Book Description

Now beyond its 11th printing and translated into twelve languages, Michael Porter's The Competitive Advantage of Nations has changed completely our conception of how prosperity is created and sustained in the modern global economy. Porter's groundbreaking study of international competitiveness has shaped national policy in countries around the world. It has also transformed thinking and action in states, cities, companies, and even entire regions such as Central America.

Based on research in ten leading trading nations, The Competitive Advantage of Nations offers the first theory of competitiveness based on the causes of the productivity with which companies compete. Porter shows how traditional comparative advantages such as natural resources and pools of labor have been superseded as sources of prosperity, and how broad macroeconomic accounts of competitiveness are insufficient. The book introduces Porter's "diamond," a whole new way to understand the competitive position of a nation (or other locations) in global competition that is now an integral part of international business thinking. Porter's concept of "clusters," or groups of interconnected firms, suppliers, related industries, and institutions that arise in particular locations, has become a new way for companies and governments to think about economies, assess the competitive advantage of locations, and set public policy.

Even before publication of the book, Porter's theory had guided national reassessments in New Zealand and elsewhere. His ideas and personal involvement have shaped strategy in countries as diverse as the Netherlands, Portugal, Taiwan, Costa Rica, and India, and regions such as Massachusetts, California, and the Basque country. Hundreds of cluster initiatives have flourished throughout the world. In an era of intensifying global competition, this pathbreaking book on the new wealth of nations has become the standard by which all future work must be measured. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Why Certain Countries Make What They Make
Michael Porter with "The Competitive Advantage of Nations" deserves to be considered with the likes of Adam Smith and Milton Friedman in the pantheon of economists. Porter has presented with this book exactly how states like the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan have risen to the top of the heap in certain industries and remain constrained in others.

In a word, what each country that has achieved a competitive advantage in a particular industry has going for it is competition. Domestic competition is what pushed these countries to the forefront in their respective industries. What's more is that Porter makes a convincing case that the current national champion model of economic growth is doomed to failure precisely because it wipes out domestic competition. The countries that most often practice the national champion model of economic growth are the ones that have remained the most backward or have stopped growing. Porter does give one example of where this is not the case, tires. Tires are an exception where national champions work well because no country in the world has much of a domestically competitive tire market that would give them an advantage.

Furthermore, Porter describes the life-cycle of national industries. They go from nascent competition to increased competition for an expanding market to increased innovation to stagnation to consolidation, and then decline. He goes into detail with several industries in several countries. My favorite analysis that Porter undertakes is of the ceramic tile industry. Two countries have become the primary manufacturers and designers of ceramic tiles: Italy and Spain. These two countries have national cultures and economic advantages that play right into ceramic tiles. Porter expertly explains why Spain and Italy have come to dominate this industry when they have been so inept in other industries.

Porter has written the definitive book on national competitive advantage. "The Competitive Advantage of Nations" should be required reading for all government personnel around the world.

Virtuosic analysis of national productivity and technology
Forty to fifty years ago economists and political theorists did much armwaving about what makes nations competitive. In the past 20 years tools like analysis of patents, R&D expenditures, the numbers of scientifically educated people, have provided more quantitative insight. To these tools Porter adds realistic analyses of top industries in various countries - from shoes and couture in Italy, to Silicon Valley in the U.S. He points out that the fastest growth comes when favorable factors are concentrated in centers where diverse groups - industrial, academic, sometimes government or traditional industries come together and have intense interactions. This book glitters with insights and ideas. The author is among the leading US analysists of economic performance, heading a study discipline at Harvard and working with the National Bureau of Economic Research

Reasons for success and failures of nations
Michael E. Porter is a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and a leading authority on competition and strategic management. Porter is the author of the legendary business and management books 'Competitive Strategy' (1980), and 'Competitive Advantage' (1985). I cannot start this review without a word of warning: This book is consists of 850 pages and is thus not a quick weekend-read.

In this book, the author aims to answer the question, "Why do some social groups, economic institutions, and nations advance and prosper? ... I titled the book 'The Competitive Advantage of Nations' to highlight the crucial distinction between my broader concept of competitive advantage as a source of wealth and the nation of comparative advantage which had long dominated thinking about international competition." In order to answer this question, Porter uses his traditional extensive research methods and tools to prove his point.

