Great Transformations: Economic Ideas and Institutional Change in the Twentieth Century

Book Description

Mark Blyth argues that economic ideas are powerful political tools as used by domestic groups in order to effect change since whoever defines what the economy is, what is wrong with it, and what would improve it, has a profound political resource in their possession. Blyth analyzes the 1930s and 1970s, two periods of deep-seated institutional change that characterized the twentieth century. Viewing both periods of change as part of the same dynamic, Blyth argues that the 1930s labor reacted against the exigencies of the market and demanded state action to mitigate the market's effects by "embedding liberalism" and the 1970s, those who benefited least from such "embedding" institutions, namely business, reacted against these constraints and sought to overturn that institutional order. In Great Transformations, Blyth demonstrates the critical role economic ideas played in making institutional change possible and he rethinks the relationship between uncertainty, ideas, and interests on how, and under what conditions, institutional change takes place. Mark Blyth is an assistant professor of political science at the Johns Hopkins University specializing in comparative political economy. He has taught at Columbia University, and at the University of Birmingham, UK. Blyth is a member of the editorial board of the Review of International Political Economy.

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Customer Reviews:

Sweeping and provocative.......2003-04-23

Mark Blyth's Great Transformations may or may not be the true heir to Polanyi's Great Transformation, but it certainly comes close. Blyth provides a clear, incisive criticism of the way most political economists treat the role of ideas in the formation of economic policy. The two case studies -- the United States and Sweden -- provide plausible evidence that Blyth is correct about the multifaceted role economic ideas play in mobilizing political actors, transforming the way the economy is regulated, and even influencing market behavior. These strengths ensure the book's importance to an academic audience.

But there is much here for the non-academic. Those interested in current debates about the role of the government in the economy will find many of Blyth's arguments deeply provocative. Blyth shows how the "common sense assumptions" that currently dominate arguments about tax and fiscal policy owe their success not to the truth of their propositions but to a series of contingent synergies between external events, such as the OPEC oil embargo, and political struggles in specific countries. Ultimately, Blyth's book is a powerful call to make political values, rather than facile claims about economic inevitability, the centerpiece of debates about the future of welfare and governmental regulation. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Blyth, his history of the development, adoption, and non-adoption of economic principles in the US and Sweden should not be ignored.

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Coaching Competencies and Corporate Leadership
Tracey Weiss , and Sharyn Kolberg
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1574443194

Book Description

The quality of corporate leadership is often the key factor that determines success - or failure - in the fiercely competitive business world. Offering a fresh perspective and practical advice, Coaching Competencies and Corporate Leadership explores how coaching executives can use a competency-based approach to become more effective leaders. The authors show you how to be an active partner in the coaching process and how to develop current and future leaders for your organization. Getting executives to maximize their leadership potential requires sustained behavioral change. The authors show you how to use coaching and integrate it with 360-degree feedback to bring about observable results in your management team. Using case studies and interviews with senior executives from leading international companies as examples, they address the methods and benefits of leveraging competency models and the coaching relationship to achieve strategic business results. Drawing on extensive research and experience, the authors demonstrate how a core competency-coaching program can be successfully implemented. Anyone who believes that leaders are born not made will want to rethink that position after reading Coaching Competencies and Corporate Leadership. Shedding new light on corporate leadership and how to attain it, it shows what organizations can do to capitalize on their investment in competency models to achieve genuine leadership development.

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The Agricultural Field Experiment A Statistical Examination of Theory and Practice S.C. Pearce Here is a comprehensive overview of the statistical knowledge needed to conduct successful field experiments on crops. Blending theory and practice, it covers a wide range of subjects from the fertility of fields and the allocation of resources to the cooperative efforts needed for a successful experiment. 1983 (0 471-10511-2) 335 pp. Statistics for Experimenters An Introduction to Design, Data Analysis, and Model Building George E. P. Box, William G. Hunter and J. Stuart Hunter This fresh approach to statistics focuses on applications in the physical, engineering, biological, and social sciences. Written for the non-statistician, the book emphasizes the need for the investigator to make his research as effective as possible through the proper choice and conduct of experiments, and the appropriate analysis of data. Included are numerous worked examples, exercises with answers), and end-of-chapter questions and problems. 1978 (0 471-09315-7) 653 pp.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Presentation of Statistical Procedures.......2000-06-22

Very straight forward, easy to read, easy to follow (Comparitively, of course to books like Steele ane Torrie). This book is very useful as a quick reference aid or for in-depth study.

