Economics Books

This book could be a good read for those interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities Singapore faces in a rapidly changing global landscape. Professor Chan Heng Chee provides insightful analysis on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States-China rivalry, and other global trends. Through her lectures, she delves into not just the difficulties Singapore encounters, but also explores how these circumstances can be harnessed to shape a resilient and adaptable future. A must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Singapore's path forward in an evolving world.

"From the Soil" offers a rare Chinese perspective on the distinguishing traits of Western and Chinese societies through Fei's in-depth analytical approach. This book is perfect for those interested in sociology and history, and seeks a fresh perspective on how society is shaped and organized differently across cultures.

China's emergence as a major international power is perhaps the most important development in world affairs of the 21st century. Now, this book provides an indispensable survey of that country, the world's largest-- a vast land with 1.4 billion people and the world's most dynamic economy. Over the past year, Dr. Bates Gill, C. Fred Bergsten, Nicholas R. Lardy, and Derek Mitchell have led four task forces through a rigorous exercise of investigation and intelligence, compiling and analyzing the authoritative data on China's economy, foreign and domestic policy, and national security. Now that material has been shaped into an accessible narrative filled with facts, but written for the general reader. The expert judgements presented in The Balance Sheet will inform policymakers in Washintgon, scholars and the business community for years to come.

This handbook provides a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of blockchain technology and its applications in finance. It also covers recent technological developments in China's finance industry and mobile security. The book is a great read for students and practitioners seeking to learn about alternative finance, financial inclusion, impact investing, decentralized consensus ledger, and applied cryptography. It offers practical insights that will be valuable to those interested in the subject matter.

The sixth edition of Peter Dicken's text has been updated and revised to give a comprehensive and accessible overview of the processes and impact of globalization. Students and tutors are provided with the tools and information needed to assess key features.

Why would a smart New York investment banker pay $12 million for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? By what alchemy does Jackson Pollock's drip painting No. 5, 1948 sell for $140 million?Intriguing and entertaining, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark is a Freakonomics approach to the economics and psychology of the contemporary art world. Why were record prices achieved at auction for works by 131 contemporary artists in 2006 alone, with astonishing new heights reached in 2007? Don Thompson explores the money, lust, and self-aggrandizement of the art world in an attempt to determine what makes a particular work valuable while others are ignored.This book is the first to look at the economics and the marketing strategies that enable the modern art market to generate such astronomical prices. Drawing on interviews with past and present executives of auction houses and art dealerships, artists, and the buyers who move the market, Thompson launches the reader on a journey of discovery through the peculiar world of modern art. Surprising, passionate, gossipy, revelatory, The $12 Million Stuffed Shark reveals a great deal that even experienced auction purchasers do not know.

The Lexus and the Olive Tree is a thought-provoking book that walks its readers through a complex topic, making it easy to understand. Thomas L. Friedman, in his signature style, blends his experiences, stories and insights to give an account of how globalization shapes the world we live in. The book challenges readers to find the balance between working towards common goals and preserving culture, tradition, and heritage, as the international system replaces Cold War divisions. It is a must-read for anyone looking to be enlightened on economics, world affairs, and the impacts of globalization.

Capitalism and the Information Age provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential problems and opportunities associated with the emerging technologies of the 21st century. It explores the ways in which these technologies are changing the landscape of global communication, shaping the modern labor force, and transforming the political and economic structures that underpin modern society. For those interested in the impact of technology on our world, Capitalism and the Information Age is a must-read.

Donald McCloskey's previous books, The Rhetoric of Economics and If You're So Smart, aimed to bring economics back into the wider conversation of the day. In Knowledge and Persuasion in Economics he carries the conversation further, into the seminars of philosophers. His message is that economics is a science, but a human science. It is properly mathematical, but literary too. His book is highly unusual: a work of technical economics that can be read by anyone, a witty guide to the ins and outs of economic philosophy expressed in plain English.

This book is a must-read for anyone curious about how neoliberalism shapes the world we live in. Through captivating case studies, Aihwa Ong reveals the surprising ways in which different regimes adapt and manipulate the neoliberal agenda to exert control and compete globally. By shedding light on the exceptions and transformations that occur within governing practices, Ong unravels the complex relationship between power, knowledge, and citizenship. Prepare to question the traditional boundaries of sovereignty and discover the emergence of an interactive mode of citizenship that values marketable skills over national identity.

Singapore: The Encyclopedia contains over 2,500 alphabetically arranged entries on a vast range of topics – practically everything the general reader might want to know about Singapore, four decades after the achievement of full independence. Readers will discover a depth and diversity that may surprise many who thought they know Singapore well, as well as a rich history that goes back many centuries.Here is a vast array of information on the Singapore’s history, geography, economy, law, politics, arts, culture, entertainment, architecture, food and natural history. Singapore’s political system is described, as well as its legal, educational and healthcare systems. Companies, clubs and associations, housing estates, festivals and customs – they all have a place in the book.The encyclopedia captures the shared memories and shared stories that have shaped the national identity. They include political events such as such as Separation and Confrontation, as well as emotionally charged disasters such as the Bukit Ho Swee Fire and the Nicoll Highway collapse.Individuals profiled include artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, members of the armed forces, priests, pastors, ulema, civil servants, entertainers, ambassadors, judges, sportsmen, and even murders.Overseen by a distinguished editorial advisory board under the Chairmanship of Professor Tommy Koh, this encyclopedia is the most wide-ranging and informative general reference book ever published.

