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U.S. Border Security: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by Judith Ann WarnerThis text provides an integrated view of post-9/11 security concerns over the United States's shared border with Mexico and Canada in regards to terrorism, unauthorized migration, drug and arms smuggling, and other illegal trade.The challenges facing U.S. Customs and Border Patrol are daunting. There are 19,841 miles of American land and water boundaries to protect, and 95,000 miles of shoreline and defined air space subject to homeland security surveillance. Additionally, the booming drug trade across the U.S.-Mexico border, combined with the ever-increasing number of migrants wanting to reach our land of opportunity, has resulted in a grim death toll: more than 5,000 known migrant deaths have occurred along the U.S.-Mexico border during 1995–2008, and in 2009, an estimated 9,635 Mexicans were killed in drug-related violence, with 2,573 people killed in Ciudad Juarez alone.U.S. Border Security focuses on the contrast between border security before and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This text also examines the controversial topics of illegal immigration, counterterrorism, drug and weapons trafficking, human smuggling, the impact of border security on the movement of people and goods, and the effect of the war on terrorism on civil and human rights.
Trust Rules: How to Tell the Good Guys from the Bad Guys in Work and Life
by Linda K. StrohTrust is at the root of all positive relationships. This accessible and empowering book teaches how to form an inner circle of trusted confidants in your workplace and at home that will allow you to live a more peaceful and more effective life, reduce stress, and better deal with negative emotions.Building trust is crucial for effective leadership, and trusting others is a necessary part of working with others. But knowing whom to trust—and whom not to trust—eludes many people. A surprising number of people report that being betrayed by someone in their "inner circle" either at work or in their personal lives is one of the most devastating things they have endured. Lack of trust is also expensive in that it costs companies money to surveil employees; and in our personal lives, if we live with people we cannot trust, we expend needless amounts of energy protecting ourselves from these untrustworthy people. How do we increase trust, bounce back from betrayal, and form alliances and positive relationships with those who ARE trustworthy?This book provides a unique examination of trust and its often-overlooked importance to our work and personal lives. It identifies the characteristics of a trusting relationship, considers the decision-making process that people should make before granting individuals admission to their own "inner circle," and teaches how to tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys" in our work environments and life in general. This revised and updated edition contains new information on the negative mental and physical aspects of telling lies; how to better manage our emotions, which allows us to become "better guys" ourselves; strategies for building more trusting relationships in our families; and how trust works—and doesn't work—online in the Internet age. It also includes a useful "Family Board Meeting" tool for having family meetings in a way that encourages honest and open dialogue between family members regardless of age or family structure.
Trump, Trade, and the End of Globalization
by David Steven JacobyProvides a roadmap for mature industrialized countries to contribute to and benefit from global trade on new terms.Global trade is heading toward chaos. Globalization has in part been a zero-sum game over the last 20 years, as China's middle and upper classes have grown sharply while Western economies have stagnated. Wealthy countries, most notably the United States and the United Kingdom, are now on the brink of abandoning free trade as it includes both the principles and the theories behind it because their economies cannot compete with those of China and some developing countries. Prevailing protectionist attitudes and policies are based on short-term thinking and will disappoint future generations. According to author David S. Jacoby, a "new multilateralism" can provide a way out of this impending disaster by preserving innovation and growth while also curbing the impact of countries that manipulate currency, disparage the environment, and violate human rights. Jacoby clearly explains how industrialized nations can compete on a basis of differentiated technology and innovation while letting developing countries compete on a basis of manufacturing, components, and materials and makes a strong case for why the West should recommit to global trade.
