The purpose of this book is to read Han Feizi (c.280 – 233 BC) in the light of Western thought, especially, Machiavelli. Han Feizi is one of the most important philosophical thinkers in ancient China and is still widely read by politicians and business leaders in East Asia. His ideas are often compared with those in Machiavelli's The Prince. Han Feizi argues that political institutions must change with changing circumstances. His work can also be compared with that of Adam Smith, but differs in consideration of economic system and moral sentiments. Han Feizi highly values action, practical skills, useful knowledge (not formal education like Confucianism), absolute obedience, loyalty (based on self-interests), and duty. The key tool to operate the system is objective law (and its effective practice) with fair rewards and punishments. As mainland China, and overseas Chinese-influenced and Confucian societies including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, North Korea, and Vietnam are rapidly modernized, this classic work, created in the golden period of Chinese thought, carries ongoing relevance and gives deep insights. This is an important resource for people with intellectual, business or politics interests in East Asia, to help to interpret, understand, and predict political and business decisions in the Confucian regions.
The accelerating self-destruction of the United States cannot be hidden when the loss of productivity, loss of faith in government, enflamed identity politics and social fragmentation are constant and are clearly documented. Any national assessment should be grounded in facts, and Prof. Zhang provides a plethora of economic data as a baseline for discussion. The figures and graphs reveal many sides of America that we may generally miss. In addition, Chinese and other Asians familiar with ancient Confucianism have their own sources of wisdom and commentary to guide them in assessing how they and their neighbors think and behave. Here, a Chinese academic familiar with both worlds shares his impressions and his conclusions. Prof. Zhang juxtaposes the political, economic and cultural behavior of America with sparkling quotes from Confucius, Mencius, Xun Zi, as well as Western classical thinkers from Plato to Quesnay and Weber. The book gives us a new perspective on our country — with insights as well from Chaos Theory. In this book we explore how the basic concepts of the yin-yang vision, and socioeconomic chaos theory, can help us understand American civilization, what it represents, and the natural cycles it is going through. Confucianism is more rationalist and sober, in the sense of the absence and the rejection of all non-utilitarian yardsticks, than any other ethical system, with the possible exception of J. Bentham’s. The author presents data on American economic and social trends, and systematically compares the basic ideas of Confucius and Adam Smith. These are interwoven with hundreds of pithy observations on America from a wide spectrum of commentators, from intellectual lumaries to Hollywood stars. The aim of studying the history of human societies, the author says, is to find the equations, i.e., mechanisms, of historical evolution; by stepping back to view events from different perspectives he seeks to present America as an organic whole, going beyond a partial, one-sided view of history — neither the patrician perspective nor that of the workers and the poor. The book is basically an application of the author’s general theory on socioeconomic evolution to provide some insights into America’s evolution by viewing it under an alternative ethical system (ancient Confucianism), with insights from chaos theory.
This book examines the butterfly effect in China's modern economic development during the period of 1978–2018. In chaos theory, the butterfly effect refers to a phenomenon that a butterfly flaps its wings in Okinawa, and subsequently a storm may ravage New York. Deng applied a trivial idea, called the market mechanism, to China’s countryside in 1978. The idea has subsequently caused economic structural changes and fast growth in the economy with the largest population in human history. China’s per capita GDP jumped from $100 in 1978 to over US$8,000 in 2018. Eight hundred million people have made a great escape from poverty. By 2018, China was the world’s second-largest economy from its 10th position in 1978 with its 9 per cent average annual growth rate of GDP in the previous four decades. This illuminating book will be of value to economists, scholars of China, and historians.
This book is part of a broad study about Confucianism and its implications for modernisation of the Confucian regions (covering Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore). The purpose of this book is to compare the ethical, social and economical principles advocated by Adam Smith and Confucius. Adam Smith is the most influential thinker in developed economies in modern times. Confucius was the most influential thinker in the Confucian regions before the West became influential in these regions. The book shows that it is important to compare the two great thinkers in order to understand whether or not Westernisation of the Confucian regions is sustainable and whether or not there will be 'clashes of civilisations' between the Confucian regions and the West.
