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Organizational Behavior 1: Essential Theories of Motivation and Leadership
by John B. MinerThis comprehensive text provides a detailed review and analysis of the building-block theories in Organizational Behavior. Expanding on his previous work in the field, John Miner has identified the key theories that every student or scholar needs to understand to be considered literate in the discipline. Organizational Behavior: Essential Theories of Motivation and Leadership analyzes the work of leading theorists. Each chapter includes the background of the theorist represented, the context in which the theory arose, the initial and subsequent theoretical statements, research on the theory by the theory's author and others (including meta-analysis and reviews), and practical applications. Special features including boxed summaries of each theory at the beginning of each chapter, two introductory chapters on the scientific method and the development of knowledge, and detailed and comprehensive references, help make this text especially useful for graduate courses in Organizational Behavior and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Handbook of Carbon Offset Programs: Trading Systems, Funds, Protocols and Standards (Environmental Market Insights)
by Anja Kollmuss Michael Lazarus Carrie Lee Maurice LeFranc Clifford PolycarpGreenhouse gas (GHG) offsets have long been promoted as an important element of a comprehensive climate policy approach. Offset programs can reduce the overall cost of achieving a given emission goal by enabling emission reductions to occur where costs are lower. Offsets have the potential to deliver sustainability co-benefits, through technology development and transfer. They can also develop human and institutional capacity for reducing emissions in sectors and locations not included in a cap and trade or a mandatory government policy. However, offsets can pose a risk to the environmental integrity of climate actions, especially if issues surrounding additionality, permanence, leakage, quantification and verification are not adequately addressed. The challenge is to design offset programs and policies that can maximize their potential benefits while minimizing their potential risks. This handbook provides a systematic and comprehensive review of existing offset programs. It looks at what offsets are, how offset mechanisms function, and the successes and pitfalls they have encountered. Coverage includes offset programs across the full swath of applications including mandatory and voluntary systems, government regulated and private markets, carbon offset funds, and accounting and reporting protocols such as the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol and ISO 14064. Learning from the successes and failures of these programs will be essential to crafting effective climate policy. This is an essential reference for all regulators, policy makers, business leaders and NGOs concerned with the design and operation of GHG offset programs world-wide. Published with SEI
Red Holocaust
by Steven RosefieldeTwentieth and twenty-first century communism is a failed experiment in social engineering that needlessly killed approximately 60 million people and perhaps tens of millions more. These high crimes against humanity constitute a Red Holocaust that exceeds the combined carnage of the French Reign of Terror, Ha Shoah, Showa Japan's Asian holocaust, and all combat deaths in World War I and II. This fascinating book investigates high crimes against humanity in the Soviet Union, eastern and central Europe, North Korea, China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia 1929-2009, and compares the results with Ha Shoah and the Japanese Asian Holocaust. As in other studies, blame is ascribed to political, ideological and personal causes, but special emphasis is given to internal contradictions in Marx's utopian model as well as Stalinist and post-Stalinist transition systems concocted to realize communist ends. This faulty economic engineering forms a bridge to the larger issue of communism's historical failure. The book includes: - a comprehensive study of the transcommunist holocaust - a judicial assessment of holocaust culpability and special pleadings - an obituary for Stalinism everywhere except North Korea, and a death watch for contemporary communism in China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, North Korea, Cuba and Nepal - a comparative assessment of totalitarian high crimes against humanity - a call for memory as a defense against recurrent economic, racial and ethnic holocausts The book will be useful to undergraduate and higher level students interested in Russian history, Stalism, communism, North and South Korean economic performance and international affairs. Steven Rosefielde is a Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.
Christianity in China: A Scholars' Guide to Resources in the Libraries and Archives of the United States
by Xiaoxin WuNow revised and updated to incorporate numerous new materials, this is the major source for researching American Christian activity in China, especially that of missions and missionaries. It provides a thorough introduction and guide to primary and secondary sources on Christian enterprises and individuals in China that are preserved in hundreds of libraries, archives, historical societies, headquarters of religious orders, and other repositories in the United States. It includes data from the beginnings of Christianity in China in the early eighth century through 1952, when American missionary activity in China virtually ceased. For this new edition, the institutional base has shifted from the Princeton Theological Seminary (Protestant) to the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural Relations at the University of San Francisco (Jesuit), reflecting the ecumenical nature of this monumental undertaking.