Book Description

These editors provide a stimulating survey of the ways in which mitochondria, plastids, and other cellular organelles replicate. The orderly division and segregation of these organelles is essential for the survival of all eukaryotes and is therefore a topic of importance to a wide range of biologists, from geneticists, via physiologists, to molecular biologists. The first part of the volume examines the mechanism, regulation, and consequences of organelle segregation and division as studied in plant and animal cells. The second part compares the replication of DNA in eukaryote organelles with bacterial processes. Reviews range from a comparative study of DNA polymerases to the possible mechanisms ensuring DNA segregation.

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Great collection of inside stories for Big 5 & Hawk Basketball fans

Tales from the St. Joseph's Hardwood: The Hawk Will Never Die
Jack McKinney , and Bob Gordon
Manufacturer: Sports Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Basketball | Sports | Subjects | Books
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The Big 5-0: The Big 5 Turns 50

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ASIN: 1582619298
Release Date: 2005-09-01

Product Description

With a foreword by current coach Phil Martelli, Tales from Saint Joseph's Hardwood: The Hawk Will Never Die recounts the storied history of St. Joe's basketball through the eyes and eras of its great coaches. Hawk Hall of Fame coach (and former NBA Coach of the Year) Jack McKinney studs the fast-moving account with poignant and humorous anecdotes. Jack and author Bob Gordon interview hundreds of former and current players, coaches, Hawk mascots, and fans who add a trove of zippy Hawk lore. There's a lot of lore. St. Joe's has competed in parts of 11 decades standing toe to toe with all "the big guys" of college hoops. The Hawks have tumbled many a Goliath in chalking up over 1000 wins-more wins than all but a couple dozen other colleges in the entire nation. The book gives an in-depth profile of Jack McKinney from his youth in Chester to his two NBA championship rings. You'll also chuckle at the inside story of the Hawk mascot, which ESPN chose as college basketball's best. The Phillie Phanatic (a former Hawk himself) guest authors in the mascot chapter. All the memorable wins and heart breaking defeats are recaptured. Through the prism of 45 years, Tales from Saint Joseph's Hardwood: The Hawk Will Never Die looks back at the heart breaking 1960 point-shaving scandal. Up-close-and-personal profiles of Hawk stars like George Senesky, Matty Guokas, Cliff Anderson, Mike Bantom, Jameer Nelson, and Delante West stud the narrative. Palestra and Big Five lore abounds. Past and present Big Five coaches pick their all-time Big Five teams and recount their greatest memories. Finally, hilarious tales about Hawk teams playing overseas spice a must-read entertaining and informative book for college basketball lovers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Great collection of inside stories for Big 5 & Hawk Basketball fans.......2005-12-18

Coach Jack McKinney has compiled a terrific collection of inside stories and personal anecdotes that take you behind the scenes of Saint Joseph's University and Big 5 Basketball. I was able to get a personalized and autographed copy at

http://www.hawkhoopclub.org/book.htm

Customer Reviews:

A decent reference, but doesn't live up to the claims.......2007-03-14

I'm not saying "don't" buy this book. I'm saying buy it used at a considerable discount. It's got some useful information and and few 'exercises' that are helpful, but overall it's kind of flaccid. It's worth a read or two.

My son loves this.......2007-03-04

My son likes to write fantasy stories and plays D&D with his friends. He was thrilled with this book! It gives backgrounds and historical facts as well as advice and tips. The one feature I think is helpful is the vocabulary in reference to castles and costumes of the time periods often found in fantasy stories. Celebrated authors write essays on several subjects, so the information is not without merit. After all, they sold their stories. I am not the one reading this book, but I will say that my son is 16, and teenagers don't get excited over much, so if he was thrilled, you know it must be good!

