Doom appearances, because those were issues 57-60!!!--but even a Kirby collection at 80% is still better than 90% of other comic books, and so I rate this graphic novel 4 stars.

But Kirby's artwork--inked by INKER SUPREME JOE SINNOTT, THE MOST UNDERRATED MAN IN THE HISTORY OF COMIC BOOKS JUST FOR HIS INKING OF JACK KIRBY'S WORK!!!--in reprinted issues 84 through 87 is...FANTASTIC!!! And that's not just the way they drew Dr. Doom, but also Mr. Fantastic, The Torch, The Thing, the supporting characters, the scenery, and of course, the women!!!

I've bought a lot of graphic novels over the years--including the first ever printed, THE ORIGINS OF MARVEL HEROES--but I'd probably rank THE VILLAINY OF DR. DOOM #2 after that, because...

JACK KIRBY IS STILL THE KING OF COMIC BOOKS!!!

Chari Krishnan RESEARCHKING

the villainy of doctor doom
The book was a dissapointment for me. I am a big Dr Doom fan and expected a lot better. I thought about returning it, but i usually keep the comics i buy, just to add to my collection. The highlight of the entire book seems to be the fight between the thing and the doc in the battle of the baxter building. Other than that it was a let-down. The writing in some of the stories did dissapoint me at times and devaluated my image of the charater of Dr Doom. In one story, when Doom refered to two bombs he had set, he replied: "my subjects!!----I forgot!!" It may seem my complaint is over the top, but the Doom we all know would never admit to a fault. This is but one example of one the times i felt let down by the writers. Additionally, since the book featured more footage of the fantastic four than Dr Doom, it probably should be called Doom V the FF, at the least!Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the book but I guess if you are a true Dr Doom fan, you probably better see for yourself, afterall, you can always return it. As a final note, i will say to any Dr Doom fan who has not read Triumph and Torment, you must read this book to see Doom at his finest...

Great Stories But...
This includes some of the greatest Doom-FF battles of all time. The Lee-Kirby classic where the FF take on Doom without their powers is one of the most exciting stories in their history (a complaint is that the pages in this volume were switched around). However, some complaints. They could have used the story where Doom steals the Silver Surfer's powers or FF #200 (Reed vs Doom). The stories also appear to have some panels cut out. This volume has great stories and artwork by Lee, Kirby, and Byrne but this volume could have been so much better.

Incomplete Dr. Doom
I am one of the biggest Doctor Doom Fans of all time. I bought this book because the cover was a previously unpublished masterpiece by Jack Kirby which is gold. Where this book fell way short was the incomplete reprints of a few of the issues. It was noticeable that parts of the book were cut out, and that is a big sticking point for me. I felt cheated on the full story. Where Marvel usaully leaves me grinning ear to ear with the Trade Paperbacks, I was left needing more. Dr. Doom was definately villainous in this as we get to see two of the greatest FF writers in Stan Lee, and John Byrne and two of the greatest Pencillers of all time Kirby, and Byrne. But the incomplete issues left me feeling cheated on the full scope of the book. And I think they could have found some other comics where Doom proved his evil than just the Fantastic Four. The book is called the Villany of Dr. Doom not the Fantastic Four vs. Doctor Doom, seeing him clash with the Avengers, The X-Men, Spider-Man or the Hulk would have made this a more enjoyable book. But Doom is awesome and this book is good when it does not clip out part of the comic. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Insightful!
Contributor Laszlo Andor and editor Martin Summers review the implementation of economic reforms in Eastern Europe. They present a strong critical analysis of the effect of economic reforms on the people in the post Soviet bloc countries. In great detail, they cover the fight to implement Western financial investment policies in order to break communist political legacies. The authors express their dissatisfaction with the results of reforms in the last decade. This is an important book for individuals who want another perspective on the rush to implement western financial policies globally. However, the book assumes some strong background knowledge of the region's political history and the financial concept of globalization. We [...] recommend this book to anyone who does business in Eastern Europe or who is intrigued by the politics of economic reform.

Sharp analysis, sloppy advice
Written from a populist perspective, Market Failure does well to analyze the disasters that have overtaken Eastern Europe. The authors have done a good job in relating the political developments in the region to the economic crisis there, and the social breakdown that followed the regression from socialism to capitalism. The decision to focus on food, in one chapter, as an indicator of overall well being (or misery in this case,) was also very apt, and shows up clearly the fallacies of the market fundamentalists who believed that 'shock therapy' and Hayek-Friedman style capitalism were the solution to Eastern Europe's problems. The authors are also on the ball when they compare Eastern Europe's plight to that of the Third World, and when they point out that realpolitik would dictate that E. Europe is inside NATO and outside the EU. However, the authors fail in their advice on two counts. Their analysis of the collapse of the Soviet Bloc is somewhat faulty - it was more a case of a party elite selling out socialism in favour of capitalism, (and whipping up and exploiting popular discontent in order to do so,) than a popular revolt, (see the book Revolution from Above for an indication of this happening in Russia.) Secondly, their suggested solutions to the problems of Eastern Europe, which derive from the theories of Bakunin, Chayanov, E.F. Schumacher, and other naive leftists, is simply not feasible in the age of global capitalist imperialism. In short, they fail to appreciate that Eastern Europe has a simple choice - either the 'free' market or Stalin. In 1989 they made the wrong choice. They're suffering for it now.