This book develops a general economic theory that integrates various economic theories and ideas and establishes important relationships between economic variables that are not formally recognized in the economic literature. The author demonstrates how the basic model is integrated with neoclassical growth theory, Walrasian general equilibrium theory, and Ricardian distribution theory, and how these theories can be incorporated through a single set of equations with a microeconomic basis. The book offers new insights into income and wealth distribution between heterogeneous households, racial and national differences in growth and development, interdependence between different stock variables with portfolio choices among different markets. It will appeal to scholars of economists interested in an integrative theoretical approach to this discipline.
Why has Japanese industrialisation been so much faster than that of China? The relative economic development of Japan and China from similar nineteenth-century conditions are examined in broad philosophical, social, political and historical perspective. The book challenges a common assumption that Chinese Confucianism does not encourage modernisation, while Japanese Confucianism propelled industrialisation forward. It examines further reasons why Max Weber's judgement, 'the Chinese would be probably more capable than the Japanese, of assimilating capitalism', has not been borne out.
This book tries to integrate the different arrangements devised in the MTS for small and large NMEs into one analytical framework and explores two sets of rules (GATT/WTO-minus and GATT/WTO-plus) along three historical stages (shaping, weakening and strengthening). The focal point of this book is to uncover the composition and structure of the NME treatment in the MTS, its evolving logic and process, and the nature and trend of the political-economic relations between NMEs and the MTS.
This book explores China’s low-carbon consumption in the context of residential behaviour, corporate practices and policy Implication. It first calculates the carbon and ecological footprints of residential consumption, including both direct and indirect emissions, before discussing Chinese residential behavioural aspects and determinants of electricity saving, low-carbon transportation, low-carbon product purchasing, and e-waste recycling. The authors then investigate the relationship between industrial growth and carbon emissions, using the example of the iron and steel industry to examine the motivation for energy intensive industries to reduce carbon emissions. They also consider energy efficiency and inter-company collaboration on carbon emission reduction. Lastly, the book describes the major low-carbon policies in China and their impact, economic cost and public acceptance.
This book is a unique blend of difference equations theory and its exciting applications to economics. It deals with not only theory of linear (and linearized) difference equations, but also nonlinear dynamical systems which have been widely applied to economic analysis in recent years. It studies most important concepts and theorems in difference equations theory in a way that can be understood by anyone who has basic knowledge of calculus and linear algebra. It contains well-known applications and many recent developments in different fields of economics. The book also simulates many models to illustrate paths of economic dynamics. A unique book concentrated on theory of discrete dynamical systems and its traditional as well as advanced applications to economics Mathematical definitions and theorems are introduced in a systematic and easily accessible way Examples are from almost all fields of economics; technically proceeding from basic to advanced topics Lively illustrations with numerous figures Numerous simulation to see paths of economic dynamics Comprehensive treatment of the subject with a comprehensive and easily accessible approach
This book provides an overview of recent developments of complexity theory within the realm of social sciences. At a time when global and local social, political, cultural, and economic affairs are engulfed in chaos, this book sheds light on the mechanisms of uncertainties, offering new visions and frameworks for analyzing the nonlinear interactions between individuals, societies, and the environment. From exploring the foundational elements that shape our understanding of humanity, such as worldviews, justice, and trust, to applying complexity theory in the realms of politics, economics, management, strategies, and wars, this monograph provides a comprehensive examination of its far-reaching implications. By examining historical bifurcations and structural changes in American history and China's modern development, it emphasizes how complexity theory can serve as a bridge for intellectual and cultural communication between Western (Newtonian) and East Asian (yin-yang-based) civilizations. Moreover, the book elucidates that nonlinear phenomena, including bifurcations, catastrophes, structural changes, emergence of structures, and chaos, are integral aspects of human evolution. It unveils the positive potential within chaos, demonstrating that a comprehensive understanding of catastrophic mechanisms enables humanity to prevent global disasters by leading systems to chaotic attractors without destructive consequences. Through an exploration of the intricate interdependencies among individuals, societies, and the environment, this book offers a unique and comprehensive introduction to the application of complexity theory to the realm of humanity.