What a Disappointment. .......2006-05-30

This book has very little content, just random facts that lack any sort of overall cohesion.
The chapter on Africa talks only about ancient Egypt. The chapter on trade, commerce and law has nothing on trade.
It's also boring.

No no no...........2005-12-04

The entire concept of writing fiction of ANY kind is to use your imagination mixed with the things that you know. A book to TELL you how to write fantasy does not make a bit of sense! If you are building a world, use common sense and round it out, smooth the edges, be as 'realistic' as you can for a Fantasy story. The problem with Fantasy these days is that all Elves are the same; all Dwarves are the same, all Goblins are the same...every book written is basically a carbon copy of the last one. These races DO NOT EXIST in our world, therefore you cannot say they MUST be one way or another. Get back to IMAGINATION - just use the sense you were given. TRUE old fashioned imagination has created the BEST books ever read.

Not as Complete as the Title Suggest.......2005-10-12

It's definately a good starting point for a reference library, yet it still seems to leave a lot out. For example, it does little to explain world-building and gives less-than-detailed examples in a lot of the book's sections. Most of the info in the book can be found with a search engine. I recommend it only for those of you who want to build a decent reference library.

Book Description

Did alligators ever really live in New York's sewers? What's it like to explore the old aqueducts beneath the city? How many levels are beneath Grand Central Station? And how exactly did the pneumatic tube system that New York's post offices used to employ work? In this richly illustrated historical tour of New York's vast underground systems, Julia Solis answers all these questions and much, much more. New York Underground is timed to release in the centennial year of the city's subway system. It takes readers through ingenious criminal escape routes, abandoned subway stations, and dark crypts beneath lower Manhattan to expose the city's basic anatomy. While the city is justly famous for what lies aboveground, its underground passages are equally legendary, and tell us just as much about how the city works.

Customer Reviews:

The Truth May Be Stranger Than Fiction.......2007-01-26

This is a great book for anyone interested in learning more about the Tunnels under New York City. Solis gives interesting accounts of the history behind each kind of tunnel and her own experiences exploring them. She warns that while popular fiction on this topic may be overly romanticized, she sticks solely with the FACTS. However, even thought I am a BIG fan of one such fictional account of the people living below New York City, the '80s TV series "Beauty & the Beast," I was still very much intrigued and amazed by her "real life" stories. Great pictures of the Tunnels found throughout the book as well.

underground review.......2006-11-10

Excellent book if you are looking for the real stories behind (or below) the streets of NY. Nicely written. Sticks to the facts and the author's impressions of the scenes did not affect the character of the book. The photographs are amazing! If you want a good introduction into the NY underground this is the place to start.

Unknown city........2006-02-28

Interesting view of the city that most people have never thought about. Some of the pictures are not the best but are interesting.

Essential reading.......2006-01-18

This is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of New York. Great photos and lots of stories of unknown events in the underground to hold your interest.

Too Much of the Author.......2006-01-12

The book is an interesting look into the lost and forgotten places of the New York Underground. There is a lot of history presented by the author which is interesting and insightful.

However, after the book starts exploring the author's expeditions, it sort of becomes like watching a relative's slide show of their recent RV trip. The photographs become "Here I am in [x aqueduct]" and "Here I am in [x tunnel]." In other words, the book loses its focus on being informative, and rather focuses on the author herself.

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Customer Service: Extraordinary Results at Southwest Airlines, Charles Schwab, Lands' End, American Express, Staples, and USAA begins with the obvious (but nonetheless truthful) observation that businesses today cannot survive without loyal customers, and then shows how these six firms are masterfully going about the process of obtaining and retaining them. Each is the subject of a chapter that opens with a brief profile and concludes with expert analysis by business strategist and lecturer Fred Wiersema. "At a time when it often seems harder than ever to find a company that truly connects with its customers as individuals, these organizations are dramatic exceptions to the rule," he writes of the selections overall. "We chose them for inclusion here because their practices transcend platitudes and lip service. Simply put, service defines their business and sets them apart from competitors." The heart of each chapter, however, is first-person reports from one or more officials in each company--such as David S. Pottruck, president and co-CEO of Schwab; Colleen Barrett, executive vice president of Southwest; and Bill Clooney, president of the United Services Automobile Association's property and casualty insurance group--that detail the specifics of their customer-service philosophies and show them in action. --Howard Rothman

Book Description

Imagine a company that receives five times as many letters of praise as complaints. Picture a business for which tens of thousands of customers line up, unsolicited, to open an account. Think of a global corporation that continues to set record earnings year after year, despite increasingly heavy competition. Then envision knowing the keys to these companies' successes--and using them to your company's benefit.