No Ordinary Disruption could be a good read for business executives who want to stay ahead of the game and understand how to reset their intuition and assumptions in light of the new disruptive forces in the global economy. The book provides a depth of analysis and offers surprising insights into the four forces, including the rise of emerging markets and the accelerating impact of technology on market competition. The book warns of potential risks and challenges that individuals and companies may face as a result of these forces colliding. If you want to understand the new facts of business life, No Ordinary Disruption is a must-read.

"We live in paradoxical times. Traditionally, the West has led the world in theory and practice. Yet, recent developments, from COVID-19 to the storming of the US Capitol, show how lost the West has become. This loss of direction has deep roots. In their usual thoughtful and incisive fashion, Lim Mah-Hui and Michael Heng Siam-Heng, draw out the deeper origins of our current crises and show us a new way forward. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand our strange times." -- Kishore Mahbubani, founding Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, is the author of Has China Won?"A powerful and compelling critique of neoliberal globalization and its potentially devastating, but long underestimated, consequences for financial stability, the environment, social equity and democracy. COVID-19 has laid bare these dysfunctions and stresses. But this is not a pessimistic book. The authors argue, correctly, that we may be on the cusp of another Great Transformation. The choices we make today to make markets more resilient, improve social protection, and preserve our freedoms could lay the foundations for a sustainable globalization that works for future generations." -- Donald Low, Professor of Practice in Public Policy and Director of the Institute for Emerging Market Studies, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology"This fascinating book highlights the interplay between financial and health crises that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed. Financialized capitalism is bad for the planet, bad for human health, and creates more unequal and insecure societies. The authors make a strong and convincing case for re-embedding markets into society and finance into the real economy." --Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA"Lim and Heng's ambitious volume argues that 2020 was the year of the global 'perfect storm' of multiple crises, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating financial, economic, socio-political and environmental breakdowns. They extend Karl Polanyi's original insights to appeal for a sustainable global New Deal. While the reader may not agree with all their theses, the scope of their coverage and ambition will set the stage for debates over the annus horribilis." -- Jomo K.S., Founder-chair, IDEAS www.network.ideas; former United Nations Assistant Secretary General"This book provides plenty of food for thought for many pondering if the COVID-19 crisis could lead to a major transformation of the global economic system shaped by unfettered market forces and policies of governments in their service."-- Yilmaz Akyuz, former Director, UNCTAD, Geneva

Jihad vs. McWorld provides a thought-provoking analysis of the conflicts between capitalist globalization and tribal fundamentalism through a historical lens. It explains how these opposing forces are co-dependent, impacting democracy as we know it. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to delve into the complexities of today's global political landscape.

Just as the fabled Icarus of Greek mythology was able to fly so high, so close to the sun, that his wax wings melted and he plunged into the sea, this same paradox can apply to outstanding companies - their very success seduces them into the excesses that cause their downfall. "The Icarus Paradox" is a breathtaking account of what creates stellar business success, and at the same time, sows the seeds of corporate failure. After researching over 200 companies, Miller discovered that success imperils an organization through the momentum it creates and he has coined a new language to describe the rise and fall of major corporations. Craftsmen such as Ford and Texas Instruments have become concerned only with the products they have created, totally oblivious to the markets they have lost. Pioneers such as Wang and Apple have become escapists, so caught up in searching for breakthroughs that they create often brilliant yet commercially useless products.

A revised and abridged version of the introductory textbook Economics, 3rd Edition by the same author. Covers markets in action, the supply decision, wages and the distribution of income, aggregate demand and supply, the determination of national income and the role of fiscal policy, unemployment and inflation, international trade, and the balance of payments and exchange rates. Each chapter concludes with a summary and study questions. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Cities around the world are becoming increasingly popular as economic powerhouses and magnets for migrants from rural and suburban areas. All big cities in First and Third World countries as well as emerging markets such as New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Delhi, Jakarta etc. have to cope with high population density and serious challenges such as air pollution or traffic congestion. How do we pack more people into big cities and yet continue to realise a high quality of life? How do we plan, create and manage 'good cities' which are safe, spacious, green, connected, fair and resilient? How can cities create economic wealth while still fulfilling the vision of sustaining our "Green Planet"? What are best practice designs and innovative technical smart city solutions which could be leveraged to tackle these challenges and how can they be successfully commercialised? These are some of the questions the reader addresses from a multi-disciplinary perspective with special reference to Singapore whose development from regional entrepôt to First World Metropolis continues to impress business and societal leaders around the world. The book's contents are broadly structured according to the following (i) definition and taxonomy of innovative & sustainable cities, including its core characteristics and how they create value in terms of innovativeness and sustainability; (ii) governance, planning and selected design principles of innovative & sustainable cities and how they pan out with regard to livability and sustainability; and (iii) in-depth study of selected smart city dimensions such as governance, clustering, connectivity, mobility, ageing, water, sports, and safety.

If you are interested in understanding the challenges and issues faced by Singapore in the 21st century despite its success story, this book would be an excellent read. Written by a senior fellow at ISEAS, the book provides unique insights on Singapore's economic, social and political landscape, with a focus on identifying potential challenges in the future.