The Economics of Global Turbulence

Book Description

A commanding survey of the world economy from 1950 to the present, from the author of the acclaimed The Boom and the Bubble.

For years, the discipline of economics has been moving steadily away from the real world towards formalized axioms and mathematical models with only a precarious bearing on actuality. Commentators seek to fill the gap as best they can, but in the absence of real background scholarship, journalism is vulnerable to the myopias of fashion and immediacy. The deeper enigmas of post-war development remain in either case largely untouched.

Bringing together the strengths of both the economist and the historian, Robert Brenner rises to this challenge. In this work, a revised and newly introduced edition of his acclaimed New Left Review special report, he charts the turbulent post-war history of the global system and unearths the mechanisms of over-production and over-competition which lie behind its long-term crisis since the early 1970s, thereby demonstrating the thoroughly systematic factors behind wage repression, high unemployment and unequal development, and raising disturbing and far-reaching questions about its future trajectory.

Customer Reviews:

New Capitalism, the engine of progress?.......2007-02-09

From the Afterword: "Above all, financial speculation has produced a real estate mania that is unprecendently global and that has driven up the value of housing in historic fashion. The total value of residential property in developed economies rose by more than $30 trillion dollars over the past five years, to over $70 trillion, an increase equivalent to 100 percent of those countries' combined GDPs. Not only does this dwarf any previous boom in housing prices, its 25 percent bigger than the global stock-market bubble of the 1990s, which entailed an increase in equity values of 'only' 80 percent of the countries combined GDP in five years. 'In other words,' says The Economist, 'it looks like the biggest bubble in history.'"

If you want to understand the deep roots of this crisis in worldwide capitalist manufacturing over-capacity, read the book.

Deep, yet illuminating.......2006-12-06

First of all, a book on economics that gets thumbs up from both The Nation & The Wall Street Journal should get a wide readership. In the field of economics, where neoclassical and neoliberal dogmatism is dominant to the point of being stifling, it is important to open the windows to let fresh air in.

The book's main thrust is to provide an alternative hypothesis to explain the postwar economic boom, and the long downturn (relative to the boom) starting in the 1970s. In the orthodox neoclassical/neoliberal account, the long downturn is explained as the result of organized labor successfully fighting for high wages, which squeeze profits, which in turn reduces investment, which slows growth. (This is an explanation that works well in economic models consistent with neoliberal ideology, but not so well in explaining empirical realities.) In Prof. Brenner's account, the downturn is due rather to an inherent feature of capitalism: a tendency to overproduction. Capitalism has indeed unleashed unparalleled productive forces, but the lack of planning inherent in currently existing capitalism has resulted in overproduction and economic stagnation (in the face of, I should mention - this is not part of Prof. Brenner's account - millions of deaths worldwide from starvation and easily preventable diseases).

To summarize one further stage of the book's main argument, what has occurred in global capitalism is this: one nation's businesses make large capital investments in the most advanced technology to date; later, businesses in a different nation seeking to catch up make investments in more advanced, more productive technology, allowing its factories to produce more at lower cost, forcing the first nation's businesses to reduce prices and give up on profit in order to hold on to market share. In this manner, factories in the first nation do not generate the return on capital expected by their investors, and profits are squeezed due to competition with technologically advanced newcomers, reducing investment and growth. (The same pattern occurs within nations as well.) It is this underlying pattern, in Prof. Brenner's account, that has caused the long downturn. Since WWII, we have seen this pattern play out with the US taking the lead, Germany and Japan catching up, then Korea and the East Asian tigers catching up, and now we are watching China, Brazil, and maybe India and Russia catch up. But catching up will be increasingly hard to do without a large increase in aggregate demand, since with the entry of late developers - China especially - overproduction is increasing apace.

This has been a short, rough summary of Prof. Brenner's argument. His argument is advanced through a very detailed trudge through mountains of statistics - there is very little reliance on the opinions of economic commentators and academics. This may intimidate the general reader, but do not worry - you may have to devote more attention to this book than a book popularizing the neoclassical school of economics' fairy tale mathematical models and methodologically-unsound theorizing, but this book is illuminating and rewarding. I highly recommend it.