The book is split up in four parts: (i) foundations; (2) industries; (3) nations; and (4) implications. In Chapter 1 - The Need for a New Paradigm, the author discusses the reasons for his research: "The central question to be answered is why do firms based in particular nations achieve international success in distinct segments and industries? The search is for the decisive characteristics of a nation that allow its firms to create and sustain competitive advantage in particular fields, that is, the competitive advantage of nations."

In Part I - Foundations, the author presents the theoretical frameworks which form the basis for the rest of the book. In Chapters 2, 3 and 4 Porter revisits most of his previous work, such as the five competitive forces, generic strategies, the value chain, and the advantages "diamond". Porter makes an important notion before turning the second part of the book: "The theory can and must be applied at two levels, the industry and the nation."

In Part II - Industries, the frameworks of Part I are applied to explain the histories of four industries (German printing press, American patient monitoring equipment, Italian ceramic tiles, and Japanese robotics). In addition, Porter applies the frameworks to the service sector. This is a sector which Porter has discussed very little in his previous books. "... an increasingly important class of industries where international competition has not been widely studied."

In Part III - Nations, the frameworks of Part I are applied to ten nations. Porter splits these ten nations up in early post-war winners, emerging nations in the 1970s and 1980s, and the traditional business countries (Britain and USA). Thank God, the author discusses both successes and failures within the different countries, plus identifying the reasons behind them. He also advises which steps can be taken to improve national advantage.

In Part IV - Implications, Porter discusses the impact of the frameworks of Part I on company's strategies and government policies. In the final chapter Porter tries to answer the question, "What of the future?" According to Porter "the central economic concern of every nation should be the capacity of its economy to upgrade so that firms achieve more sophisticated competitive advantages and higher productivity. Only in this way can there be a rising standard of living and economic prosperity."

This book is an impressive piece of research and Porter gets assistance from over 30 research assistants from all around the world. The book is not a simple read due to the amount of information provided and the length of the book. For readers who have read Porter's previous masterpieces I would like to stress that this book is considerably different than his previous masterpieces. It focuses less on industries and companies themselves, but more on national, international, and governmental issues. This book shows the author's education and training (Harvard PhD in economics). Still, the book is an impressive piece of work, although not for the fainthearted.

Act Three of Three in a Symphony
A model for localize advantage not exclusively predicated on geography, geography, geography (location, location, location). A guide for what a government can effectively do to attract, grow, and sustain world class competitive industries. Should be read by every sub-saharan nation that has try to create industries without much success. It's Balanced Regulation, Respect for Private Property, Even Handed Law, and Education STUPID! If every tin horn dictator would read Dr. Porter and Dr. Olson we may eventually all live in a better planet.

the competitive advantage of nations
In order to making research on the banking system of Turkey agains the European Union Banking System. so how to determine the competition advantage and how to set up the standards of the competition advantage of any country. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Very good read but flawed
As we are used from the authors ( The Prize and their work in CERA) we get a very well written and well researched expose. It is by far not as dry as most books on this subject and actually it is quite light reading.

It starts of well by demonstrating the rise and decline of Government dominated economies in the West as well as in other parts of the world. They describe the initial successes and later failures. The transition to the free market economies we have seen in the past two decades is described well. Unfortunately the book does little more than that...description.

In particular the idea that we have fixed everything now with the global free markets radiates from some of the pages on the Chicago/Harvard experts. The questions posed in the introduction on e.g. how to deal in terms of social and moral systems with the new economic order do not get attention. Instead we gate the same feeling as with reading Fukuyama's End of the World History which at that time was pretentious and looks utterly ridiculous today.

It is not only the current economic crisis but also the imbalances the new system has brought ( eg overproduction of commodities, loss of control over currencies, destabilized capital flows) that has not been identified as possible outcomes of the free market policy. This leaves alone the many disasters the world has seen with privatization.

Therefore, a very good and entertaing read but a bit short on the thought provoking side.