Scholars have analyzed Chinese society in the light of contemporary Western social and natural sciences for centuries. This compact volume turns the tables and opens tantalizing new perspectives on the American civilization by examining it through the lens of ancient Confucianism. The current work invites Americans to step through the looking glass -- backwards, this time -- and view ourselves from a Confucian perspective. In his analysis, Zhang draws together references to the I Ching, Leibniz, Tocqueville, Lipset and Aristotle, a judicious few statistics such as crime rate and economic growth, and the lions of Chinese philosophy. Chapter 1: The American Civilization and Ancient Confucianism in Open Society Chapter 2: "All Men Are Created Equal" Versus All Men Are Born Equal Chapter 3: Democracy and Law Chapter 4: Education and Knowledge Chapter 5: Economic Freedom and Development Chapter 6: The American Universalism and Rational Civilizations in the Future
This book is part of a broad examination of Confucianism and its implications for modernization of the Confucian regions (covering mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, and Singapore). It is mainly concerned with the industrialization and modernization of Taiwan. To help readers understand the process of modernization, the book provides an introduction to the history of Taiwan and to Confucianism and its modern implications. As far as social and economic principles are concerned, Taiwan's modernization is, according to the author, characterized by Americanization and modernizing Confucian manifestations. The book demonstrates that Taiwan has actually provided an important case study not only for the capitalist spirit of overseas Chinese, but also for possible implications of Confucianism for modernization. The unique character of this book is that in explaining Taiwan's modernization, it deals not only with economic and social issues, but also examines the philosophical foundations, an endeavor which no other author has systematically made before.
Hong Kong has an urbanisation history of an interesting course -- from fishing village of the Qing dynasty under the Manchu rule, to British colony with 98 per cent of its population being Chinese, to global city with great wealth and business activities, to Communist China's Special Administrative Region (SAR) from 1 July 1997. China resumed sovereignty over Hong Kong and granted Hong Kong the right to self-government for at least 50 years, except over diplomatic and defense matters. Long before the return of Hong Kong to China, the colony had already firmly established itself as a regional business centre. It had been at the forefront of the East Asian economic 'miracle' between the 1970s and the mid 1990s. Lightened by multi-coloured neon signs of commercial advertisements, the semi-westernised Chinese city is more attractive in night than in daytime. Hong Kong is full of contrasts and paradoxes. The wide variety of the city's contrasting and yet fluid and interesting social and cultural images, aptly has been described as, 'east and west', local and colonial, modern and traditional, extravagant and frugal -- has earned it the epithet 'a cultural kaleidoscope'. The author explores these contrasts and paradoxes not only from economic, cultural, and social perspectives, but also from perspectives of non-linear theory and Adam Smith's and Confucian philosophies -- an endeavour which no other author has systematically made before.
A general economic theory to analyze how different economic forces interact over time. It proposes some new combinations of various economic forces which may function at various stages of social and economic evolution. This theory includes the main economic ideas of Smith, Malthus, Ricardo, Marx, Mills, Walras, Marshall, Schumpeter and Keynes. It also includes, as special cases, such well-established mathematical models as the Arrow-Debreu general equilibrium model, the Tobin model, the Solow-Swan-Uzawa growth model, the Kaldor-Pasinetti two-class model, the Ricardian models by Morishima, Samuelson and Pasinetti, Keynesian theory, to explain certain economic phenomena which cannot be explained by traditional works.
Generalized numbers” is a multiplicative structure introduced by A. Beurling to study how independent prime number theory is from the additivity of the natural numbers. The results and techniques of this theory apply to other systems having the character of prime numbers and integers; for example, it is used in the study of the prime number theorem (PNT) for ideals of algebraic number fields. Using both analytic and elementary methods, this book presents many old and new theorems, including several of the authors' results, and many examples of extremal behavior of g-number systems. Also, the authors give detailed accounts of the L2 PNT theorem of J. P. Kahane and of the example created with H. L. Montgomery, showing that additive structure is needed for proving the Riemann hypothesis. Other interesting topics discussed are propositions “equivalent” to the PNT, the role of multiplicative convolution and Chebyshev's prime number formula for g-numbers, and how Beurling theory provides an interpretation of the smooth number formulas of Dickman and de Bruijn.