Handbook of Urban Services: A Basic Guide for Local Governments
by Charles K. CoeCity and county governments provide a wide array of highly technical urban services. Gaining a rudimentary understanding of them can be a daunting challenge for students as well as new and inexperienced public servants. "Handbook of Urban Services" is designed to help meet this challenge.In language that will make the fundamentals clear to non-specialists, this practical handbook provides concise overviews of 17 core local government services in four functional areas: public Safety and Health Services - Police, fire, emergency management, emergency medical, animal control, and public health; Public Works and Planning Services - Planning and inspections, water treatment and distribution, wastewater and stormwater management, street maintenance and construction, solid waste collection and disposal, and forestry; Leisure Services - Parks and recreation, and libraries; and, Support Services - Public equipment, public buildings, and public facilities. Each chapter begins with a brief history of the service, followed by a discussion of effective management practices and policies. Chapter-ending bibliographies refer the reader to sources with more in-depth treatment.
Strategisches und operatives Logistikmanagement: Prozesse
by Rainer LaschDas Buch beschreibt Logistikmanagement als strategische Führungsfunktion, wobei der Fokus auf einer ganzheitlichen Betrachtung und Optimierung logistischer Prozesse liegt. Im Vordergrund stehen dabei Logistikstrategien, Konzepte und Methoden zur Verbesserung logistischer Prozesse, Strategien für die Instandhaltungs- und Ersatzteillogistik sowie Aspekte der Entsorgungslogistik. Zahlreiche Beispiele, Abbildungen und Tabellen verdeutlichen die praxisrelevanten strategischen Methoden, die durch Kosten-, Leistungs- und Zeitvorteile in Entwicklung, Beschaffung, Produktion, Vertrieb und Entsorgung einen nachhaltigen Wettbewerbsvorteil für Unternehmen schaffen. Die zweite Auflage wurde um Megatrends in der Logistik, die Qualitätssicherung logistischer Prozesse, das Supply-Chain-Risikomanagement und die Integration von Ersatzteillogistik und Instandhaltung erweitert. Des Weiteren erfolgte eine Aktualisierung des Supply-Chain-Operations-Reference-Modells. Dies ist der zweite Band einer vierbändigen Reihe, die sich mit strategischen und operativen Managementaufgaben der Querschnittsfunktion Logistik beschäftigt.
Models and Tools for Managing Development Processes (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #1646)
by Bernhard WestfechtelThe development of products in disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, or software engineering is a challenging task. Costs have to be reduced, the ti- to-market has to be shortened, and quality has to be improved. Skilled engineers andsophisticatedtoolsforsupportingtechnicalworkarenecessaryprerequisites, yettheyarenotsu?cientformeetingtheseambitiousgoals.Inaddition,thework of developers must be coordinated so that they cooperate smoothly. To this end, the steps of the development process have to be planned, an engineer executing a task must be provided with documents and tools, the results of development activities have to be fed back to management which in turn has to adjust the plan accordingly, the documents produced in di?erent working areas have to kept consistent with each other, etc. This book reports on models and tools for managing development processes. It provides both a survey of the current state of the art and presents our own contributions. The material covered in this book is based on research in di?- ent engineering disciplines (mechanical, software, and chemical engineering). It presents a uni?ed view on the management of development processes in these disciplines.
Analytical Theory of Democracy: History, Mathematics and Applications (Studies in Choice and Welfare)
by Andranik TangianThis book operationalizes the idea of political representation, which is fundamental to modern democracies. Both individual representatives and representative bodies are evaluated using the indices of popularity (the average percentage of the population whose opinion is represented on topical policy issues) and universality (the percentage of issues for which the prevailing public opinion is represented). Viewed as objective functions, these indices can aid in the search for optimal representatives and representative bodies. By replacing the consistency analysis of the social choice axioms with the calculation of the best compromises, the paradoxes of social choice, such as those of Condorcet and Arrow, can be overcome. These indices also form the core of an alternative election method that is aimed at enhancing policy representation — a recent concept of political representation, which is not supported by the conventional voting systems shaped during the American and French Revolutions. This method is tested in a series of election experiments that focus on implementation details. In addition, non-societal applications such as MCDM, finance or traffic control are considered, where the objects that reflect the properties or behavior of other objects are regarded as their “representatives.” Given its scope, the book will appeal to political scientists, economists and operations researchers, as well as to politicians interested in improving democratic performance and electoral system design.
