Social and Political Dynamics of the Informal Economy in African Cities

Book Description

In Africa, urbanites have used their ethnicity, friendship, and rural places of origin to cement their life in the cities, most particularly in the development of small enterprises. Social and Political Dynamics of the Informal Economy in African Cities explores how informal economies in African cities operate.

Book Description

This book discusses the American legal system and laws affecting the fire service -- both career and volunteer. It is written in laymen's language, not legalese, and is designed to help keep fire service personnel out of legal trouble.

Customer Reviews:

A Definite Must for Fire Personnel.......2000-06-03

This is an excellent book for members of the fire service and for individuals interested in the law as it pertains to today's fire service. It is informative and easy for the law layman to read. It describes the law and provides relevant and up to date examples of the concept presented. This book is a definite must for fire personnel.

Doctors, lawyers pursue WC claims. (workers' compensation): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management

Average customer rating:

Doctors, lawyers pursue WC claims. (workers' compensation): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management
Alfred G. Haggerty
Manufacturer: The National Underwriter Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management, published by The National Underwriter Company on April 6, 1992. The length of the article is 483 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Doctors, lawyers pursue WC claims. (workers' compensation)
Author: Alfred G. Haggerty
Publication: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 6, 1992
Publisher: The National Underwriter Company
Issue: n14 Page: p3(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

How L.A. is attacking workers' comp. (Commentary).(Los Angeles, California)(Brief Article): An article from: San Diego Business Journal

Average customer rating:

How L.A. is attacking workers' comp. (Commentary).(Los Angeles, California)(Brief Article): An article from: San Diego Business Journal
Howard Fine
Manufacturer: CBJ, L.P.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from San Diego Business Journal, published by CBJ, L.P. on June 2, 2003. The length of the article is 2221 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: How L.A. is attacking workers' comp. (Commentary).(Los Angeles, California)(Brief Article)
Author: Howard Fine
Publication: San Diego Business Journal (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 2, 2003
Publisher: CBJ, L.P.
Volume: 24 Issue: 22 Page: 31(1)

Article Type: Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

No-fault plan in Calif. would cut rates 12%, study claims. (RAND Institute for Civil Justice): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management

Average customer rating:

No-fault plan in Calif. would cut rates 12%, study claims. (RAND Institute for Civil Justice): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management
Alfred G. Haggerty
Manufacturer: The National Underwriter Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Industry | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Insurance | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B00092J028
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management, published by The National Underwriter Company on December 16, 1991. The length of the article is 1036 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: No-fault plan in Calif. would cut rates 12%, study claims. (RAND Institute for Civil Justice)
Author: Alfred G. Haggerty
Publication: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 16, 1991
Publisher: The National Underwriter Company
Issue: n50 Page: p1(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Self-insurers take aim at 'unprofessional' lawyers. (Self-Insurance Review): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management

Average customer rating:

Self-insurers take aim at 'unprofessional' lawyers. (Self-Insurance Review): An article from: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management
Angela K. Calise
Manufacturer: The National Underwriter Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00092IDKI
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management, published by The National Underwriter Company on October 14, 1991. The length of the article is 807 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Self-insurers take aim at 'unprofessional' lawyers. (Self-Insurance Review)
Author: Angela K. Calise
Publication: National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 14, 1991
Publisher: The National Underwriter Company
Issue: n41 Page: p17(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

From 1993-1995 the People's Republic of China undertook a series of reforms designed to modernize their banking and financial systems, the process of financial intermediation and to implement a sound and credible monetary policy in China. They based these reforms on the Federal Reserve System in the USA. This book analyzes these reforms and assesses the effectiveness of the monetary policy that was put in place and shows whether it can withstand China's accession to the WTO.

Customer Reviews:

China Review International, Vol.10, No.2 Fall 2003: 399-403.......2004-11-06

Review written by Professor Wang, Department of Economics, University of Hawaii

......"highly recommend this book. It contains detailed information on the development of China's financial markets, especially on how the functions of the central bank have changed during the different stages of economic development. Most scholars agree that a country's financial system is crucial to economic growth, and the central bank should play a key role in the process of creating such a healthy financial system. China's experience certainly deserves greater attention. Again, this is a topic on which one cannot find many good studies, and this book offers a good starting point."

The successful economic reforms implemented in China since 1978 has gained tremendous international attention. The latest statistics and estimates show that by the end of 2002 China's nominal GDP per capita has reached one thousand dollars-and this number may actually have surpassed four thousand if calculated by the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) method. However, neither did this economic achievement happen overnight nor has the benefit been distributed equally across the country. Inequality and unbalance are pervasive across regions, occupations, industries, and economic sectors.

