Achieving economic growth is one of today's key challenges. In this groundbreaking book, Michael Best argues that to understand how successful growth happens we need an economic framework that focuses on production, governance, and skills. This production-centric framework is the culmination of three simultaneous journeys. The first has been Best's visits to hundreds of factories worldwide, starting early as the son of a labor organiser and continuing through his work as an academic and industrial consultant. The second is a survey of two hundred years of economic thought from Babbage to Krugman, with stops along the way for Marx, Marshall, Young, Penrose, Richardson, Schumpeter, Kuznets, Abramovitz, Keynes, and Jacobs. The third is a tour of historical episodes of successful and failed transformations, focusing sharply on three core elements -- the production system, business organisation, and skill formation -- and their interconnections. Best makes the case that government should create the institutional infrastructures needed to support these elements and their interconnections rather than subsidise individual enterprises.
In this important new book, Michael Best argues that we are currently witnessing the emergence of new principles of production and business organization in the industrial societies of the West. The 'old competition', based on large-scale industrial production, is giving way to new forms of competition based on small firms acting as strategic agents in national and international markets. Michael Best analyses this development by drawing on a wide range of material from Britain, Europe, Japan and the United States. He examines the different perspectives on business organization during the age of Fordism - such as those developed by Galbraith, Holland and Chandler - and contrasts these accounts with the characteristics of successful competitors in the contemporary 'post-Fordist' age. He develops the paradigm of strategic planning in order to analyse firm, sector and intersector dynamics. He also draws out the implications of the new competition for industrial policy in Britain and elsewhere, giving particular attention to the role of national investment banks and enterprise boards. This thoughtful and original book will be of interest both to students in economics and industrial sociology, and to anyone concerned with the problems raised by economic decline and industrial restructuring in Western societies today.
A groundbreaking study that shows how countries can create innovative, production-based economies for the twenty-first century Achieving economic growth is one of today's key challenges. In this groundbreaking book, Michael Best argues that to understand how successful growth happens we need an economic framework that focuses on production, governance, and skills. This production-centric framework is the culmination of three simultaneous journeys. The first has been Best's visits to hundreds of factories worldwide, starting early as the son of a labor organizer and continuing through his work as an academic and industrial consultant. The second is a survey of two-hundred years of economic thought from Babbage to Krugman, with stops along the way for Marx, Marshall, Young, Penrose, Richardson, Schumpeter, Kuznets, Abramovitz, Keynes, and Jacobs. The third is a tour of historical episodes of successful and failed transformations, focusing sharply on three core elements—the production system, business organization, and skill formation—and their interconnections. Best makes the case that government should create the institutional infrastructures needed to support these elements and their interconnections rather than subsidize individual enterprises. The power of Best's alternative framework is illustrated by case studies of transformative experiences previously regarded as economic "miracles": America's World War II industrial buildup, Germany's postwar recovery, Greater Boston's innovation system, Ireland's tech-sector boom, and the rise of the Asian Tigers and China. Accessible and engaging, How Growth Really Happens is required reading for anyone who wants to advance today's crucial debates about industrial policy, free trade, outsourcing, and the future of work.
If you spent your school days in a haze and you feel like you’re missing some essential bits of knowledge, here’s the perfect pocket guide to bring you up to speed. Within these pages are easy to read refreshers on basic knowledge in English, math, science, history, geography, the classics, and music, including: Algebra, geometry, numbers, angles, and ratios Literary terms, Shakespeare, great poets and novelists, and the rudiments of spelling and grammar The human body, the theory of evolution, the laws of physics, and the meaning of puzzling equations like E=MC2. Major world battles, U.S. Presidents, and historical inventions and discoveries. Covering 50 basic curriculum points in seven areas fundamental to cultural literacy, Stuff You Should Have Learned at School will help make you the center of cocktail conversation, a whiz in the boardroom, and an impressive figure to your peers.
This book posits a strategic tension between market competition and cooperation in successful industrial societies. The author envisions a new role for national industrial policy.