Offers insightful understanding of globalization.
Daniel Yergin provides the reader extraordinary insight into contemporary globalization. In a masterful, sweeping work that encompasses economic and social history of the post-war era, Yergin (who won the Pulitzer Prize for "The Prize," his study of the oil industry) and his co-author Joseph Stanislaw help us understand how economies around the world, but especially in the third world, are abandoning the old faith in big government and are embracing the marketplace. But Yergin and Stanislaw also warn that the marketplace -- laissez-faire -- is fraught with perils for countries that don't have sound governance and indigenous institutions and entrepreneurs who are able to function responsibly in an increasingly interdependent world. I found the book's analysis particularly lucid; the chronology at the end, which details the evolution of economic theory as well as cites political trends, should be especially useful to students. This is a book I'd recommend highly for laymen and scholars alike.

Resource Allocation and the Battle of Economic Ideals
In Carl Sagan's "Contact," the unknown entity encountered by Arroway after her journey into the wormhole delivers a scathing critique of the human condition, and goes on to express his concern about Earth's "astonishingly backward economic systems." "Commanding Heights" is a comprehensive account of those "backward" economic systems and chronicles the seemingly amaranthine battle between governments and the marketplace for control of the most important elements of the global economy. The discussion centers on the economic events of the second half of the twentieth century, sandwiched between the establishment of the British welfare state at the conclusion of the Second World War and the Asian financial contagion unfolding at the time of the book's publication.

The theme of "Commanding Heights" is the superiority of resource allocation via free markets vis-à-vis resource allocation by means of government control of strategic business undertakings. Along this free market-government control continuum, there are three fundamental, ideological positions concerning the workings of an economy: economic totalitarianism, strategic intervention, and non-interventionism. Given this backdrop, the second half of the twentieth century is depicted as a colossal experiment in wealth creation and redistribution. Advocates of neoclassical economics such as Friedrich von Hayek pitted their ideas against Keynesians and supporters of the command-and-control system.

World War II and its concomitant cost in human lives and shattered economic potential served as the catalyst for a remaking of the global economic order. Policymakers and politicians began questioning the effectiveness of a purely laissez-faire market system in mitigating the impact of macroeconomic failures and in addressing the issues of equity, poverty, and unemployment. Keynes provided a blueprint for the emergence of the so-called mixed economy, advocating government intervention through fiscal and monetary measures. Nationalization of strategic industries, central planning, and direct regulation were some of the tools made available to administrators.

By the time of the oil shocks of the 1970s, it became increasingly clear that this system of state control over essential economic activities was ill-equipped to deal with market shocks, and that regulatory capture rendered direct government supervision of natural monopolies and fundamental services ineffective and untenable. At the end of the 1980s, concerns about market failure started to give way to belief in the superiority of the market in allocating resources and ensuring that economic actors adhere to the principles of equity and fair play. Government began to take a back seat from managing the commanding heights of the economy, and privatization, deregulation, and liberalization became the norm.

The authors are unabashedly in favor of laissez-faire economics; this is shown by the recounting of recent economic history as a set of multifarious journeys undertaken by various countries that nearly invariably leads to the adoption of neoclassical economics as the sole logical solution to the ills caused by big government.

Ultimately, whether the experiment with 'enlightened' free enterprise and the continuing retreat of government will succeed or not in the long term will depend on a host of factors, such as: (1) is the pursuit of pure profit by erstwhile government-owned entities detrimental to public welfare? (2) will liberalization ensure a fair distribution of wealth? (3) does internationally mobile capital impinge on national sovereignty? (4) is the marketplace inherently superior in price determination, especially in the short term? and (5) will the "balance of confidence" turn out to be in favor of free markets?

GREAT BOOK
Extraordinary ! Hard to write, easy to read ! Academic approach with a non-academic language ! While you are reading this book, you are learning without realizing ! This book makes learning economics enjoyable.
A good look at the battle between government and market forces in the history of economy. New economies, emerging markets, economic thoughts, governments, all of them are included in this book. From China to Argentina, you can trace the history of economic battle between the governments and market forces. All I can say is , if you are interested in world politics and world economics, if you are running for presidency, if you are a businessman or bureaucrat, you need this book in order to get some lessons from the past.