The Traveling Economist: Using Economics to Think about What Makes Us All So Different and the Same
by Todd A. KnoopThis fascinating book introduces travelers—of the body or the mind—to a few simple economic concepts that will help them to think differently and more deeply about the differences between the people and the places they visit during their journeys.The principles and mechanics of economics are firmly rooted in everything around us, in our home country as well as in every nation and culture around the world. Having a basic grasp of economics can help all travelers to think more carefully about why things work differently in different places. Armed with this knowledge, readers will be equipped to better appreciate—and learn from—the beauty and complexity of the world around us.The Traveling Economist: Using Economics to Think about What Makes Us All So Different and the Same illustrates important economic concepts that every traveler and world citizen should understand. Employing clear, jargon-free explanations and illustrated with real-life examples, Knoop uniquely focuses on the interplay between travel and economics. He uses our shared travel experiences to illustrate exactly how economic thinking supplies such a powerful framework for understanding the world around us. More than simply explaining economics through travel experiences, this book enables adventurers who desperately want to avoid being tourists—i.e., people who travel to see what they know is there—to become explorers: those who learn each and every day from what they witness.
Transgender in the Workplace: The Complete Guide to the New Authenticity for Employers and Gender-Diverse Professionals
by Vanessa SheridanOffering a fresh and practical perspective for employers and gender-diverse professionals, this book presents useful tools, information, and resources to help organizations and individuals to understand and leverage the power of gender authenticity as a pathway to business success.The unemployment rate for gender-diverse individuals is disproportionately high. This book will help employers to better understand why this blatant discrepancy exists. It also provides useful solutions and potential remedies for the problem in the form of gender authenticity, an exciting and powerful concept that is taking the global business community in innovative directions.The breakthrough paradigm of gender authenticity is helping many organizations to become more inclusive while simultaneously gaining a significant competitive advantage. The author, a leading diversity consultant, introduces five fundamentals for creating gender-authentic workplaces. Human resource and diversity professionals will not find a more useful source than this book to help people and organizations to deal effectively with the issue of gender diversity on the job, and gender-diverse employees will learn new strategies for advancing their careers while achieving and maintaining gender authenticity.
To Establish Justice for All [3 volumes]: The Past and Future of Civil Legal Aid in the United States [3 volumes]
by Earl JohnsonFor over a century, many have struggled to turn the Constitution's prime goal "to establish Justice" into reality for Americans who cannot afford lawyers through civil legal aid. This book explains how and why.American statesman Sargent Shriver called the Legal Services Program the "most important" of all the War on Poverty programs he started; American Bar Association president Edward Kuhn said its creation was the most important development in the history of the legal profession. Earl Johnson Jr., a former director of the War on Poverty's Legal Services Program, provides a vivid account of the entire history of civil legal aid from its inception in 1876 to the current day. The first to capture the full story of the dramatic, ongoing struggle to bring equal justice to those unable to afford a lawyer, this monumental three-volume work covers the personalities and events leading to a national legal aid movement—and decades later, the federal government's entry into the field, and its creation of a unique institution, an independent Legal Services Corporation, to run the program. The narrative also covers the landmark court victories the attorneys won and the political controversies those cases generated, along with the heated congressional battles over the shape and survival of the Legal Services Corporation. In the final chapters, the author assesses the current state of civil legal aid and its future prospects in the United States.
Thriving in Retirement: Lessons from Baby Boomer Women
by Anne C. Ph.D. Judith Ann FeuerhermThis important book shares insights derived from surveys, interviews, and focus groups conducted with a diverse group of first-wave Baby Boomer female professionals (born 1946–1956). These individuals changed the workplace in the 1970s and are now changing views of retirement.In Thriving in Retirement: Lessons from Baby Boomer Women, profiles of highly diverse professional women are interwoven with information gleaned from surveys, interviews, and focus groups, thereby allowing readers to identify with individuals similar to themselves, whether through profession, education, personal concerns, or demographics. In spite of dissimilarities in backgrounds, career paths, and personal experiences, these women have much in common. As they leave their full-time careers, they are committed to exploring new post-career identities while finding ways to stay engaged, share their professional expertise, and develop deeply held personal interests and passions they may have set aside in the past. The Baby Boomer women profiled here reveal details such as the early influences on their education and career choices, the aspects of their careers they enjoyed the most, the opportunities and roadblocks they encountered, as well as how they balanced marriage and family responsibilities with their careers. Readers will benefit from the examples set by these women, whose diversity and varying experiences provide inspiration for nearly anyone of retirement age who finds herself wondering "What's next?"