Case Research in Public Management
by David E McNabbHighly readable and non-technical, this handbook is designed to help students and non-profit managers gain a working knowledge of the principles and practices of conducting qualitative case study research in public organizations. This book is a motherload of practical and comprehensive guidance to planning, conducting, analyzing, and reporting case research project findings. McNabb begins with a detailed rationale for the use of the case research approach in public administration, non-profit organizations, and political science. Then it provides step-by-step instructions on how to conduct single-case, multicase, and meta-analysis research, with guidelines on organizing and writing the case report. Case Research in Public Management also includes many examples of case studies in a wide range of important topics in public administration, including performance management, sustainable government, technology management, security issues, emergency and disaster management, social and health services, infrastructure, public transportation, and transforming the work of government.
Public Relations Writing Worktext: A Practical Guide for the Profession
by Joseph M. ZappalaPublic Relations Writing Worktext provides the fundamental knowledge and the basic preparation required for the professional practice of public relations writing. This textbook introduces readers to public relations and writing, providing an overview of the four-step public relations process in addition to defining and detailing the writing activities involved. It presents in-depth information on the writing formats and approaches used in implementing strategic public relations plans, and offers instruction for developing all types of writing assignments, starting with memos, proposals, and news releases, and moving on to the more complex tasks of advocacy writing, newsletters, crisis planning, and online communication. Examples accompany the discussions, providing guidance and structure for the varied writing activities. Retaining the approach of the second edition, this text incorporates numerous changes and updates, making it suitable for use as a primary course text. Updates include: increased focus on writing for the web, blogs, and electronic media, including information on writing social media releases and a new chapter entitled "New and Social Media" a new planning outline to help writers develop more effective messages expanded checklists for writers to reference when working on assignments additional examples of effective public relations writing by leading companies in a variety of organizational settings, including Mattel, UPS, Burger King, Sara Lee, Xerox, Frito-Lay, and many more new assignments based on topics, issues and problems that public relations professionals in all sectors face today restructured content for improved writing flow and consistency full instructor manual available at www.routledge.com/textbooks/zappala Authors Joseph M. Zappala and Ann R. Carden offer a clear and engaging introduction to the writing activities involved in public relations practice, resulting in a valuable resource for professionals as well as a practical classroom text for students planning careers in public relations.
Basics of International Business
by James P. Neelankavil Anoop RaiThe field of international business is dynamic, complex, and challenging, vulnerable to fast-breaking events such as economic shifts, political turmoil, and natural disasters. This concise and affordable textbook will help future international business executives acquire the skills to function effectively under these challenging conditions. "Basics of International Business" incorporates coverage of the ongoing turmoil in the world financial markets. It's designed to familiarize students with the external environments that affect international businesses, to show them how to recognize the processes in identifying potential foreign markets, and to help them understand the functional strategies that can be developed to succeed in this highly competitive environment. The text focuses on 'must-know' core concepts in international business. The concepts, theories, and techniques are organized around seven major topical areas: introduction and overview of international business; environmental variables of culture, politics, and economics; entry strategies for new markets and countries; international trade and foreign direct investments; integration of functional areas; specific functioning areas (marketing, finance, accounting, etc.); global outsourcing and its role in international operations. The text is filled with helpful charts, chapter summaries, exercises, and applied cases. A detailed instructor's manual including course outlines, classroom exercises, and a complete test bank is available to adopters on the MES website.
Education and Social Change in China: Inequality in a Market Economy
by Gerard A. PostiglioneMarket reform, financial decentralization, and economic globalization have greatly accentuated China's social and regional inequalities. Education is expected to address these inequalities in a context of rapid social change, including the rise of an urban middle class, changed status of women, resurgence of ethnic identities, growing rural to urban migration, and lingering poverty in remote areas. But some argue that state policies have not sufficiently addressed inequitable practices, and that schools actually perpetuate and reproduce inequities, giving rise to a new system of social stratification driven more by market forces than socialist principles. Featuring all original, previously unpublished material, this volume examines this argument through analysis of selected aspects of educational stratification in China during the reform era. Chapters focus on the new urban middle class, poor rural residents, the migrant population in urban areas, rural girls, and ethnic minorities. The contributors are established scholars in the field, and they build a conceptual framework for assessing the degree to which China's educational reforms are inclusive, equitable, and integrative across social categories and groups.