Did You Say "A Lively Economics Book"?
Don't be scared, Commanding Heights, in every sense, is a lively yet informative economics book. A text for everyone, from the main street person to Milton Friedman

The writers, Daniel Yergin and Joseph Stanislaw, are both players of the business world, and Ph.D. holders (Yergin's from Cambridge University, where he was Marshall Scholar, and Stanislaw holds a Ph.D. from Edinburgh University). Furthermore, Yergin's book "The Prize" was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. One could only expect a dry, scholarly frightening work from the two, but, surprisingly, Commanding Heights is anything but intimidating.

This is a very good introduction to 20th century's economic plans and philosophies- from Gandhi's "swadeshi" to Thatcherism of the late 1970s and 80s to the 'global economy' of the 90s and present.

The book's treatment of Thatcher and Thatcherism is very good and readable, and almost enlightening. The portrayal of Margaret Thatcher is illuminating, if not flattering for the subject. The Thatcher of the book is not the evil witch of left-wing politics, but that of a hard-working, decent and uncompromising woman from a lower middle class background. Her (political) partnership with Joseph Keith and her devotion to Keith's plan is intriguing, and her David-and-Goliath battles with the 'establishment' is inspirational. ("I am the rebel head of an establishment government" she once boasted). Keynesians beware- this book might turn you into a Thatcherite!

Another highlight is the book's treatment of Latin America's economic dogmas and policies. Here, Chapter Nine of the book, it reads like a dark, compelling, political thriller authored by Vargas Llosa (Not surprisingly, Llosa's name appears in this book). Like the rest of the book, this chapter is highly fascinating and lively.

With great clarity and intelligence, this is a highly recommended 'big' book. A great companion as we face a new century. READ IT! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great book full of information
If you want to start an import/export business I would start with this book. Full of information, forms, websites, and government contacts to get you started within weeks. Great book, I'm looking forward to starting my own import/export business part time to start. ... Read more

Book Description

"A superb volume on the new economics of geography by three pioneers in the field. This lucid, elegant book is a must for any graduate course in urban economics." -- Edward L. Glaeser, Professor of Economics, Harvard University

Since 1990 there has been a renaissance of theoretical and empirical work on the spatial aspects of the economy--that is, where economic activity occurs and why. Using new tools--in particular, modeling techniques developed to analyze industrial organization, international trade, and economic growth--this "new economic geography" has emerged as one of the most exciting areas of contemporary economics.

The authors show how seemingly disparate models reflect a few basic themes, and in so doing they develop a common "grammar" for discussing a variety of issues. They show how a common approach that emphasizes the three-way interaction among increasing returns, transportation costs, and the movement of productive factors can be applied to a wide range of issues in urban, regional, and international economics. This book is the first to provide a sound and unified explanation of the existence of large economic agglomerations at various spatial scales. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A pretty good textbook with material not found elsewhere
If you are considering buying this book, you will probably want to do so. If you are interested in applying regional analysis or the "new" spatial economics that they present, you will have a good starting point. The necessary background is probably be a year of Ph.D. level economic theory. Specific high points are the exposition of the Dixit-Stiglitz model of monopolistic competition and the evolution of urban systems. All new Ph.D. students will have a use for chapter 4, which is an easy-to-read discussion of monopolistic competition. Further, the book is rigorous enough to be used in academic work. I recommend it to anyone interested in regional or urban economics. It is useful to students and practicing economists alike. Its rigor makes it academic, but its ease of exposition makes it useful for those without extraordinary math backgrounds. Compared to similar books, you get a lot of value for the price. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Gender Equity as Mainstream Economists See it
This book can be read at many levels -- used for a course or read as needed. You can answer questions like: How is unfair discrimination measured? Why do jobs that employ women pay less than those that employ men even if the requirements are similar. Go beyond romantic love to answer questions about whether marriage makes sense. Does welfare make peole work less? These two academics represent mainstream, what is called "institutional labor econmics." Anyone interested in the labor market, gender equity, international comparisons on how women are doing will find this book accessible. You do not have to have formal education in economics. ... Read more

Book Description

This introduction for practitioners offers a balanced view of project financing, integrating legal, contractual, scheduling, and other areas that participate in large multiparty projects, large single-asset purchases, and broad-based financing programs for fleets of assets. It mixes theories and case studies but avoids becoming too oriented toward applications in any one particular industry. It focuses on the concepts and techniques required by project finance people without being overly academic or beset by case studies. The author, who has a legal background, recognizes that some legal information is necessary, but he doesn't attempt to write a law book.