Thirteen Persistent Economic Fallacies
by E. MishanE. J. Mishan, an iconoclastic economist who has taught at such schools as the London School of Economics and the New School for Social Research, is in this volume a provocateur, smashing staunchly held beliefs of the right (free trade and common markets are good for the economy), and the left (local jobs are always lost when factories close down, pay disparity between men and women signifies discrimination). He also pokes holes in the accepted wisdom held by all, arguing for example that economic growth does not necessarily improve lives. Those who believe the fallacies Mishan exposes to the light of reason in this book are, however, neither ignorant nor careless. The fallacies are all plausible, and intelligent people can be forgiven for believing them. Mishan simply wants readers to see these thirteen popular, persistent fallacies for what they are: Humbug.Mishan's scintillating text is apolitical. In arguing that immigration does not benefit a country's economy, for example, he is not arguing in favor of restricting immigration. Rather, his goal is to test the assumptions behind the dearly held positions of both the left and the right or to expose what he calls the breathtaking fatuity that counts as wisdom these days. Mishan wants to interject common sense and logic into today's debates over the economy and, especially, the political arguments that translate into legislation that has a negative impact on people. Mishan's ideas breathe new life into debates gone stale by ideology. As he notes, the fallacies in this volume travel in the highest circles, from debates in Congress to the pages of the Wall Street Journal, Time, and The Economist. Most are things everybody knows. He hopes, therefore, to expose the concerned citizen to the shock-treatment of discovering that much of what passes for conventional economic wisdom is in fact fallacious. As the Economist pointed out in its glowing review of the first edition of this book, Dr. Mishan has written the perfect book for anyone wishing to start the study of economics.
Terrorist Criminal Enterprises: Financing Terrorism through Organized Crime (Praeger Security International)
by Christopher A. Kojm Kimberley L. Thachuk Rollie LalThis cohesive set of case studies collects scholarly research, policy evaluation, and field experience to explain how terrorist groups have developed into criminal enterprises.Terrorist groups have evolved from orthodox global insurgents funded by rogue sponsors into nimble and profitable transnational criminal enterprises whose motivations are not always evident. This volume seeks to explain how and why terrorist groups are often now criminal enterprises through 12 case studies of terrorist criminal enterprises written by authors who have derived their expertise on terrorism and/or organized crime from diverse sources. Terrorist groups have been chosen from different regions to provide the global coverage.Chapters describe and analyze the actors, actions, problems, and collaborations of specific terrorist criminal enterprises. Other elements discussed include links to such facilitating conditions as political culture, corruption, history, economy, and issues of governance. This work advances scholarship in the field of counterterrorism by expanding the understanding of these terrorist groups as entities not driven purely by ideology but rather by the criminal enterprises with which they often coincide.
Taxation (Student Guides to Business and Economics)
by David A. DieterleThis engaging and accessible book is a must-read for every taxpayer, young and old. It explores the many forms of taxation; how taxes are created, collected, and spent; and why certain aspects of taxation are so controversial."In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Benjamin Franklin wrote this now-famous quote more than 200 years ago, and taxation remains just as important (and inevitable) today as then. Taxes are a fact of life for almost everyone, and the public goods and services they pay for are enjoyed by all citizens. While taxes are undeniably necessary, the specifics of what should be taxed, who should pay taxes, and at what rate remain hotly debated by economists, government officials, and regular citizens. The first in Greenwood's new Student Guides to Business and Economics series, Taxation gives readers an in-depth yet reader-friendly look at one of economics' foundational concepts. Using simple language and relevant real-world examples, the book explores the different forms of taxation, the necessary components of any tax, how taxes are created and collected, and much more. It also highlights contemporary controversies related to taxation, including whether or not "sin taxes" actually discourage unwanted behaviors like smoking and how best to simplify the tax filing process.