Global Turbulence: Social Activists' and State Responses to Globalization (International Political Economy of New Regionalisms Series)

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Global Turbulence: Social Activists' and State Responses to Globalization (International Political Economy of New Regionalisms Series)

Manufacturer: Ashgate Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Turbulence and New Directions in Global Political Economy (International Political Economy)

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Turbulence and New Directions in Global Political Economy (International Political Economy)

Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Economic Policy & Development | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

International | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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Public Affairs & Administration | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 140390362X

Book Description

A leading team of experts in the field examines how phenomena associated with globalization impact on political economy in theory and in practice. The volume employs a variety of theoretical and analytical approaches to examine the very changeable nature of the global political economy, in terms of academic analysis, policy, and practice.

Customer Reviews:

Strengthened with literature and poetry.......2007-06-06

I have read several of this author's books. I found this book to be his most compelling book. Each chapter can be taken separately if you like and I like to wonder back through, re-reading different chapters to get a closer study. More than most psychology writers and even Jungian writers, Mr. Hollis adds beauty to his work with his extensive and well taken quotes from literature. I will never pass my copy on to a friend or to the used book dealer. Worth noting also is that this was one of his earlier books and I believe it introduces much of what he covers in later books.

Book review.......2007-05-31

I have read meanwhile several books of James Hollis. I have bought all of them, but I am not through with all yet.
I am sorry that I have never met a person with his view in my whole life.
I enjoy reading his books, because they are profound and because they are written in a style that gives you the impression as if Dr. Hollis is sitting in front of you and talking to you in person. It is as if there is a genuine and wise friend in front of you, who understands life with all its ramifications and who teaches you about it. I prefer reading his books over talking to people.

Let it be peace among havoc.......2007-05-06

Soothing reading. Thanks,James. I'm just about to finish reading all of your books. Please, write some more.

A life saver!!.......2004-01-20

This book brought me back from the depths of despair! I HIGHLY recommend it for anyone experiencing extreme guilt, grief, loss, betrayal, doubt, loneliness, depression, despair, obsession, addiction, anger, fear, angst or anxiety. The book goes through every one of these topics in great detail. It explains their causes, symptoms, and ways of overcoming them. It explains the opportunity for growth that is inherent in our struggles, providing inspiration and hope when it is most needed. I will warn that the author uses some vocabulary that non-psychologists won't know. Just keep your dictionary handy. It's well worth the effort.

The Deeply Authentic Life.......2003-05-17

For those of us who struggle with uncommonly difficult fates -- and the attendant uncommonly difficult mother, father and other nearly autonomous swollen complexes -- James Hollis is among the few unsentimental Jungian analysts who writes with an integral awareness of object relations theory and the DSM and the paradoxes of individuation and an authentically lived life of integrity. "Consciousness broadens and enriches us, though it may be dearly paid for." Good case and dream studies and a discerning teacher. An unfortunately melodramatic title, but recommended.

Book Description

This report demonstrates how commercial facilities similar to DoD installations implement integrated approaches to environmental management successfully.

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Good Baseball Stuff

A baseball fan's delight

A Little too Comprehensive for Me

A fun book any baseball fan can enjoy

This Isn't A Baseball Blunder At All

Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders: A Complete Guide to the Worst Decisions and Stupidest Moments in Baseball History
Rob Neyer
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Sports | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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Baseball Between the Numbers

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ASIN: 0743284917

Book Description

BLOOPER: BALL SQUIRTS THROUGH BILLY BUCKNER'S LEGS.

BLUNDER: BILLY BUCKNER'S MANAGER LEFT HIM IN THE GAME.

Baseball bloopers are fun; they're funny, even. A pitcher slips on the mound and his pitch sails over the backstop. An infielder camps under a pop-up...and the ball lands ten feet away. An outfielder tosses a souvenir to a fan...but that was just the second out, and runners are circling the bases (and laughing). Without these moments, the highlight reels wouldn't be nearly as entertaining. Baseball blunders, however, can be tragic, and they will leave diehard fans asking why...why...why?

Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders does its best to answer all those whys, exploring the worst decisions and stupidest moments of managers, general managers, owners, and even commissioners. As he did in his Big Book of Baseball Lineups, Rob Neyer provides readers with a fascinating examination of baseball's rich history, this time through the lens of the game's sometimes hilarious, often depressing, and always perplexing blunders.

· Which ill-fated move cost the Chicago White Sox a great hitter and the 1919 World Series?
· What was Babe Ruth thinking when he became the first (and still the only) player to end a World Series by getting caught trying to steal?
· Did playing one-armed Pete Gray in 1945 cost the Browns a pennant?
· How did winning a coin toss lead to the Dodgers losing the National League pennant on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'round the World"?
· How damaging was the Frank Robinson-for-Milt Pappas deal, really?
· Which of Red Sox manager Don Zimmer's mistakes in 1978 was the worst?
· Which Yankees trade was even worse than swapping Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps?
· What non-move cost Buck Showalter a job and gave Joe Torre the opportunity of a lifetime?
· Game 7, 2003 ALCS: Pedro winds up to throw his 123rd pitch...what were you thinking?

These are just a few of the legendary (and not-so-legendary) blunders that Neyer analyzes, always with an eye on what happened, why it happened, and how it changed the fickle course of history. And in separate chapters, Neyer also reviews some of the game's worst trades and draft picks and closely examines all the teams that fell just short of first place. Another in the series of Neyer's Big Books of baseball history, Baseball Blunders should win a place in every devoted fan's library.

Customer Reviews:

Good Baseball Stuff.......2007-07-11

Some really good baseball stuff in this book. Some of the blunders are questionable and I think he wanted to write about them and made it fit into the book. I would recommend it just for the baseball stories and lore.

A baseball fan's delight.......2007-07-03

Rob Neyer's book of baseball blunders is sure to please any baseball fan with a sense of history. Neyer analyzes 50 trades and decisions from 1917 through 2003. They range from well-known events such as Grady Little's decision to lift Pedro Martinez in the eighth inning of the 2003 American League Championship series and the trade of Roger Maris from the Kansas City Athletics to the New York Yankees in 1959 to lesser-known events such as the sale of Pee Wee Reese from the Boston Red Sox to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939 and the Kansas City Royals' signing of pitchers Mark and Storm Davis in 1989.

Neyer astutely analyzes these events, challenging long held opinions and impressions by looking at the facts. Neyer is a keen observer of baseball history and his analyses are interesting and sound. His sidebars in the margins of chapters are irresistible. Baseball fans can open this book to any chapter and start reading.

A Little too Comprehensive for Me.......2007-05-23

While I did enjoy this book, I have to admit that many of the events are too far in the past for me to truly appreciate them. I can't knock Neyer for not going into elaborate detail, because that's not really what this book is about. It isn't his job to build the social climate of the time, clubhouse pressures, etc. It is an interesting read that truly highlights the "hindsight is 20/20" cliche. I'd love to read the next version of this book 50 or 60 years from now so that I can read "Blunder: Pittsburgh Pirates trade Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez to Mets for Xavier Nady."

A fun book any baseball fan can enjoy.......2007-05-08

In Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Blunders, Neyer examines around fifty of the biggest baseball blunders in the history of the sport. The list (blunders of his own choosing) includes bad trades, poor personnel decisions and poor player performance. Neyer covers the entire history of baseball, yet focuses on modern day times. This book can be enjoyed by the casual fan. It is full of atecdotes and doesn't rely too much on a bunch of boring stats. Each chapter is a few pages long, allowing you to read bits and pieces at time or to skip parts you don't find interesting. This is a fun book for a baseball fan and would also make a great gift.