Project Finance refers to the techniques of financing projects which are dependent on cash flows for repayment, as defined by the contractual relationships within each project. By their very nature, these types of projects rely on a large number of integrated contractual arrangements for successful completion and operation. Project finance is an element within the larger field of project management. Many organizations around the world utilize project management to enable innovative processes, to plan, organize, and control strategic initiatives, to monitor enterprise performance, to analyze significant deviations, and to forecast their impact on the organization and project(s). Project management can be found in many industries today, from construction and information systems to healthcare, financial services, education, and training.

Key Features:
-A comprehensive and authoritative guide to the theory and practice of project finance.
-An international scope, covering projects in both the developed and developing worlds.
-The book describes and explains:
-Sources of project finance.
-Typical commercial contracts (such as those for construction of the project and sale of its product or services) and their impact on the project finance structure.
-Project finance risk assessment from the points of view of lenders, investors, and other project parties.
-Structuring the project finance debt.
-The key issues in negotiating a project finance debt facility.
-Extensive glossary and cross-referencing.
-No prior knowledge of project finance or financing techniques is assumed. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Quick and Informative Read
Interesting and quick read. A broad and helpful guide for business or social interaction with Japanese nationals. Surveys typical cultural characteristics and philososphies driving them. Proposes a number of situations that might arise and provides suggestions regarding acceptable etiquette. Excellent for avoiding cultural insults.

Do's & Don'ts Not Enough for Intercultural Communication
Japan is one of the largest economic superpowers. With skyscrapers and American fast-food chains, a first glance of a city may provide the impression that Japan is truly westernized. Yet, despite the appearances, Japan has remained "uniquely Japanese" in many aspects, which makes many uninformed Western businesspeople in Japan confused and even frustrated. Doing Business with Japan: Successful Strategies for Intercultural Communication provides a quick overview of Japanese history and social structures, and explains the meanings of Japanese customs that are typically seen in business occasions in Japan. Nishiyama covers a wide range of topics, from a typical living situation in Japan to conflict resolution in Japanese companies.

Kazuo Nishiyama attempts to guide American businesspeople that are planning to do business in Japan with a better understanding of Japanese business customs. Familiar with both Japanese and American customs, the author approaches various aspects of Japanese culture that many Americans businesspeople question, such as establishing business relationships with the Japanese. He also includes a glossary of Japanese terms and concepts that provides an easy reference for busy businesspeople.

The risk of this book, however, is that it can read more as a quick guidebook for American businesspeople to come to terms with Japanese unwritten business rules, rather than as a book to learn successful intercultural communication techniques to conduct business in Japan. Nishiyama includes few descriptions and explanations of American customs. His book does not provoke any self-awareness among the reader. Therefore, American businesspeople will tend to continue thinking that Japan is especially unique and they are normal, which makes mutual understanding more difficult. Also, he often advises Americans to adjust to Japanese customs, such as sending gifts, which might appear ethically wrong to Americans. In order to establish a long-term relationship between people with different customs, this one way adjustment will be problematic at some point. Therefore, it would be desirable if Nishiyama could show how to search for a common ground between the cultures.

For those who are very new to Japan and need "do's and don'ts" in order to avoid mistakes in the beginning, this book is useful to grasp the general rules for doing business in Japan. But for those who are more interested in Japanese culture or want to establish long-term relationships in Japan, this book falls short in explaining all of the complexities of the Japanese culture that are crucial to understand for effective intercultural communication. ... Read more