Tax Reform: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by James John JurinskiAn authoritative but accessible reference, this book enables anyone to truly understand both the background and operation of the U.S. tax system and current tax reform proposals.Dissatisfaction with high taxes is literally an American tradition; indeed, the American Revolution that led to the founding of the United States started as a tax revolt. Today, widespread displeasure with our tax system continues, as demonstrated by the strong anti-tax position of the recent Tea Party movement.Tax Reform: A Reference Handbook, Second Edition introduces lay readers to taxes in general, the U.S. tax system in particular, and the issues involved in reforming the system. Details regarding past tax reform measures are provided to lend relevance and perspective to recent tax reform proposals, such as replacing the income tax (and the IRS) with a federal sales tax. The author stresses political rather than technical issues, and presents all viewpoints on this hotly debated topic fairly.
Tapping the Wisdom That Surrounds You: Mentorship and Women
by Elizabeth GhaffariAre you seeking the perfect mentor or life adviser—an ideal guide, no matter what the challenge? This book provides a unique and new road map for a modern world, demonstrating that the wisdom we seek surrounds us at every turn.As a professional speaker about leadership and as a coach and judge of entrepreneurial business competitions, author Elizabeth Ghaffari found that those seeking "a mentor, coach, or sponsor" often had no idea where to find such support—or knew what they needed to receive from such a relationship. In this book, readers will learn how to recognize invaluable mentorship and guidance all around them—from family members, at school, at work, in recreational and social settings, in the media and politics, and even from those who have left us. The true-life stories and testimonials presented will inspire and motivate you to endure, succeed, and prevail.This fun-to-read book contains the definitive answer to the question "How can I find a mentor?" as well as unique insights that young women can apply to transition into becoming successful leaders and define long-term success for themselves. Similarly, readers with more career experience will derive affirmation, motivation, and encouragement from peers as they chart their own leadership course.
Student Debt: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by William Elliott III Melinda K. LewisOffering answers to essential questions about student debt and many connected issues, this book examines student debt in the United States at every stage of the process—from the banks that issue the loans to the colleges and universities that collect the payments.Student lending in the United States is one of the most controversial issues in contemporary American discourse. Are these loans the only option for Americans who want to attend college and university in order to attain the best careers and have a productive, enjoyable life? Should the predatory lending practices of for-profit colleges and universities be stopped? How can limits be imposed on student lending amounts without preventing students from getting the education they need to succeed?The book explains why so many students are borrowing large amounts of money to attend college; considers whether the cost of higher education is simply too high, and if there should be a cap on how much money students can borrow; explains what is contributing to the rising rate of borrowers defaulting on their loans; and predicts whether the so-called student loan bubble is in danger of popping. The Data and Documents chapter analyzes data gathered from discussions about student debt. This information enables readers to better understand who is borrowing student loans, what the money from the student loans is going toward, what individuals have the authority to decide who qualifies for these loans, and what is being done to curb wasteful student spending.
Strategic Management in the 21st Century [3 volumes]: [3 volumes]
by Timothy J. Wilkinson Vijay R. Kannan Emily Amdurer Brian S. Anderson Yara A’Sad Arindam Bandopadhyaya Laura Birou Matthias Bollmus Lance Eliot Brouthers Kristen Callahan William Christensen Linda Clark-Santos Krishna S. Dhir Frances H. Fabian Michael Fuerst Franco Gandolfi Robert P. Garrett Jr. Soumen Ghosh Tracy L. Gonzalez-Padron R. Scott Harris Aaron Hayden Tom Hinthorne Ronald J. Hrebenar Bianca Jochimsen James S. Keebler Dawn Keig David R. King James R. Kroes C. Jay Lambe Hwanwoo Lee Jennifer Leonard Edward Levitas Andrew Manikas Drew Martin Amitava Mitra Robert Moussetis George Nakos Nancy K. Napier Andrew Schnackenberg Andreas Schotter Matthew Semadeni Yong-Chul Shin Marc D. Sollosy Loren M. Stangl Juan Pablo Stegmann Mary B. Teagarden Andrew R. Thomas Edward C. Tomlinson Quan Hoang Vuong Alison Wall Steve Werner Robert R. Wiggins Robert D. WinsorCovering both practical and theoretical aspects of strategic management, this three-volume work brings the complex topic down to earth and enables readers to gain competitive business advantages in their marketplace.This clear, insightful, and interesting work covers all aspects of strategic management, including chapters that discuss SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis, the Resource-Based View, transaction cost economics, and real options theory. Unlike other books, this three-volume work examines strategic management from different perspectives, effectively interweaving seemingly disparate subdisciplines, such as entrepreneurship and international business, with specialized foci, such as creativity, innovation, and trust. Incorporating information from contributors as varied as a proprietor of a worldwide motorcycle business to one of the most published scholars in the field of international strategic management, the practical and theoretical perspectives presented in Strategic Management in the 21st Century will benefit business strategists, professors of strategic management, and graduate students in the field.