Over more than two centuries the development ofeconomic theory has created a wide array of different concepts, theories, and insights. My recent book Capital and Knowledge (Zhang, 1999a) shows how separate economic theories such as the Marxian economics, the Keynesian economics, the general equilibrium theory, and the neoclassical growth theory can be examined within a single theoretical framework. The Capital and Knowledge constructs an economic theory to account for the phenomena explained by the main economic theories (of national economies) in a unified manner. It tries to draw together the disparate branches of economics into a single organized system ofknowledge. This book is a part of my economic theory with endogenous population, capital, knowledge, preferences, sexual division of labor and consumption, institutions, economic structures and exchange values over time and space (Zhang, 1996a). As an extension of the Capital and Knowledge, which is focused on the dynamics of national economies, this book is to construct a theory of international trade. We are concerned with dynamic relations between international division of labor, division of consumption and determination of prices structure in global economy. We examine dynamic interdependence between capital accumulation, knowledge creation and utilization, economic growth, price structures and international trade patterns under free competition. Our theory is constructed on the basis of a few concepts within a compact framework.
Since the publication of the benchmark first edition of this book, chemical library and combinatorial chemistry methods have developed into mature technologies. There have also been significant shifts in emphasis in combinatorial synthesis. Reflecting the growth in the field and the heightened focus on select areas, Analytical Methods in Combinator
Chapter 1 Money and growth theory -- chapter 2 Money as a store of value -- chapter 3 Money in utility and production functions -- chapter 4 Money-in-advance approaches -- chapter 5 Unemployment and money -- chapter 6 Preference change and habit formation -- chapter 7 Monetary growth with urban structure -- chapter 8 Money in multi-regional and growth economies -- chapter 9 Money, growth, and international trade -- chapter 10 Money and economic complexity.
The development of international trade theory has created a wide array of different theories, concepts and results. Nevertheless, trade theory has been split between partial and conflicting representations of international e- nomic interactions. Diverse trade models have co-existed but not in a structured relationship with each other. Economic students are introduced to international economic interactions with severally incompatible theories in the same course. In order to overcome incoherence among multiple theories, we need a general theoretical framework in a unified manner to draw together all of the disparate branches of trade theory into a single - ganized system of knowledge. This book provides a powerful – but easy to operate - engine of analysis that sheds light not only on trade theory per se, but on many other dim- sions that interact with trade, including inequality, saving propensities, education, research policy, and knowledge. Building and analyzing various tractable and flexible models within a compact whole, the book helps the reader to visualize economic life as an endless succession of physical ca- tal accumulation, human capital accumulation, innovation wrought by competition, monopoly and government intervention. The book starts with the traditional static trade theories. Then, it develops dynamic models with capital and knowledge under perfect competition and/or monopolistic competition. The uniqueness of the book is about modeling trade dyn- ics.
This book develops a new theoretical framework to examine the issues of economic growth and development. Providing analysis of economic dynamics in a competitive economy under government intervention in infrastructure and income distribution, the book develops a unique analytical framework under the influence of traditional neoclassical growth theory. However, in a departure from neoclassical growth theory it examines both the Solow-Swan and the Ramsey growth models, introducing a utility function which treats consumer choices in ways critically different to previous approaches. Using practical examples and models the book demonstrates how this new direction can effectively analyze the key issues of economic growth, in a compact and comprehensive manner.
What do economic chaos and uncertainties mean in rational or irrational economic theories? How do simple deterministic interactions among a few variables lead to unpredictable complex phenomena? Why is complexity of economies causing so many conflicts and confusions worldwide?This book provides a comprehensive introduction to recent developments of complexity theory in economics. It presents different models based on well-accepted economic mechanisms such as the Solow model, Ramsey model, and Lucas model. It is focused on presenting complex behaviors, such as business cycles, aperiodic motion, bifurcations, catastrophes, chaos, and hidden attractors, in basic economic models with nonlinear behavior. It shows how complex nonlinear phenomena are identified from various economic mechanisms and theories. These models demonstrate that the traditional or dominant economic views on evolution of, for instance, capitalism market, free competition, or Keynesian economics, are not generally valid. Markets are unpredictable and nobody knows with certainty the consequences of policies or other external factors in economic systems with simple interactions.