Book Description

A large measure of consensus exists about the substantive content of successful economic policy reform—macroeconomic discipline, microeconomic liberalization, and participation in the global economy—that is needed for an economy to enter the modern world. There is much less consensus on the political conditions necessary to sustain meaningful economic reform. Editor John Williamson commissioned 13 case studies for countries as diverse as Australia, Chile, and Poland from "technopols" who played leading roles in implementing the policy reforms. Each author focuses on the political and institutional factors that shaped policy choices and outcomes. This volume contains the case studies and a synthesis of findings and other policy implications by Williamson and University of California at San Diego political scientist Stephan Haggard. Other distinguished experts, including Inter-American Development Bank President Enrique Iglesias and Harvard economist Jeffrey Sachs, contribute independent appraisals of the political economy of reform in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. ... Read more

Book Description

A completely up-to-date text for one of the most dynamic upper-level and graduate courses in marketing departments today. It offers the entire range of international marketing topics beginning with start-up operations, continuing with new market entry considerations, and concluding with the international issues confronting giant global marketers. ... Read more

Book Description

The opportunities for unmatched returns and investment protection in the brave new world of foreign currency investing are second to none. In Foreign Currency Trading, financial executives Russell Wasendorf, Sr., and Russell Wasendorf, Jr., describe foreign currency trading in plain terms, and help you understand the risks, benefits, and operational requirements that you will need to take advantage of this market’s tremendous potential. Look to Foreign Currency Trading for clear explanations on the mechanics of foreign currency trading, in-depth discussion of all pertinent foreign exchange rules and regulations, and a comprehensive glossary with literally hundreds of terms essential to forex trading. With formerly imposing currency trading restrictions having been struck down in recent court rulings, the world of foreign currency trading is an exciting and rapidly-expanding field. Let Wasendorf and Wasendorf’s Foreign Currency Trading be your comprehensive guidebook for effectively taking advantage of this exciting opportunity, not only as a source of unmatched income and profits, but also as a sophisticated hedging instrument in any investment portfolio. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Rarely have encountered a book this useless.
As others have said clearly, this book is a waste of trees, ink and the time of its reader. The "authors" should be ashamed of such blatant hucksterism and poor description of even the most basic aspects of trading. Even if you are a neophyte, look somewhere else.

save your money ...
... I have no idea what objective these guys had in mind when they sat down to write this book.... This book is just a bunch of information thrown together (probably downloaded from the internet) and they obviously took no time to put any real effort into this book. I was terribly dissappointed with my purchase of this book.....look elsewhere if you are interested in getting started in forex trading.

Not fair
I have been trading futures and options for 11 years. I have written three books on the subject. This is the worst example of authoring that I have ever seen. There are no real insights into the subject of Foreign Currency Trading. Mr.Wasendorf fails dismally at being objective and goes overboard in promoting his company PFG. I was sorely disappointed. I was really looking forward to additional insight into Foreign Currency Trading.

A dishonest sales plug for PFG Inc., NOT a trading book
Do not waste your time and money. The "authors" (much a dignified word for the compilers of this mismatched and unfocused jumble of trivial materials) are the owners of PFG Inc., and the obvious purpose of this book is to get your business. Their main tactics are: a) The tedious description of all conceivable risks associated with broker selection, the implication being that they (PFG Inc.) are the no-risk choice. b)Four chapters grinding the theme of how risky is to do it on your own (chapter 2: "What you don't know may hurt you", chapter 4: "Buyer beware, be very aware", chapter 5: "Are you qualified to invest in Forex?" and chapter 9: "The sensitive question of risk, risk, risk ...") and one (chapter 7) where they tie it all leading you to the grand conclusion: use the services of Currency Investment Managers! (Your choice shoulod be them, of course.) Of the 241 pages, 114 pages are apendices with forms, primitive-looking graphs, and glosaries you can find in a couple minutes for free using a search engine. Voila', there you have it: nothing about trading, much about cover-selling you their services.

To be fair
I started reading this book, but after the first two chapters I returned it to the store so that I could buy a book dealing with what I wanted to know. But, to be fair, this author did write a good book on the basics of futures trading. ... Read more

Book Description

Implementing effective logistics strategies when operating internationally differs from managing domestic logistics because of specificfactors such as shipping regulations, transportation concerns, and cultural differences. This indispensable guide presents a coherent perspective oncontemporary global logistics from raw materials through production to the customer.

Now in its second edition, the book includes sections on: the roles of governments and intermediaries * international sourcing * the application of localtrade laws * ocean, air, and surface carriers and systems.