Excellent on critique and on available alternatives
Reviewed by Andrew Kilmister in Labour Focus on Eastern Europe, no. 59, 1998 (re-printed with permission): László Andor and Martin Summers, Market Failure: Eastern Europe's "Economic Miracle" (Pluto Press 1998) pp. vi + 209, ISBN 0 7453 0886 4 (pb), £9.99.

Up until now there has been no general overview of economic developments in Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR since 1989 written from the left. This book aims to fill that gap. Written by Laszlo Andor, a lecturer at the Budapest University of Economic Sciences associated with the Hungarian Left Alternative grouping, and by Martin Summers who has worked on Eastern Europe for the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development and the New Economics Foundation, it represents a searing attack on the management of economic policy in the region over the last decade. Those determining this policy, both from inside the region as neo-liberal politicians and from outside as economic advisers, are described by Andor and Summers as "Market Maoists" who are undertaking a "Great Bourgeois Cultural Revolution". Like Mao in the Great Leap Forward of 1959 the Market Maoists have substituted an idealist revolution based on a schematic plan for an analysis of concrete realities. This book is designed to outline the effect of this revolution on the peoples of the region and to suggest alternatives. Andor and Summers begin by outlining the context within which transition in Eastern Europe has taken place, with a special focus on the role of the international institutions such as the IMF and World Bank. They compare the activities of these institutions and related `experts' with their roles in other regions, notably Latin America, and argue that differing institutional policies, for example those propounded by Jacques Attali during his period in charge of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have been systematically sidelined. They then move on to discuss the effect of price liberalisation and associated monopolistic exploitation and the reasons for the collapse of production in the early 1990s. This is followed by an account of privatisation and the formation of a "noveau nomenklatura" through the privatisation process and associated corruption. Later chapters deal with agriculture and rural development, inequality both within the region and between Eastern and Western Europe and political developments in the East on both the left and right. The book concludes with an examination of possible alternatives to the Market Maoist approach. Andor and Summers write well and one very attractive feature of their book is the genuine passion and anger about what has been done in the area which shines through their writing and differentiates it from the vast bulk of what has been written on this subject, especially in conventional textbooks. Another strong feature of their account is its range, as detailed above. The book covers a large amount of issues in a relatively short space. However, this also brings with it certain costs. While there are a number of very telling and suggestive statistics, for example on the dramatic decline in food production, they remain illustrative and there is little space for more detailed analysis. This is especially telling in the sections on inequality where it would have been good to have had some more specific information on the growth and nature of divisions within Eastern Europe since these have been largely ignored in more orthodox accounts. There are also costs associated with trying to cover such a wide range of countries within a single account. In particular there is no real discussion of the extent to which the former Soviet Union exemplifies a distinctively different pattern of transition from that in Eastern and Central Europe. In many ways the most interesting aspect of Andor and Summers' account is their analysis of alternatives. They consider a very diverse set of perspectives here. When writing about privatisation they draw a distinction between Anglo-American capitalism and that practiced in Japan and Germany. The implication is that the Eastern European privatisation programmes are the result of opting for an Anglo-American model and that this was a mistake compared to the Japanese-German alternative. In their final chapter Andor and Summers discuss a number of more specific alternative policy proposals. One of these is that put forward in 1991 by the Polish economist Marek Gruchelski. This was essentially a policy of work sharing, with each worker working every second day to preserve employment during the transition. It would have been interesting to have related this more explicitly to the current debates in Western Europe, particularly France and Italy, on the shorter working week. Other models discussed include the Scottish Community Business movement, Chinese Township and Village Enterprises and credit unions. Finally the authors argue for increased co-operation within Eastern Europe, at least to the level of a payments union. The range of alternatives analysed here shows two strengths of the book; firstly, the insistence throughout that the Market Maoist model with its disastrous consequences was not an inevitable response to the crisis of Stalinist planning and secondly, the authors' willingness to consider concrete issues of policy as well as to describe problems. However, their sheer range and the obvious conflicts that exist between some of them also indicate that this book can only be a start in initiating a critical discussion of the orthodox approach to the East European transition. Andor and Summers would surely be the first to recognise this: they conclude by writing that `if this short book has helped to educate the reader about the nature of the problems we all face and stimulated further informed reflection and committed action, then it will have served its purpose' (p. 191). It is to be hoped that the book will have this effect and will encourage an overdue investigation of possible ways forward in Eastern Europe that will also convey lessons for those opposing Market Maoism in other parts of the world.

Andrew Kilmister. ... Read more

Book Description

The Secretariat report examines the country's trade-related policies and measures, covering tariffs and a wide range of non-tariff barriers, from an economic perspective.The report reviews the impact of these policies and measures on the country's recent overall economic performance, and on the development of major sectors.The government report describes the country's trade-related policies and the basic institutional and legal structure affecting the trade policy decision-making process.It examines these policies against the background of the wider economic and development needs of the country concerned. ... Read more