This Isn't A Baseball Blunder At All.......2007-04-17

Rob Neyer is a heck of a baseball book writer. What he writes about is interesting, informative, and innovative, in the sense that he makes "Big Book of Baseball Blunders" a very good read. Why is that, you ask? (Or more likely, "What do ya mean by that, Bunny?!!!") Well, I'll tell you this: everyone has their own opinion on what the biggest baseball blunders are. People can easily identify the top 4 or 5, most can figure outnext few, they can split on the several after that, and to finish off the top 25 blunders, it's everyone for themselves. There have been a LOT of blunders in baseball, almost all of which seemed like a good idea at the time but turned out bad for any number of reasons. Therefore, you'll never get a unanimous opinion on the top 25-50 biggest blunders in baseball. But, while I may not agree with Neyer's list in totality of the worst blunders in baseball, on each one he offers compelling evidence of why it should be considered one of the worst blunders, in ways that perhaps I hadn't considered before. That's what makes this book interesting, and informative - and innovative in the way the facts are presented to show why each was a bad, bad blunder. And that's why Neyer ranks up there in my list of baseball writers - he gives you something new to look at and think about.

Average customer rating:

Invaluable resource

if you buy this book

A must have and a must read for every "Gentleman"

Have you ever said to yourself,"I wish I hadn't said that.".

Entertaining, light read + some good advice

As A Gentleman Would Say
John Bridges , and Bryan Curtis
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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How to Be a Gentleman: A Contemporary Guide to Common Courtesy

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ASIN: 1558538461

Book Description

This easily accessible book focuses on those moments when knowing exactly what to say is an absolutely necessary challenge. From the light-hearted "how to react when someone turns you down for a date" or "what to say when you notice someone's fly is open" to the more serious "what to say to a co-worker who has had a miscarriage or to a friend who has suffered the sudden death of a parent," As A Gentleman Would Say differs from other etiquette books in that it not only offers suggestions for the correct thing to say in more than 100 social situations-it also gives examples of the wrong thing to say!

Customer Reviews:

Invaluable resource.......2007-08-23

Given to me by my mother....if a book could be your friend, this guy would be my best.

if you buy this book.......2006-11-04

If you buy this book it is not necessary to buy any of the other in the series. They each say the same thing.

A must have and a must read for every "Gentleman".......2006-09-15

This book is a must read for every man. Whether you are a recent graduate and just now entering the coorprate world or simply trying to impress in a job interview or impress your girlfriend's parents, this book is a must have or read.
The collectible edition of this book (the leather hard pack) makes a very nice gift.

Have you ever said to yourself,"I wish I hadn't said that."........2006-07-17

This isn't a very big book, but it is sure worth the price and time to read and to put some of the things discussed,into practice.
Saying the right thing ,particularly at a difficult time or about a subject that is a bit delicate,is much more important than we often realize.
The authors deal with a lot of conversations and give responses that often come to mind,but should be avoided. Then they give a response that would be much more appropriate for all involved, Then they give a short explanation of why a more gentlemanly or mannerly response is much better.
Of course,they cannot give a proper response for every situation;but after reading the book you will see that the basic principle is there to see. It is somewhat like the Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have others to do onto you".
In most cases,the reply you give should be the same as you would like to have received,if you were being replied to. People will make hurtful comments to you ,but don't fall for replying in a like manner. Stay above that and give a polite reply and move on.
Conversation,like most relationships,should be guided by the old adage; You'll catch more flies with honey than vinigar.
While there really isn't anything in the book that your Mom Or Dad couldn't have told you; it is still worth reading to remind us of how we should reply in a variety of situations.

Entertaining, light read + some good advice.......2004-03-09

If you often say the wrong thing or struggle with awkward moments (I do), this may be a good choice for you. You will find no discussion of table manners, proper attire, or other mannerly concerns. This book is all about conversation. A reasonable person will know most of the material here, but I am very confident that you will find 5 to 10 suggestions that you can use to navigate awkward situations. That makes it worth the price.

Book Description

Whether this is your first cruise or your fiftieth, the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2003 is the one book you'll need to find the perfect cruise. The revised and expanded eleventh edition features: what to look for in a ship and crew; authoritative reviews of over 256 major and lesser-known ships cruising the world's oceans and waterways, easy-to-use charts that help you evaluate which cruise is right for you, expert advice for all ages and interests, plus special sections for singles, families, and physically challenged passengers.