Stocks and Bonds (Student Guides to Business and Economics)
by Todd A. KnoopThis engaging book offers a primer on stocks and bonds, using easy-to-understand language to explain how they function and why they are important. It will be a valuable resource for both economics students and readers interested in investing.Although news outlets provide daily updates on stock market performance, many Americans have little understanding of how stocks and stock exchanges work. Yet stocks, along with government and corporate bonds, represent two key cornerstones of modern economics. While the average American may think of them as simply two types of investments, stocks and bonds have impacts on the economy that go far beyond the realm of personal finance.The latest volume in Greenwood's new Student Guides to Business and Economics series, Stocks and Bonds gives readers an in-depth yet reader-friendly look at these integral components of the U.S. and global economy. It explores the different types of bonds, how stocks and stock exchanges work, and why periodic crashes and crises occur. It explains fundamental concepts such as risk versus return, interest rates, and behavioral economics, using real-world examples to illustrate key points. It also provides practical tried-and-true recommendations for investing in stocks and bonds.
State Capitalism's Uncertain Future
by Scott B. MacDonald Jonathan LemcoA provocative and timely look at the current state of global economics, particularly how the state-owned companies of Russia, China, Latin America, and other emerging markets are influencing how people work, how they consume, and how they prosper.The global economy is changing: experts are noting slow growth in the advanced economies, greater volatility in international markets, and the emergence of state-owned companies in the competitive marketplace. This forward-looking reference explores the role that state capitalism plays within the political structures of countries throughout the world. The text begins with an introduction to state capitalism, moves into an in-depth examination of several countries and regions, and concludes with a discussion on the future of state capitalism in the next decade. Coauthors Scott B. MacDonald and Jonathan Lemco examine the challenges that state-owned companies face in the global economy, including a weak legal and commercial infrastructure, a conflict of interest between politics and business, and massive corruption in local and regional governments. A close review of the perils of state capitalism based on meritocracy devolving into crony capitalism invites debate on the longevity of this economic system versus a free market economy.
Starbucks (Corporations That Changed the World)
by Marie A. BussingSince its humble beginnings at Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971, Starbucks has grown to become an industry leader and household name. This book takes an in-depth look at the evolution of this dynamic and sometimes controversial corporation.Americans drink 400 million cups of coffee every day, and many of them come from the thousands of Starbucks coffeehouses across the country. But how much do you really know about the place you get your morning cup of Joe?Part of Greenwood&’s Corporations That Changed the World series, this book provides readers with a richly detailed history of this famous coffeehouse chain. It traces StarbuckS&Rsquo; meteoric rise from a small Seattle-based company to an international powerhouse, chronicling how the changing executive leadership affected corporate strategy and direction. It also explores how Starbucks has embraced and incorporated new technologies and innovations, as well as how the corporation has shaped and been shaped by important social causes. An unbiased look at the controversies that have surrounded Starbucks over the years will help readers better understand these contentious issues. This updated and expanded edition includes new chapters, current financial data, and coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the company.