User-Oriented Appropriateness: A Theoretical Model of Written Text on Facebook for Improved PR Communication
by Benjamin GustPublic Relations is fundamentally concerned with communication –– but social networking sites such as Facebook have influenced the way people communicate with one another and interpret text-based communication online. PR people who have grown up using traditional media often struggle with the new, digital world and its unfamiliar techniques and language. An increasing number of users, on the other hand, expect a different form of organisational communication. Benjamin Gust presents the new theory of user-oriented appropriateness, which is helping to communicate well in this new world of digital communication via social media.
Mobile Agents and Security (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #1419)
by Giovanni VignaNew paradigms can popularize old technologies. A new \standalone" paradigm, the electronic desktop, popularized the personal computer. A new \connected" paradigm, the web browser, popularized the Internet. Another new paradigm, the mobile agent, may further popularize the Internet by giving people greater access to it with less eort. MobileAgentParadigm The mobile agent paradigm integrates a network of computers in a novel way designed to simplify the development of network applications. To an application developer the computers appear to form an electronic world of places occupied by agents. Each agent or place in the electronic world has the authority of an individual or an organization in the physical world. The authority can be established, for example, cryptographically. A mobile agent can travel from one place to another subject to the des- nation place’s approval. The source and destination places can be in the same computer or in di erent computers. In either case,the agentinitiates the trip by executing a \go" instruction which takes as an argument the name or address of the destination place. The next instruction in the agent’s program is executed in the destination place, rather than in the source place. Thus, in a sense, the mobile agent paradigm reduces networking to a program instruction. A mobile agent can interact programmatically with the places it visits and, if the other agents approve, with the other agents it encounters in those places.
Visual Identity: Promoting and Protecting the Public Face of an Organization
by Susan Westcott AlessandriBrands, companies, and organizations, much like people, have personalities, and most of what we know and think about their personalities comes through visual identity. A visual identity is the strategically planned and purposeful presentation of the brand or organization in order to gain a positive image in the minds of the public, including - but not limited to - its name, logo, tagline, color palette and architecture, and even sounds. This practical guide explores visual identity from an organizational brand perspective (corporate, non-profit, etc.), rather than a product brand perspective. It not only helps readers to understand the meaning and value of an organization's visual identity, but also provides hands-on advice on how to promote and protect the identity. Each chapter draws from current research and also contains real-world examples and case studies that illustrate the key concepts.
Outsourcing and Insourcing in an International Context
by Marc J Schniederjans Ashlyn M Schniederjans Dara G SchniederjansDesigned for upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses in production-operations management, management information systems, international business, and strategic management, this text focuses on concepts, processes, and methodologies for firms planning to undertake or currently involved in outsourcing-insourcing decisions. "Outsourcing and Insourcing in an International Context" is the only available text that includes coverage of the international risk factors associated with this strategy. The book presents a balanced view of the positive and negative aspects of outsourcing, and provides essential coverage of the fundamental techniques involved in any outsourcing-insourcing decision. In addition, it discusses the ethical ramifications of outsourcing for companies and governments around the world. Each chapter includes learning objectives, discussion questions, and sample problems. An Instructor's Manual, Test Bank, and PowerPoint presentation are available to teachers who adopt the text.
Taxation and Gender Equity: A Comparative Analysis of Direct and Indirect Taxes in Developing and Developed Countries (Routledge International Studies in Money and Banking)
by Caren Grown Imraan ValodiaAround the world, there are concerns that many tax codes are biased against women, and that contemporary tax reforms tend to increase the incidence of taxation on the poorest women while failing to generate enough revenue to fund the programs needed to improve these women’s lives. Because taxes are the key source of revenue governments themselves raise, understanding the nature and composition of taxation and current tax reform efforts is key to reducing poverty, providing sufficient revenue for public expenditure, and achieving social justice. This is the first book to systematically examine gender and taxation within and across countries at different levels of development. It presents original research on the gender dimensions of personal income taxes, and value-added, excise, and fuel taxes in Argentina, Ghana, India, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, Uganda and the United Kingdom. This book will be of interest to postgraduates and researchers studying Public Finance, International Economics, Development Studies, Gender Studies, and International Relations, among other disciplines.
