North to Montana

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Tim Harford

"A provocative and lively exploration of the increasingly important world of macroeconomics, by the author of the bestselling The Undercover Economist. Thanks to the worldwide financial upheaval, economics is no longer a topic we can ignore. From politicians to hedge-fund managers to middle-class IRA holders, everyone must pay attention to how and why the global economy works the way it does. Enter Financial Times columnist and bestselling author Tim Harford. In this new book that demystifies macroeconomics, Harford strips away the spin, the hype, and the jargon to reveal the truth about how the world's economy actually works. With the wit of a raconteur and the clear grasp of an expert, Harford explains what's really happening beyond today's headlines, why all of us should care, and what we can do about it to understand it better. "--

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Jorge Niosi

Technological alliances have begun to change the way high-technology companies conduct research and development. While most companies still carry out R&D in isolation, the secretive, closed laboratory is becoming a thing of the past. Flexible Innovation, the first study of these changes within the Canadian context, is a comprehensive look at the state of technical collaboration in high-technology firms and a guide-book for formulating and facilitating technical alliances. Basing his study on in-depth interviews in more than 130 companies across Canada, Jorge Niosi analyses the scope of collaborative research activities - both domestic and international - in the fields of biotechnology, electronics, advanced materials, and manufacturing of transportation equipment. He describes successful patterns of collaboration, obstacles and limitations, and the role of public policy, universities, and government laboratories in technological alliances and compares Canadian partnerships and public policy with similar patterns in Europe, the United States, and Japan.

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Paul Midler

"An insider reveals what can--and does--go wrong when companies shift production to China In this entertaining behind-the-scenes account, Paul Midler tells us all that is wrong with our effort to shift manufacturing to China. Now updated and expanded, Poorly Made in China reveals industry secrets, including the dangerous practice of quality fade--the deliberate and secret habit of Chinese manufacturers to widen profit margins through the reduction of quality inputs. U.S. importers don't stand a chance, Midler explains, against savvy Chinese suppliers who feel they have little to lose by placing consumer safety at risk for the sake of greater profit. This is a lively and impassioned personal account, a collection of true stories, told by an American who has worked in the country for close to two decades. Poorly Made in China touches on a number of issues that affect us all"--

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Ken McCormick

"Most economists will agree that the task of understanding and teaching Veblen is not an easy one. Locating a book for the non-specialist is even harder, and hence the purpose of this book. This pioneering text fully delivers what its title promises - Veblen in Plain English. For the non-specialist and student alike, Professor McCormick illuminates the ideas of Veblen in a manner that is well written and easy to understand. This is a refreshing and most welcome addition to literature on Veblen. The foreword is by Dr. Rick Tilman, another noted expert on Veblen."--Publisher's website.