Before 1978, China was one of a few centrally planned economies. Agricultural production was organized collectively as communes. Industrial production was mainly carried out by state-owned enterprises, which formed the backbone of the national economy. Urban collectives played only supplemental roles, while private, individual, and foreign enterprises were almost nonexistent. State-owned enterprises followed central government production plans instead of market demand. Their capital investments, wage allowances, and even personnel placements were allocated directly from the central planner. They simply carried out the designated production plan and turned over all of the output and profits. All expenses were covered by central plans as well, including possible economic losses. Raised in this kind of environment, state-owned enterprises were not used to market competition. Workers in such enterprises were said to have "iron rice bowls," which meant that they had the security of lifetime jobs and benefits.

Besides the industrial sector, several service sectors were also dominated by state-owned enterprises-for example, the banking and telecommunications sectors. The 1978 reforms started with the agricultural sector by dismantling the commune system and instituting a return to family farming (i.e. the household responsibility system). Most scholars agree that urban industrial reform picked up in the mid-1980s, when a large number of non-state enterprises became dominant market forces. Some scholars believe that currently the non-state component accounts for more than 50 percent of China's national economy.

However, the financial sector is one of the last fortresses of the state-run economy. The four largest state-owned banks still control more than 75 percent of total deposits and loans. Despite a tremendous effort from the central government to make them "commercial" banks, they are far from operating like regular commercial banks. Banking reform has become a bottleneck that impedes further economic growth. Moreover, in compliance with the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement, China's financial market will soon be opened to both domestic and foreign competition. Time is running out for the state-owned banks to adapt and brace for the coming challenges.

This volume is one of only a few studies that are devoted solely to this particular topic. There are any number of books on China's economic development, but most of them do not provide such a thorough, complete, and up-to-date view of this issue. The topic is a narrow but important one, and the author has done a good job covering it-and has provided a useful text for introductory courses on China's financial system as well.

A general-to-specific-approach has been adopted in the arrangement of the contents. After a brief introduction, the next four chapters discuss the evolution of the system by period, in chronological order: (1) the period before 1978, when socialist central banking predominated; (2) 1978-1992, the period of structural change in the banking system, that is, when commercial banking was separated from central banking; (3)1993-1997, the years when the central bank began to function actively, for example in stimulating growth and controlling inflation; and (4) 1998-2001, the period of the Asian Financial crisis and new challenges. Chapter 5 focuses on the impact of accession to the WTO, chapter 6 provides some empirical analysis, and chapter 7 concludes the volume. It is fairly easy for general readers to find those parts that might interest them and skip others that might be too technical. In general, this book is still suitable for readers with minimal background in economics.

Chapter 1 briefly summarizes the key features of the central banking system before reform. Simply put, the People's Bank of China (PBC) functioned as both central bank and commercial bank. PBC, the people's Construction Bank of China (PCBC), and the Bank of China (BOC) together formed the so-called "monobank"system. In particular, the PCBC was in charge of allocating capital investment grants to state-owned enterprises, while the BOC specialized in foreign transactions. State planning was carried out through a credit plan (for business enterprises) and a cash plan (for household consumption).

Chapter 2 details the stage-one reforms of the banking system. Two major reforms conducted in this period were the separation of central banking from commercial banking and the creation of state-owned commercial banks. In 1984, PBC was made the central bank of China. Its commercial ventures were transferred to the newly established Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Earlier, in 1978, the Agriculture Bank of China (ABC) had been established to promote rural development. As a result, China's banking system shows a hierarchical structure, with PBC as the central bank, and ICBC, PCBC, ABC, and BOC as the four major state-owned commercial banks. Meanwhile, China also saw the beginning of non-state financial institutions such as shareholding banks, financial corporations, and even foreign banks. Unlike in the pre-reform era, both state and non-state commercial banks gradually began to form a new, decentralized financial market.

While the new commercial banking system is getting into shape, there have been drastic changes in the function of PBC as the central bank of China. Chapter 3 focuses on how PBC had used both monetary aggregates and interest rate controls to promote economic development and combat inflation. There were several episodes of credit expansion and contraction between 1993 and 1997, and these were the direct result of PBC's activist monetary policies. Even though these measures still resembled the policies of a centrally planned economy, they were necessary at a time when a well-functioning financial market did not exist. On the other hand, these policies turned out to be very effective in maintaining a healthy economic environment, which is important to the long-run benefit of the economy. Another important achievement during this period was the convergence of the dual exchange-rate system; by 1994, the official exchange rate finally merged with the market exchange rate, a move that greatly facilitated international transactions.