Dagestan: Russian Hegemony and Islamic Resistance in the North Caucasus
by Bruce Ware Robert Robert Bruce WareLike other majority Muslim regions of the former Soviet Union, the republic of Dagestan, on Russia's southern frontier, has become contested territory in a hegemonic competition between Moscow and resurgent Islam. In this authoritative book the leading experts on Dagestan provide a path breaking study of this volatile state far from the world's gaze. The largest and most populous of the North Caucasian republics, bordered on the west by Chechnya and on the east by the Caspian Sea, Dagastan is almost completely mountainous. With no majority nationality, the republic developed a distinctive system of calibrated power relations among ethnic groups and with Moscow, a system that has been undermined by the spillover of the wars in Chechnya, Wahhabi and Islamist recruiting efforts targeting youth, and Moscow's reassertion of the 'power vertical'. Underdevelopment, high birthrates, transiting pipelines, and the rising incidence of terrorist violence and assassinations add to the explosive potential of the region. Authors Ware and Kisriev combine analysis of the dynamics of domination and resistance, and the distinctive forms of social organization characteristic of mountain societies that may be applicable to other areas such as Afghanistan. They draw on decades of field research, interviews, and data to offer unique perspective on the civilizational collision course under way in the Caucasus today.
Religion and Politics in Russia: A Reader
by Marjorie Mandelstam BalzerRussia is not only vast, it is also culturally diverse, the core of an empire that spanned Eurasia. In addition to the majority Russian Orthodox and various other Christian groups, the Russian Federation includes large communities of Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, and members of other religious groups, some with ancient historical roots. All are in a state of ferment, and securing formal state recognition for specific communities is often daunting. This collection provides entry into the diversity of Russia's religious communities. Marjorie Mandelstam Balzer's introduction to the volume illuminates major political, social, and cultural-anthropological trends. The book is organized by religious tradition or identity, with further thematic perspectives on each set of readings. The authors include ethnologists, sociologists, political analysts, and religious leaders from many regions of the Federation. They analyze the changing dynamics of religion and politics within each community and in the context of the current drive to recentralize both political and religious authority in Moscow. Topical coverage extends from reassertions of Russian Orthodoxy to activities of Christian and Muslim missionaries to the revival of many other religions, including indigenous shamanic ones.
Environmental Security in the Arctic Ocean: Promoting Co-operation and Preventing Conflict (Whitehall Papers)
by Paul Arthur BerkmanThe North Pole is being transformed from a sea-ice cap to a seasonally ice-free sea within the next few decades. This fundamental shift in the boundary conditions of the Arctic Ocean will create a new natural system with different dynamics than anything previously experienced by humans in the region. With the diminishing ice cover, interests are awakening globally to take advantage of extensive energy, shipping, fishing and tourism prospects in the Arctic Ocean. A range of states, including the major Arctic powers, are increasingly asserting their sovereignty seawards. National security policies are being declared and nuclear-capable states are adjusting their strategic deployments in the Arctic Ocean. There are forums for international cooperation in the Arctic, most notably the Arctic Council, but peace in the Arctic Ocean has yet to be explicitly established as a common interest because of the long-standing military presence. Risks of political, economic and cultural instabilities are inherent consequences. This volume proposes environmental security as providing a holistic framework to assess these security risks and then identify the appropriate adaptation and mitigation responses. Only after shared risk assessment and understanding of the appropriate responses, will there be sufficient clarity about the governance paths to pursue within the international legal framework of the law of the sea.
Business Strategy in a Semiglobal Economy
by Panos MourdoukoutasThis groundbreaking text provides both theory and strategy for operating in a semiglobal economy in which international businesses must compete in highly globalized and highly localized markets at the same time. Unlike the traditional transnational and matrix corporate models, a semiglobal corporation organizes its operations according to the global/local content of its value propositions rather than according to geographical regions, products, or contribution to the parent company's performance. As an example of a semiglobal corporation, the Honda Motor Company has a global vision when it comes to highly global bundles like car engines, and a local vision when it comes to highly localized car financing and servicing. Designed as a supplementary text for courses in international business, development economics, marketing, and strategic planning, "Business Strategy in a Semiglobal Economy" raises important challenges to the conventional models of business organization and the competitive strategies that proceed from them.