Spying in America in the Post 9/11 World: Domestic Threat and the Need for Change (The Changing Face of War)
by Ronald A. MarksThis book examines the realities of living in the United States after the events of September 11th, 2001, and evaluates the challenges in gathering internal intelligence without severely compromising personal liberties.In the United States, there are a staggering number of agents of the CIA, FBI, and state, local, and tribal police, all authorized and empowered to collect intelligence. But is there a way to use these vast resources to gather intelligence in a socially tolerable fashion and still maintain our cherished civil liberties?This book presents a thorough investigation of intelligence collection in the United States that examines the delicate balance of civil liberties with the effectiveness of intelligence collection. It contains a history of domestic intelligence in America, a description of the various threats against our nation, and a discussion of the complexities of deciding what kind of information needs to be collected— and against whom. The conclusion succinctly states the author's opinions on what needs to be done to best address the issue.
Sold My Soul for a Student Loan: Higher Education and the Political Economy of the Future
by Daniel T. KirschWith unprecedented student debt keeping an entire generation from realizing the "American Dream," this book sounds a warning about how that debt may undermine both higher education—and our democracy.American higher education boasts one of the most impressive legacies in the world, but the price of admission for many is now endless debt. As this book shows, increasing educational indebtedness undermines the real value of higher education in our democracy. To help readers understand this dilemma, the book examines how student debt became commonplace and what the long-term effects of such an ongoing reality might be. Sold My Soul for a Student Loan examines this vitally important issue from an unprecedented diversity of perspectives, focusing on the fact that student debt is hindering the ability of millions of people to enter the job market, the housing market, the consumer economy, and the political process.Among other topics, the book covers the history of consumer debt in the United States, the history of federal policy toward higher education, and political action in response to the issue of student debt. Perhaps most importantly, it explores the new relationship debtor-citizens have to the government as a result of debt, and how that impacts democracy for a new generation.
Solar Energy: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by David E. NewtonThis book provides an outstanding single-volume resource on the topic of solar energy for young adults and general audiences.While how much longer the world's supply of fossil fuels will last is debatable, it is a fact that the fossil fuels that we depend on so heavily today are non-renewable resources that will inevitably be exhausted—making the need to shift to alternative sources of energy such as solar extremely important. Solar Energy: A Reference Handbook presents encyclopedic coverage of the social, political, economic, and environmental issues associated with the development and use of solar energy in the United States and around the world. This book provides an in-depth description of the ways solar power has been used for at least 2,000 years. It outlines how humankind has utilized various forms of energy from the sun by way of photovoltaic cells, concentrating or focusing solar power, active and passive solar heating, and other mechanisms; and provides perspectives on today's solar energy issues from a variety of subject experts. Readers will better understand not only the advantages and disadvantages of solar power but also the critical nature of energy production to sustaining life on earth, thereby underscoring the importance of developing solar power and other alternative sources of energy to meet the world's energy needs in coming decades. The book also includes profiles of key individuals and organizations related to the field of solar energy, a chronology of important events in the history of solar energy, and a glossary that defines the key terms used in discussing the topic of solar energy.
Social Entrepreneurship [3 volumes]: How Businesses Can Transform Society [3 volumes]
by Thomas S. Lyons, EditorTackling one of the hottest topics in business today, experts share practical insights about how to finance, market, manage, and assess a social entrepreneurship venture to create a new organization that can do well and do good.Social entrepreneurship is the practice of using the mindset, tools, techniques, and processes of entrepreneurship to confront pressing social issues—an intriguing concept that American business is just beginning to understand. Social Entrepreneurship: How Businesses Can Transform Society brings together a group of expert contributors who offer the very latest thinking about the tremendous potential of this rapidly growing field.Unlike other books on the subject that tend to be merely descriptive and/or inspirational, this set comprises three hands-on, how-to volumes that dig deeply into the major factors that impact social entrepreneurship. Each volume addresses one of three important aspects of setting up and running a successful enterprise: legal/organizational structure; marketing; and performance measurement and management. The author examines root concepts in detail, and spotlights opportunities, challenges, and the considerations involved in implementation. Practitioners will especially appreciate the set's practical insights and the contributors' efforts to link theory to practice in a way that facilitates effective action.