China's domestic economy was relatively unharmed by the Asian financial crisis of 1997. A strong Chinese currency also contributed to regional economic stability. One major reason why China was not too adversely affected by the crisis was that it maintained tight control of foreign exchange. Chapter 4 explains in detail how and why PRC government policies, in particular the monetary policies of the PBC, insulated the domestic economy from the turmoil outside China. An understanding of this type of experience should be of value to central banks in both developing and developed countries.

On December 11, 2001, China became a member of the World Trade Organization. This pushed the marketization and liberalization of the domestic economy to new heights. Almost every sector had to make considerable adjustments before they could meet international standards and face new competition, and the financial sector was no exception. Chapter 5 explains the impact of WTO entry on the financial sector. First of all, domestic banks face competition from foreign banks. Second, because the domestic money/capital market is now merging with the international market, the effectiveness of the PBC's monetary policies has come into question. This has made the design of monetary policy a much more complicated task, requiring possible cooperation between central banks. Third, with foreign financial institutions becoming established inside China, PBC is faced with the setting up of uniform rules for both domestic and foreign institutions. This also poses a daunting task for the central bank in the supervising of both types of institutions. In particular, the biggest hurdle PBC now faces is the problem of so-called Non-performing-Loans (NPL). This is a most intricate problem because it involves not only the central bank and state-owned commercial banks but also thousands of state-owned enterprises. Neither banking reform nor industrial reform can be accomplished unless the NPLs problem is solved.

Review by Professor MarkTFung, Johns Hopkins University.......2004-07-18

Journal of Asian Studies Vol62 No4: 1218-9
by Professor MarkTFung, Johns Hopkins University

Based on his economics graduate work at the University of Chicago and his dissertation at New York University, Guo s book is a rare brevity and bounty that provides the vital linkage between the sequencing of monetary policy to various stages of banking reform in China. Overall, Guo s work is a breed apart in the sea of literature on monetary policy and banking reform in China.

Of the most pivotal decisions for China s top leaders, how to deal effectively with domestic banking reform while facing an onslaught of foreign banking interests in China by 2006(the year in which key features of the WTO accession protocol are effectuated) remains at the top of the policy agenda. At the first session of the tenth National People s Congress in March 2003, the establishment of a new regulatory body, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, separated the supervision and oversight powers of the People s Bank of China(PBOC), China s central bank, from its primary responsibility of utilizing monetary tools to achieve economic policy targets. This new watchdog agency will be charged with overseeing 110 commercial banks, which was once the domain of the PBOC. And with this responsibility comes an even greater pressure to alleviate the hundreds of billions of dollars in nonperforming loans at the four largest state banks. This bifurcation of bureaucratic interests should place the important task of banking reform in China on firmer ground.

In his book, Yong Guo is a Champion of and optimist about China s banking reforms. His work covers the period from 1949 to 2000 and captures economic data from 1978 to 2000. Guo s main argument is that, since Deng Xiaoping s reforms, China s implementation of monetary policy had been, in the main, on the correct course, given China s developmental track. He relies on Ronald I. McKinnon s 1993 celebrated theory of ?optimum order?-which was expounded upon in The Order of Economics Liberalization: Financial Control in the Transition to a Market Economy (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press)- to make his case. McKinnon s theory is consistent in regard to China s economic development in that the optimum order of economic liberalization is one in which the lifting of capital controls should be the very last order of things , only after a country?s financial house is completely squared away. This may help explain why China s economy was virtually unscathed from the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.
It was only a decade ago that inflation ravaged China at a rate of 13.19 percent in 1993, followed by 21.69 percent in 1994. It was the necessary tripwire for the PBOC finally to get serious about the formulation and implementation of monetary policy and then undertake its stated role as the central banker. And unbeknownst to Deng at the time, Guo argues, by his Southern Tour in 1992 actually perpetuated the country s inflation, Guo argues, by encouraging individuals and municipalities to invest and develop at a frenetic pace. As a consequence, the demand for money skyrocketed, and this led to spiraling inflation. The inherent problem was an utter lack of banking supervision, which allowed inter-bank lending practices to unravel in an unregulated fashion. As Guo notes, it was not until 1995 that China even promulgated a coherent set of national guidelines for inter-bank lending. With a penchant for profits and a blind eye toward the true defalt risk in loans, financial institutions in China simply hiked interest rates on loans and deposits in order to remain attractive and competitive with other banks.
A similar situation existed in the U.S. in the 1920s, Guo notes, which prompted the creation of Regulation Q, which provided an interest-rate ceiling under the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act (annual efforts to repeal Regulation Q have passed in the House but have stalled in the U.S. Senate). In the end, the PBOC s effective use of microeconomic tools, such as interest-rate targets, allowed for the soft landing in the China s economy, according to Guo. China s central bank had come a long way since the pre-reform days of 1949-78, when it functioned essentially as a glamorized cashier for the state, receiving deposits and assets from the state while at the same time paying out state-authorized liabilities.
We also learn about how the U.S. Federal Reserve system made its imprint on banking reform in China and the urgency surrounding the creation of a truly independent central banking system. But, the nature of Chinese politics still dictated a need for banks to serve purely policy interests outside of any financial calculus. China ?s banking reforms allowed the PBOC to become ostensibly independent of political interference.
The PBOC was finally emancipated from the burdens of making nonmonetary policy. China s central bank returned to its core competency of crafting monetary policy. The success of interest-rate targeting from 1993 to 1997 by the PBOC was more sheer accident than brilliance because , as Guo argues, the monetary tools at China s disposal were extremely limited, given its nascent government bond market. Hence, it seemed as though the default policy tool for China was to utilize interest rate targets.