Team Roles at Work
by R Meredith BelbinBelbin’s renowned Team Role theory is a familiar concept for managersand management trainers across the world. Following on from the best-selling Management Teams: Why theysucceed or fail, this second edition of Team Roles at Work provides usefulinsights into how to apply the theory in everyday work situations. This book explores the impact of Team Roles from interpersonalchemistry and managing difficult relationships, to cultivating effectiveleaders and shaping organizations. Now fully updated, this second edition has new practical examplesand summaries bringing this book up to date 17 years after itsoriginal publication. Drawing from Belbin’s own practical experienceit answers the queries that have arisen during those years. Furtherinformation accompanies the book on the Belbin website,www.belbin.com/books/books.htm including a free, downloadable,full-page summary of Team Roles with their icons, descriptions,strengths and allowable weaknesses. Team Roles at Work is the best-selling, second book written byMeredith Belbin, designed for any manager who wants to understandthe practical application of Team Role theory. R. Meredith Belbin was formerly Chairman of the Industrial TrainingResearch Unit. A founder Member of Belbin Associates, he is also VisitingProfessor and Honorary Fellow of Henley Management College. RELATED TITLESBelbin, Management Teams: Why they succeed or fail, 3e, ISBN: 978-1-85617-8075
Transforming Government and Public Services: Realising Benefits through Project Portfolio Management
by Stephen Jenner'This book distills the learning from practical experience and academic research...and represents a significant contribution to the challenges we face in transforming government and public services in an environment of ever-tighter finances' ” John Suffolk, UK Government Chief Information Officer Major public sector IT-enabled business change programmes are designed to realize benefits in terms of more efficient services, services tailored to the need of citizens, and improved outcomes, but in practice such benefits often fail to materialize or we are unable to demonstrate their delivery - Transforming Government and Public Services provides proven tools, techniques and processes to reverse this trend. Stephen Jenner explores a number of key themes that are fundamental to an approach to project portfolio management built on value. He explains how to: develop a business case to achieve a desired intent rather than justify a particular solution; create project documentation that is both technically rigorous and gives users a clear understanding of where you are going; treat projects as investments rather than costs; include stage gates with teeth that are closely linked to real performance; plan for success rather than holding people to account for failure; use a single version of the truth principle so there are no arguments about different data. In a complex, confusing and often highly politicized environment, Stephen Jenner's Transforming Government and Public Services provides a clear, definitive and highly applied guide for all involved in selecting the right projects and doing them right so that they achieve the intended investment objectives.
CIM Revision Cards: Delivering Customer Value
by Ray DonnellyDesigned specifically with revision in mind, the CIM Revision Cards provide concise, yet fundamental information to assist students in passing the CIM exams as easily as possible. A clear, carefully structured layout aids the learning process and ensures the key points are covered in a succinct and accessible manner. The compact, spiral bound format enables the cards to be carried around easily, the content therefore always being on hand, making them invaluable resources no matter where you are. Features such as diagrams and bulleted lists are used throughout to ensure the key points are displayed as clearly and concisely as possible. Each section begins with a list of learning outcomes and ends with hints and tips, thereby ensuring the content is broken down into manageable concepts and can be easily addressed and memorised.
Cents and Sustainability: Securing Our Common Future by Decoupling Economic Growth from Environmental Pressures
by Cheryl Desha Charlie Hargroves Michael Harrison SmithCents and Sustainability is a clear-sighted response to the 1987 call by Dr Gro Brundtland in Our Common Future to achieve a new era of economic growth that is 'forceful and at the same time socially and environmentally sustainable'. The Brundtland Report argued that not only was it achievable, but that it was an urgent imperative in order to achieve a transition to sustainable development while significantly reducing poverty and driving 'clean and green' investment. With some still arguing for significantly slowing economic growth in order to reduce pressures on the environment, this new book, Cents and Sustainability, shows that it is possible to reconcile the need for economic growth and environmental sustainability through a strategy to decouple economic growth from environmental pressures, combined with a renewed commitment to achieve significant environmental restoration and poverty reduction. Beginning with a brief overview of some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, the book then explains 'decoupling theory', overviews a number of factors that can undermine and even block efforts to decouple in both developed and developing countries, and then discusses a number of key considerations to assist the development of national 'decoupling strategies'. The book then focuses on presenting evidence to support greater action, not just on climate change, but also on decoupling economic growth from the loss of biodiversity and the deterioration of natural systems, freshwater extraction, waste production, and air pollution. In the lead up to the 2012 United Nations Earth Summit and beyond, Cents and Sustainability will be a crucial guide to inform and assist nations to develop strategies to significantly reduce environmental pressures, strengthen their economy, create jobs and reduce poverty. 'I commend the team from The Natural Edge Project and their partners for undertaking to develop a response to 'Our Common Future' to mark its 20th anniversary.' Dr Gro Brundtland. Sequel to The Natural Advantage of Nations Published with The Natural Edge Project