Small Business in a Global Economy [2 volumes]: Creating and Managing Successful Organizations [2 volumes]
by Scott L. Newbert, EditorThis informative set analyzes the dynamics involved with creating, growing, and managing small businesses amid different geographic, institutional, and political environments.This two-volume work explores the behavior and decision making of small companies; their business strategies for launch, growth, and survival; and their contribution to the larger global economy. Utilizing information and data gleaned from proven entrepreneurs and small business operations, this reference provides insight into the political, environmental, and competitive forces that support and impede small business ownership, and offers strategies for navigating them.Written by leading researchers from around the world, the set presents a broad view of the small business sector, focusing on conception, ownership, financing, and growth strategies. A look at external factors features the impact of political and environmental influences; extant regulations affecting small firms; and programs for promoting this sector. The first volume takes a micro view of the small business phenomenon, profiling the owner and the skills necessary to be successful. The second volume utilizes a macro approach, focusing on the operational concerns of and the environment factors bearing upon small businesses.
The Search for Survival: Lessons from Disruptive Technologies
by Henry C. Jr.Ideal for business students, business managers, and corporate senior executives, this book distills the lessons learned from the disasters that have befallen companies that were unable to cope with disruptive technologies.In recent decades, technology has changed rapidly to the point that it can very quickly affect a seemingly impregnable company or industry. Unexpected technological developments enable innovators to offer new products and services that threaten incumbents. In order to survive, existing firms must be able to see a disruption on the horizon and figure out how to respond. The Search for Survival: Lessons from Disruptive Technologies examines organizations that failed to develop a strategy for coping with a technological disruption and have suffered greatly or even gone out of business. The first chapter presents a model of how firms can respond to and hopefully survive a disruptive technology. Each following chapter focuses on firms that have failed to survive or whose future is in doubt, accompanied by an extensive, detailed discussion of the lessons learned from each company or field's failings, covering examples from industries such as recorded music, book publishing, video, newspaper, and higher education.
Rogue Money and the Underground Economy: An Encyclopedia of Alternative and Cryptocurrencies
by John C. EdmundsThis easy-to-use guide covers the history, development, and current workings of cybercurrencies and the underground economy, both in the United States and around the world.The world of cybercurrency has experienced explosive growth in recent years, but that expansion has been accompanied by numerous controversies and misunderstandings about what it is, how it works, and how it relates to the underground economy and illegal activities such as money laundering, tax evasion, and human trafficking. Many illegal or malicious activities are paid for with cyber currencies. This book covers those applications. But cyber currencies also have many legitimate, constructive applications, all of which are explained in Rogue Money in clear, plain English, without embellishment or exaggeration. An authoritative and thought-provoking reference for readers seeking a greater understanding of all aspects of alternative cybercurrencies, this encyclopedia includes entries on economic history, international trade, current controversies, and its impact on the wider underground economy. It peels back the layers of jargon and obfuscation, giving each topic individual attention to show how it works and contributes to the whole.
The Rising Costs of Higher Education: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)
by John R. ThelinProviding a clear, logical guide to an illogical topic, this book provides an easy-to-understand guide for anyone who wants to successfully navigate the labyrinth of going to college—and paying for the experience.100 years ago, college tuition at prestigious Ivy League colleges such as Harvard and Brown was about $130 per year. Even when adjusted for inflation, today's cost of higher education has increased dramatically—to the point where a college education is shifting further out of reach for many Americans. This book explains the essential concepts in the debate regarding the staggering costs of higher education, supplying ten original essays by higher education policy experts, a lively historical narrative that provides context to current issues, and systematic guides to finding additional sources of information on the subject.Written from a historian's point of view, The Rising Costs of Higher Education: A Reference Handbook explains the economics of higher education in a manner that encourages readers to participate in the discussion on how to control ever-increasing tuition costs. Both college-bound students and parents will come to appreciate how complicated the problem of paying for college is, and grasp the crucial differences between "cost" and "price" in the specific economics of colleges and universities.