The misunderstood economy

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Fabio Petri and Frank Hahn

"General equilibrium theorists including Frank Hahn, Alan Kirman, Franklin Fisher, Michael Magill, Mordecai Kurz and Michio Morishima debate strengths, weaknesses, recent advances and possible futures with leading 'dissenting' thinkers including Duncan Foley, Pierangelo Garegnani, Herbert Gintis and Bertram Schefold who seek to explain their rejection of the general equilibrium approach and the alternative directions they consider more promising. The book contains critical surveys of the state of the arts and new results in many central sub-fields of general equilibrium theory and of value theory more generally. Also, the confrontation between advocates of different research programmes produces important clarifications on the basic disagreements and open issues, eliminating misunderstandings and creating the opportunity for more fruitful debate among economists of different persuasions. The topics discussed include existence of equilibrium in infinite-horizon economies; incomplete markets; indeterminacy; stability; the relevance of the 'Cambridge controversies' for general equilibrium theory; expectation formation and learning; the microfoundations of macroeconomics; the long-period method; game-theoretic and evolutionary approaches to behaviour modelling; statistical equilibria; the differences between the classical and the general equilibrium approaches to value and distribution, and the roles of general equilibrium theory."--Jacket.

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Brian S. Wesbury

Just about everyone is worried about the economy and markets. And the fear is that they will stay down for a long time. But a few brave voices say that the gloom and doom forecasts are just too pessimistic. Reality is that entrepreneurs don't give up. History is pretty clear, every time the economy is thought to be done, worn out, finished, it bounces back and heads to new highs. In fact, the economy and the markets -- counter to conventional wisdom -- have started to improve in the first half of 2009. Even housing is showing some signs of life. With It's Not as Bad as You Think, Brian Wesbury, ranked as one of the top economic forecasters by the Wall Street Journal and USA Today, shows you that while the financial future may be hard to predict, it will ultimately be profitable over the long haul. In this easy-to-follow forecast of the future, Wesbury takes a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly-and debunks the pouting pundits of pessimism to show you how to prosper now and in the future. An optimistic look at the economy and the markets written by one of today's foremost financial forecasters Presents a roadmap to seek opportunities in all the panic Shows you how to analyze economic indicators and government policy to grow your wealth so you don't lose by hiding under the bedA breath of fresh air, Wesbury's objectivity and optimism provide welcome relief to the daily bad news stories, as he sets us all up to capitalize on tomorrow's great.

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Tom Doctoroff

"In a cultural climate saturated by technology, marketing professionals have focused their energies on creating newer and more digital methods of advertising their brands, with the fear that if they don't embrace "Big Data," they will fade into obscurity. But Tom Doctoroff, Asia CEO for J. Walter Thompson, argues that this frenzy over digital media has created a schism in the marketing world that is hindering brands from attaining their true business potential. The tension between traditional branding and the seemingly unlimited possibilities presented by the advent of "digital" branding leads companies to abandon the tried and true aspects of marketing for the flash of the new. In this informative new book, Doctoroff explains why a strategy that truly integrates the two ideas is the best way for a brand to move into the future. Using some of the biggest brand names in the world as examples, such as Coca-Cola, Nike, and Apple, he breaks down the framework of marketing to explain how digital marketing can't stand without the traditional foundation"-- "A leading marketer breaks down the barriers between traditional and digital media, offering timeless principles for customer engagement"--

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Michael Albert

"Something is profoundly wrong with capitalism. Vast inequalities of wealth and power will not take the world to a better future. 'What is the alternative?' is a question echoing all around the globe. Michael Albert has wrestled with this question for many years, and his answer regarding economics has captured the imagination of many. 'Participatory Economics' - 'Parecon' for short - Albert's proposed economic system to replace capitalism, rejects competitive anti-sociality, individualist greed, commercial homogenization, and corporate hierarchy, and in their place elevates solidarity, equity, diversity, and self-management." "In Realizing Hope, Albert goes further to offer insights about how whole areas of life might be desirably transformed in a new society. Whether exploring the way we work, our relationship to the earth, the transformation of global financial institutions, science, technology, the family, culture, sport, art, or education, people rather than profit always take centre stage."--Jacket.