Number Theory Arising from Finite Fields: Analytic and Probabilistic Theory" offers a discussion of the advances and developments in the field of number theory arising from finite fields. It emphasizes mean-value theorems of multiplicative functions, the theory of additive formulations, and the normal distribution of values from additive functions
Wei-Bin Zhang offers an authoritative guide to the philosophy of Confucian regions, covering mainland China Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore. All, except Singapore, employed Confucianism as the state ideology before the West came to East Asia. The differences and similarities between the variety of Confucian schools are examined. The author concludes that the philosophical and ethical principles of Confucianism will assist in the industrialization and democratization of the region.
Although the application of differential equations to economics is a vast and vibrant area, the subject has not been systematically studied; it is often treated as a subsidiary part of mathematical economics textbooks. This book aims to fill that void by providing a unique blend of the theory of differential equations and their exciting applications to dynamic economics. Containing not just a comprehensive introduction to the applications of the theory of linear (and linearized) differential equations to economic analysis, the book also studies nonlinear dynamical systems, which have only been widely applied to economic analysis in recent years. It provides comprehensive coverage of the most important concepts and theorems in the theory of differential equations in a way that can be understood by any reader who has a basic knowledge of calculus and linear algebra. In addition to traditional applications of the theory to economic dynamics, the book includes many recent developments in different fields of economics.
Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835-1901) was the most influential expert on the West in Japan in his lifetime. In an era when the Chinese learning was the main school of thought in Japan, he advocated for avoiding the Chinese learning and introducing Western science and the spirit of independence to Japan. However, as he had been educated in the ancient Confucianism before he learnt Western civilization, it is important to examine possible influences of the Chinese learning on him. This book demonstrates that the principles he advocated to Japan are congenial to the ancient Confucianism, which he was familiar with. It provides a unique and challenging interpretation of Fukuzawa's thought from the perspective of the ancient Confucianism and gives some insights into why in contrast to cultural destruction in modern China, Japan's modern development is characterized of cultural continuation and Westernization.
Synergetic Economics presents a new advance in analytical economics. It deals with problems related to time and change in economic systems, including complex aspects, such as the effects of nonlinearity, instability, bifurcation and chaos in economic evolution. The author argues that economic systems may run through a hierarchy of instabilities in which more and more structural patterns evolve. Such instabilities are caused by changes in the external parameters of the system. They may lead to new spatial-temporal patterns of the system. A number of explicit examples are provided to show how such behavior can occur in various dynamic economic systems. Analytical methods are also presented to cope with nonlinear problems. Of particular interest are sudden (structural) changes, the existence of regular and irregular oscillations, the role of random factors in economic evolution, and the effects of time scales and rates of adjustment of economic variables in economic analysis. The author carefully examines the implications of nonlinear phenomena for decision making, and for economic development in general.
This book answers some challenging questions in monetary growth theory within a compact theoretical framework. The author succeeds in integrating the theory of money, the theory of value and the theory of growth. The book re-examines many important ideas in modern monetary economics within a single analytical framework. It is concerned not only wit
Presents the first ever guide for vehicle scanning of the dynamic properties of bridges Written by the leading author on the subject of vehicle scanning method (VSM) for bridges, this book allows engineers to monitor every bridge of concern on a regular and routine basis, for the purpose of maintenance and damage detection. It includes a review of the existing literature on the topic and presents the basic concept of extracting bridge frequencies from a moving test vehicle fitted with vibration sensors. How road surface roughness affects the vehicle scanning method is considered and a finite element simulation is conducted to demonstrate how surface roughness affects the vehicle response. Case studies and experimental results are also included. Vehicle Scanning Method for Bridges covers an enhanced technique for extracting higher bridge frequencies. It examines the effect of road roughness on extraction of bridge frequencies, and looks at a dual vehicle technique for suppressing the effect of road roughness. A filtering technique for eliminating the effect of road roughness is also presented. In addition, the book covers the identification of bridge mode shapes, contact-point response for modal identification of bridges, and damage detection of bridges—all through the use of a moving test vehicle. The first book on vehicle scanning of the dynamic properties of bridges Written by the leading author on the subject Includes a state-of-the-art review of the existing works on the vehicle scanning method (VSM) Presents the basic concepts for extracting bridge frequencies from a moving test vehicle fitted with vibration sensors Includes case studies and experimental results The first book to fully cover scanning the dynamic properties of bridges with a vehicle, Vehicle Scanning Method for Bridges is an excellent resource for researchers and engineers working in civil engineering, including bridge engineering and structural health monitoring.
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