Customer Reviews:

If you're new to cruising this book is a "must" read.......2006-01-05

If there ever were a book that could vie for the title of "Bible on Cruising", I would readily put forth Ocean Cruising by Douglas Ward. It is without a doubt the most definitive guide to the subject I have ever seen. I did not use the word "read" because this is truly a reference manual to be used for research and fact-finding and not as a bedtime novel. It is a true encyclopedia of detailed information on just about every aspect of passenger ships sailing the seas today.

What is significant and unique about this book is that it not only covers the subject of traveling by ship but it outlines every last detail of some 256 cruise ships worldwide. In addition, this "bible" provides complete details of the companies that own the ships as well as every facility, activity and even menus offered for each and every ship listed.

My recommendation is for any traveler who has selected a cruise destination or cruise line or cruise ship for his or her holiday, the very next step should be to reach for a copy Ocean Cruising and then read about the specific vessel in question. By doing so, the traveler will be that much more informed, educated and acquainted with all aspects of the ship well before even boarding it for the trip.

Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2005.......2005-07-25

Comprehensive. An invaluable tool for those seeking to thoroughly research and compare cruise lines and ships.

Totally Unoriginal.......2005-04-13

Having been on 23 cruises and very familiar with many of the cruiselines and ships reviewed, I have to say that the last few editions as well as the present publication of this guide book are very disappointing..The ship descriptions are often inaccurate or carbon copies of other reviews for similar ships in the same class..There is also a lot of bias in reviews of certain ships falsly attacking aspects of certain ships from their amenties to the personality of the crew...There is a definate lack of research apparant in many of the reviews.. The book seems to be written by a man who's attitude is quite pretentious and unrealisitic for any person experienced or inexperienced to cruising.. Therefore, I would not recommend this book as a guide for anyone who wants to try cruising as the opinions and the ratings are not trustworthy, and are written from a very negative and overly critical, often exagerated point of view.

Inconsistent, repetitive, and inaccurate........2005-01-24

Perhaps this tome, or "bible" as the publisher calls it, should be laid to rest with this 20th edition! Having purchased several issues of this book over the years, I find that Mr. Ward and/or his team of reviewers are either allowed little time aboard these ships to actually witness them firsthand, or are more interested in bulk than substance.

Spliting the book in two pieces, the reader first is thoroughly exposed and taught about ALL aspects of modern cruising: Introduction to cruising; picking the right ship; ports and regions, etc. All very useful information, and while not particularly telling, probably effective enough and certainly thorough.

The second portion of the book are the actual reviews of the ships. Here is where the clumsy inaccuracies and bulky repetitive commentary are unavoidable and unfortunate. In a past version of this work the author wrote one review for identical sister ships and would refer you back to the initial review - now we have eight reviews for all of Carnival's "Fantasy" class ships. Had each review actually told us something unique about each ship that would be all well and good, but the text is a carbon copy that has been not-so-cleverly cut & pasted from one ship to the next. Most embarassingly, often times the editor has accidentally cut a portion of the review, re-inserted it for another ship (to make the text appear slightly different) but neglects to remove it from the original place in the review thereby having duplicate text! Not sure if this should be the responsibility of the author, the editor, or the renown and revered Berlitz?

Furthermore, the editorial page asks for the reader to write to Mr. Ward with corrections to outdated information. If the author knows that "Sovereign of the Seas" has had a recent refit and now has a bar/lounge called "Bolero's", how is it that he doesn't know that the dining rooms are no longer called "Kismet" & "Gigi"??? If the "Zuiderdam" has "a complete wrap-around promenade deck, which is enjoyed by many", why does the review go on to say, "....has an exterior promenade deck - something new for this traditional cruise line. Although it DOESN'T go around the whole ship...."??? Additionally, Holland America Line ships (Zuiderdam) have ALWAYS had wrap-around promenade decks.

One last gripe. Since I HAVE been reading (and buying) this book over the years, it is also apparent with this edition that the author is now borrowing word-for-word text from past ships in past texts. I guess the former Rotterdam (1959) which used to be, "like a well worn shoe" is now valid for the QE2.

For 1st time cruisers, this book is too textbook-ish and reads like a manual. For experienced cruisers, stick to brochures and online reviews from passengers like yourselves. Personally, I won't be spending another $25.00.

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