Book Description

As dot.com became dot.bomb, the hype that surrounded the meteoric growth of the network economy has given way to realism or even skepticism about the potential of ICT as a source of new business models. It is now appropriate to reflect critically on the e-economy hype, and to use this as a way of looking forward to new, more realistic possibilities.

Using a business and socio-economic framework, this book investigates a range of challenges for restructuring the e-economy. Rigorous yet retaining the accessible format which distinguishes all the volumes in this series, this book provides a thorough critique of the prospects facing businesses in the new economy and will be of interest to anyone studying e-business/commerce.

E-Economy: Rhetoric or Business Reality (Routledge

Average customer rating:

E-Economy: Rhetoric or Business Reality (Routledge
Leslie (EDT)/ Harris, Lisa (EDT)/ Budd
Manufacturer: Routledge 30/11/2004
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MC240U

Average customer rating:

E-Economy: Rhetoric or Business Reality?
Lisa Harris
Manufacturer: Taylor & Francis, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MV7I16

Average customer rating:

E-Economy: Rhetoric or Business Reality?
Lisa Harris
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K206G6

Book Description

This monograph describes the origins of consumer class actions and analyzes their theoretical and practical problems.

Average customer rating:
Searching for Your ""Comfort Zone: Enhancing Your Customer Relationship in the Food Industry
Carl L. Barrett
Manufacturer: Vantage Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Customer Service | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0533140579

Book Description

This publication consists of a three-part yearbook (usually published in December) containing balance of payments statistics for most of the world, compiled in accordance with the IMF's Balance of Payments Manual. Part 1 of the yearbook includes aggregate as well as detailed information in the form of analytical and standard component presentations for countries. Part 2 provides tables of data, featuring area and world totals of balance of payments components and aggregates. Part 3 presents descriptions of methodologies, compilation practices, and data sources used by individual member countries in compiling their balance of payments and international investment position statistics.

Book Description

The introduction of a single currency within the European Union in its present form is without precedent in world history and will have far-reaching consequences for the future prosperity of the continent. Economic and Monetary Union in Europe, now available in paperback, brings together contributions from leading specialists which explain and evaluate the most important implications of economic and monetary union. The book examines theoretical aspects of monetary integration, illustrates the historical lessons to be learned from these and discusses the resulting policy consequences. This book will be essential reading for undergraduates studying European monetary integration and will prove to be a key source of reference for academics and post graduates working in this area.

Book Description

This yearbook contains basic information on export-import, investment and business opportunities in the respected country. Provides information on government structure, economy, business climate, regulations, and more... Includes basic statistics, information on the most important business contacts and business travel. Updated annually.

Russia Investment & Business Opportunities Yearbook (World Investment & Business Opportunities Library)

Average customer rating:

Russia Investment & Business Opportunities Yearbook (World Investment & Business Opportunities Library)
USA International Business Publications
Manufacturer: International Business Publications, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0739713396

Book Description

This yearbook contains information on investment business opportunities, international economic projects, tenders, government projects, marketing and export-import opportunities information.

St.Petersburg (Russia) Business and Investment Opportunities Yearbook

Average customer rating:

St.Petersburg (Russia) Business and Investment Opportunities Yearbook
USA International Business Publications
Manufacturer: Intl Business Pubns USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Exports & Imports | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 073974867X

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books