Southwest Airlines, Charles Schwab, Land's End, American Express, Staples, and USAA--at a time when "customer service" might seem to be more about talk than action, the six companies profiled in this book have gone beyond lip service to surpass the competition by putting quality service at the core of their value systems. In Customer Service, the second book in the BusinessMasters series, you'll discover the innovative strategies these six companies have used to triumph through their commitment to excellence in customer service. Edited by noted customer service expert and New York Times--bestselling author Fred Wiersema, this definitive guide offers field-proven philosophies, how-to tools, and invaluable insights gained from years of providing superior service to millions of customers across the country and around the world.

Discover how Southwest Airlines has built a $3.8 billion industry by going beyond the call of duty time and time again. (The airline's agents have been known to drive passengers to their destinations several hours away in rare cases of delays or schedule mix-ups!) Find out how Land's End keeps its promise of reliability no matter what (even during a UPS strike, when the company kept its policy of quick delivery by creating its own mini-post office)--making it the nation's leading apparel catalog. And learn how Charles Schwab has developed a system to turn customer complaints into opportunities that actually strengthen their bond to consumers. The strategies of these companies vary, but their principles remain the same: they anticipate consumer needs and find every way they can to meet them, constantly challenging themselves to improve their service and demonstrate their respect for their customers as individuals.

Through these inspiring profiles you'll also learn:

Why meeting customers' needs on an individual level actually outweighs a factor such as cost.

How the most successful companies excel by making employee happiness a top priority

Why simplifying your message and focusing your service will keep customers coming back

How developing ways to measure customer input, disseminate it company-wide, and utilize it to grow with your customers can be the most important thing you can do for your business

With this short, accessible book, entrepreneurs and executives alike will glean the tools and insights needed to create a successful customer-oriented culture that is defined by service excellence.

Customer Reviews:

Good ideas...but something missing.......2002-03-30

The book deals with the concept of customer service in 6 important companies through the description of what each of the companies does, told by the executives themselves.
There are many good ideas and rules that can be applied to any business and that will translate in an improvement in customer service.
On the other hand, as each of the procedures and systems are described by the people participating in them, I feel it is a parcial story. We have only the good side, the benefits and the final stages. What I miss is the process to reach the actual situation.
If I would like to implement some of the ideas presented in the book, what would be the problems I might face ? We can also learn from the failures that these companies surely had when implementing their systems.

Customer Reviews:

Truly, these are lessons to be learned.......2002-05-22

I was very impressed with the clarity and intelligence of the essays in this book. I now think more critically about sanctions, in both a historical and contemporary context.

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Vatican City Business Intelligence Report
Global Investment & Business Inc
Manufacturer: International Business Publications, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ethics | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0739726838

Book Description

This report contains business intelligence information for succesful export-import, business and investment operations, strategic contacts and more... The report also contains selected information on investment and business opportunities, international economic projects, tenders, government projects, as well as, marketing and export-import opportunities information.

Vatican City Business Intelligence Report

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Vatican City Business Intelligence Report
USA International Business Publications
Manufacturer: International Business Publications, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0739763504

Book Description

Vatican City Business Intelligence Report (World Business Intelligence Library)

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Vatican City Business Intelligence Report (World Business Intelligence Library)
Igor Oleynik
Manufacturer: International Business Publications USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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ASIN: B00005R79U
Release Date: 2006-01-01

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Business intelligence info for successful export-import, business and investment operations, Strategic contacts and more. Updated annually

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Foreign policy, domestic policy, political system and parties, government and administrative structure, international activity and more. Updated annually

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Vatican City Business Intelligence Report
International Business Publications USA
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N7GI0Q

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