Based on expert analysis of labor and economic trends, this book rates more than 340 jobs in the fastest growing industries and lists the best jobs in 16 specialized target groups. Perfect for anyone entering the job market for the first time, or for those who want to remain competitive.
A definitive guide to energy systems engineering―thoroughly updated for the latest technologies Fully revised for the latest technologies and data, this hands-on guide clearly explains the design, evaluation, and environmental impact of both conventional and sustainable energy systems. You will get comprehensive coverage of all types of energy systems, from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to solar, wind, and biofuels. Energy Systems Engineering: Evaluation and Implementation, Fourth Edition lays out each technology and discusses applications, benefits, and liabilities. This edition contains brand-new chapters that cover energy conservation, small-scale hydropower, geothermal, and heat pump systems, among other subjects. Coverage includes: Engineering economic tools Climate change and climate modeling Fossil fuel resources Stationary combustion systems Energy conservation Carbon sequestration Nuclear energy systems Solar energy Solar photovoltaic technologies Active and passive solar thermal applications Wind energy systems Bioenergy resources and systems Transportation energy technologies, including electric vehicles Systems perspective on transportation energy Emerging technologies and systems Creating the twenty-first-century energy system
The discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921-22 was one of the most dramatic events in the history of the treatment of disease. Insulin was a wonder-drug with ability to bring patients back from the very brink of death, and it was no surprise that in 1923 the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to its discoverers, the Canadian research team of Banting, Best, Collip, and Macleod. In this engaging and award-winning account, historian Michael Bliss recounts the fascinating story behind the discovery of insulin – a story as much filled with fiery confrontation and intense competition as medical dedication and scientific genius. Originally published in 1982 and updated in 1996, The Discovery of Insulin has won the City of Toronto Book Award, the Jason Hannah Medal of the Royal Society of Canada, and the William H. Welch Medal of the American Association for the History of Medicine.
Study Smarter for the PSAT with REA’s Your Total PSAT Solution Test Prep with TestWare® CD! Your Total PSAT Solution Helps Get You Into College! This second edition of REA’s popular PSAT test prep is the best way for high school Sophomores and Juniors to prepare for the PSAT and raise their test scores! Students at all learning levels will benefit from this comprehensive college entrance test prep. Our in-depth review chapters are completely aligned with the most recent PSAT test content. The review covers all the subjects tested on the official exam: Critical Reading, Writing, and Math. Drills, examples, and practice questions in each chapter help you assess your skills and gauge your test-readiness. The book includes a diagnostic test plus a full-length practice test that replicates the actual exam’s question format and timing. Both of the book’s exams are featured on our TestWare® CD with the most powerful scoring and diagnostic tools available today. Automatic scoring and instant reports help you zero in on the topics and types of questions that give you trouble now, so you’ll succeed when it counts! The timed exam format on CD gives you the closest experience to taking the actual PSAT. Our on-screen detailed explanations of answers help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. We don’t just say which answers are right – we also explain why the other answer choices are incorrect – so you’ll be prepared on test day! The TestWare® CD comes with an extended time function to accommodate students with learning disabilities. As an added bonus, this test prep includes REA’s exclusive vocabulary iPhone app, so you can study anywhere! Additional PSAT study questions are available online at www.rea.com. When it's time to take the PSAT... REA has Your Total PSAT Solution!
“A beautiful and well-researched historical guide to significant drugs” from the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Prescription Drugs (Library Journal). Throughout history, humans everywhere have searched for remedies to heal our bodies and minds. Covering everything from ancient herbs to cutting-edge chemicals, this book in the hugely popular Milestones series looks at 250 of the most important moments in the development of life-altering, life-saving, and sometimes life-endangering pharmaceuticals. Illustrated entries feature ancient drugs like alcohol, opium, and hemlock; the smallpox and the polio vaccines; homeopathic cures; and controversial medical treatments like ether, amphetamines, and Xanax—while shining a light on the scientists, doctors, and companies who brought them to us. “These true tales of discovery in The Drug Book by Michael C. Gerald might change the way you think about your medicine.” —The Healthy “An excellent starting point for student researchers and is very browsable for the general reader.” —Booklist
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