Plus, this second edition has been revised with new information on supply chain management, important updates of U.S. shipping regulations, new casestudies, chapter review questions, and standardized international terms of sale. ... Read more

Book Description

Back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s, it was fairly easy to plan for a secure future.People pickeda career, a spouse, and a place to live, and those basic decisions put them on apredictablecourse for the rest of their lives. Especially if they were lucky enough to landat a bigcorporation with great benefits and smart enough to buy stocks.

In the 70s, 80s, and 90s, technology and global competition transformed theworld. Anincreasingly strong economy masked spiraling instability in the workplace andthe world.A rising stock market lulled people into thinking they were in control of theirlives.

But now we’ve entered a totally new era, which Roger McNamee calls the NewNormal.It’s a time of great uncertainty—about terrorism, corporate scandals, theoutsourcing ofjobs overseas, and much more. The old safety nets aren’t coming back, even whentheeconomy recovers. But the good news is that the New Normal also offerstremendousopportunities.This book—by one of Silicon Valley’s most insightful andsuccessfulinvestors—explains how to make the most of your life, career, and money byembracingthe future.

The New Normal is the era of the individual. In companies large and small, eachpersonnow matters more than ever before. The Internet has finally made it easy tolaunch andgrow a real business. For entrepreneurs and managers, the global economy openspreviously untapped sources of supply and demand, cost savings and innovation.Individual investors now have access to tools and knowledge that were, untilrecently,restricted to professionals.

Roger McNamee has written a sweeping book in the tradition of Megatrendsthatclarifies this new era and gives readers a practical blueprint for success. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Good Economic text which lacks important details.
I would reccomend this textbook for students or someone who is just begining economics. This book is for the most part easy to follow. It gives basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics. However, more pedagogy is needed in some chapters as well as with explanations. ... Read more

Book Description

For the past twenty years this book has been distinguished by its relevant coverage, tight organization, multidisciplinary perspective, and timeliness. The ninth edition preserves these qualities while incorporating new reference material. A three=part organization covers the dimensions of poverty and inequality, causes of poverty, and policy options.For social workers, welfare professionals, and job counselors. ... Read more

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 think you wil enjoy this book. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Big Picture Missed
Currently I am a student of Professor Jones, one of the text's authors. The text is as drawling and insufficient as Jones' lectures. My first complaint is that there is a crisis of definition. Having only taken one economics course prior, I find that the text tends to move too quickly through topics of international economics, failing to provide illustrative examples so one can better understand how theory is put into practice. Second, the conceptual framework, as in all classical economic theory, is rooted in a place far from reality, a point Jones fails to make clear. The world is not perfectly competitive and does not contain countries equipped with fully developed capitalist institutions (like banking and credit), necessary to make internal economic adjustments in the face of free trade prices. I find the utility of the course to be very low, especially when free-trade is non-existent in the world. Discussions on the state of the contemporary world are sorely needed, if at least to serve as as comparison to the theoretical one constructed by this text. My last complaint is Jones' characterization of "anti-globalizers," those who he claimed "rioted" and were "violent" on the streets of Seatle in 1999 during the meeting of the WTO. The irony is that many of those protesters were advocating for FREER trade, pointing out that US farm subsidies cripple the economies of some underdeveloped nations who primarily produce agricultural commodities. The text's mypopic view of economics will not help those interested in learning how the world economy actually operates.

Very clear instruction on international trade and finance
I found this book to be a very good learning tool, as the course reader for an introductory international economics course. I find that most textbooks are good as reference, not as learning tools, but this book is an exception. In a very concise manner, it builds theory upon theory of international trade, until the student has developed a strong set of analysis tools. The portion on international finance is good intro as well, even though it does not compare with more specialized texts. This text is sufficient to prepare the reader for any advanced trade issues, with the exception of more mathematically based arguments (which the book does not develop, given its focus on beginners).

