Beyond the Chinese face

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Marjorie Grice-Hutchinson

"Early Economic Thought in Spain was published in 1978, and in her Foreword the author mentions that the discussion of long-term inflation in Spain from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries ought to be of interest since "we live in a time of inflation". The book can also be read as a history of Spanish responses to the decline of empire. At a number of points the author indicates that her study can be understood as a supplement to Joseph Schumpeter's History of Economic Analysis (1954). The chief contribution of this book is a review and summary of the development of economic thinking from the earliest days until about 1740 in one of the most important countries of Europe. Despite, or maybe because, Spain was in decline much of the last two centuries of this period, we are provided, as it were, with a ring-side seat for watching intellectuals come to terms with the forces behind such decline. Some of it, such as inflation, debt-financing, military over-extension, mercantilist protectionism, the preference of elites for their own economic benefit at the expense of the state, and more, will be familiar to readers who are familiar with the economic history of the last hundred years. If the distant mirror of history can help us avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, here is one place to find it. This book is dedicated to the memory of Leonard Liggio (1933-2014)"--

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Larry Allen

"From Greece scrambling to meet Eurozone austerity measures to America's sluggish job growth, there is every indication that the world has not recovered from the economic implosion of 2008. And for many of us, the details of what led to the recession -- and why it has continued -- remain murky. Economic historian Larry Allen clears up the subject in The Global Economic Crisis, offering an insightful and nonpartisan chronology of events and their consequences."--Publisher's description.

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Frederick Stapenhurst

During the 1970s and the 1980s, political risk analysis was increasingly undertaken by multinational corporations around the world. Recent developments in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, the Gulf and elsewhere have highlighted the need for multinational corporations to undertake such analysis and incorporate it into their decision-making. This book traces the emergence of the political risk assessment function in multinational corporations. From its genesis as an integral component of corporate environmental scanning, through its development as a distinct academic sub-discipline and separate corporate function, to its 'shake-out' phase of the late-1980s, this book critically examines the need for, and methodology of, corporate political risk assessment. Special attention is placed on the comparative analysis of political assessments in American, Canadian and West European corporations. Of particular interest are sections on country case-studies and corporate case-studies. The first highlights political risks as they were perceived by corporations doing business in Iran, Mexico, Poland, Portugal and South Korea, and reviews risk-management strategies adopted by particular corporations. The latter considers the organization and structure of the political risk assessment function in nine multinational corporations.

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James B. Davies

"There is great media fascination in the activities and lifestyles of the super-rich. But personal wealth is also important for those of more modest means - as a store of potential consumption, as a cushion against emergencies, and as collateral for business and investment loans. This book is the first global study of household assets and debts. It documents not only the level, distribution, and trend of wealth holdings in rich nations, but also addresses developing countries like China and India. The situation in Latin America and Africa is given attention along with the experiences of Russia and other transition countries. Components of household wealth like financial assets, land, and property are examined, as well as the gender division. Worldwide, it is estimated that the richest 2% own more than half of total global wealth, and that this group resides almost exclusively in North America, Western Europe, and rich Asia-Pacific countries."--Jacket.