Thought provoking, intelligent textbook
This textbook for International Economics is a rarity. It's intelligent, exceptionally well written by the experts in the field. It does include a thorough review of the state-of-the-art theory of international trade and finance. To facilitate learning and yet challenge the reader, the authors equipped each chapter with really tough exercises. Only having solved them one might have an impression that he grasped the metarial really well. Good exercises are an indispensable companion of a student. Here we have one of the best I have ever seen. And I have seen a lot. Superior to other textbooks and highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A masterpiece
This book is a masterpiece. In practice, it deserves to become the "Holy Bible" of Microeconometrics applied to (but not only to) Development Economics. It is beautifully written by an amazingly knowledgeble economist, who has actually worked for years (and still does) on most of the issues this book deals with. It is no easy reading, and it would be worth spending a day for every single page, but it's excellent even if you don't want to go through the details, and you just need an intuition about the issues covered. The first chapter introduces the reader to many important aspects of the contruction and use of household surveys. The second chapter masterfully reviews many concepts of applied econometrics. Chapter 3 is about poverty and inequality measurement. Chapter 4 is about "Nutrition, children, and intrahousehold allocation", Chapter 5 deals with prices and tax reforms, and Chapter 6 with saving and consumption smoothing. The book also contains many useful Stata codes the author wrote and used for his many papers. Again, this is not a trivial reading, but if you are interested in applied economics you will find reading this book extremely rewarding, and often almost entertaining, because Deaton is one of the very few economists around able to write about technical stuff in a brilliant and intuitive way.

Misadventure
It is a great book, and I would have not canceled the order if you would have shipped as your website said it would.

A masterpiece
This book is a masterpiece. In practice, it deserves to become the "Holy Bible" of Microeconometrics applied to (but not only to) Development Economics. It is beautifully written by an amazingly knowledgeble economist, who has actually worked for years (and still does) on most of the issues this book deals with. It is no easy reading, and it would be worth spending a day for every single page, but it's excellent even if you don't want to go through the details, and you just need an intuition about the issues covered. The first chapter introduces the reader to many important aspects of the contruction and use of household surveys. The second chapter masterfully reviews many concepts of applied econometrics. Chapter 3 is about poverty and inequality measurement. Chapter 4 is about "Nutrition, children, and intrahousehold allocation", Chapter 5 deals with prices and tax reforms, and Chapter 6 with saving and consumption smoothing. The book also contains many useful Stata codes the author wrote and used for his many papers. Again, this is not a trivial reading, but if you are interested in applied economics you will find reading this book extremely rewarding, and often almost entertaining, because Deaton is one of the very few economists around able to write about technical stuff in a brilliant and intuitive way.

Deaton is the man !
This is an excelent manual for anyone interested in studying consumption or welfare in developing countries. Profesor Deaton is certainly one of the experts in the field. His book is well written and flows easily from theory to practice. Really enjoy it ! ... Read more

Book Description

As increasing numbers of Americans do business in international markets, they are finding that knowledge of cultural differences can significantly help the negotiation process and increase the success rate of new ventures. Bargaining Across Borders is a practical, "how-to" guide to negotiating successfully in virtually any foreign culture, from Latin America to the countries of the Pacific Rim. It describes how specific cultural differences impact on business and discloses easily accomplished negotiating strategies for leaping the cultural barriers that obstruct success. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very informative
My company recently entered into contract negotiations with a company in China. I found this book to be very helpful and informative as we went through this process.

International Business
I found Mr. Foster's book to be an insightful analysis of the need for increased cultural sensitivity both in and out of the world of business. His descriptions of various cultural practices and norms are fascinating and informative. A highly readable book;I look forward to future works by this cross cultural expert. ... Read more

Book Description

Presents a global view of stratification in an interesting but theoretically sound way, using an effective combination of academic works, lively stories, and news reports. Helps to educate the social science major or general student about social and cultural differences across the world, and teaches about growing global interdependence and how this is connected to contemporary social problems.

Reviews (1)

Extremely Informative
This was an excellent read!Great for people who are curious about the effects of globalization on the world's labor force.The authors have divided the world's labor markets into regions and provided extensiveinsight into the effects of globalization on under developed regions; andthe consequences faced in the Americas as a result of increasedglobalization.Easy and interesting read.The other books in this series,Sociology for a New Century are great as well. Try Waves od Democracy next. ... Read more