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Elsevier

Books in Social sciences and humanities

  • Household and Economy

    Welfare Economics of Endogenous Fertility
    • 1st Edition
    • Marc Nerlove + 2 more
    • Karl Shell
    • English
    Household and Economy: Welfare Economics of Endogenous Fertility deals with welfare economics and the socially optimal population size, as well as the social consequences of individual choice with respect to family size within each generation. The general equilibrium implications of endogenous fertility for a number of issues of population policy are discussed. In addition to their own consumption, the number of children and the utility of each child is assumed to enter the utility function of the parents. Comprised of 10 chapters, this volume begins with a review of social welfare criteria for optimal population size and the static theory of optimal population size, optimal population growth with exogenous fertility, and the theory of endogenous fertility. The reader is then introduced to the basic principles of welfare economics and the economics of externalities, followed by a summary of the traditional theory of household behavior. Subsequent chapters focus on optimal population size according to various social welfare criteria; real and potential externalities generated by the endogeneity of fertility; and the principal alternative reason for having children: to transfer resources from the present to support the future consumption of parents in old age. The book concludes by assessing the implications of endogenous fertility for within-generation income distribution policies and reflecting on the directions in which future research may be fruitful. This monograph will be of value to economists, social scientists, students of welfare economics, and those who wish to understand the contribution of economic analysis to an improved understanding of population policy.

  • Uncertainty in Economics

    Readings and Exercises
    • 1st Edition
    • Peter Diamond + 1 more
    • English
    Uncertainty in Economics: Readings and Exercises provides information pertinent to the fundamental aspects of the economics of uncertainty. This book discusses ho uncertainty affects both individual behavior and standard equilibrium theory. Organized into three parts encompassing 30 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the relevance of expected utility maximization for positive and normative theories of individual choice. This text then examines the biases in judgments, which reveal some heuristics of thinking under uncertainty. Other chapters consider the effect of restricting trade in contingent commodities to those trades that can be affected through the stock and bond markets. This book discusses as well the individual problem of sequential choice and equilibria, which are built around the notion of sequential choice. The final chapter deals with an entirely different aspect of the economics of information and reverts to the assumption that markets are perfect and costless. This book is a valuable resource for economists and students.

  • Welfare Effects of Trade Restrictions

    A Case Study of the U.S. Footwear Industry
    • 1st Edition
    • Michael Szenberg + 2 more
    • Karl Shell
    • English
    Welfare Effects of Trade Restrictions: A Case Study of the U.S. Footwear Industry evaluates and analyzes the welfare effects of removing trade restrictions on United States imports of nonrubber footwear through the product and employment markets. This book focuses on the structural characteristics of the industry and its adjustment experience to import competition. Organized into four chapters, this book begins with an overview of the detailed structural characteristics of the domestic footwear industry and its degree of competition. This text then provides the analytical framework for estimating the welfare effects of removing trade restrictions on imported footwear by using a consumer surplus approach. Other chapters consider the essential parameters needed in evaluating the foregoing effects of import restrictions on the domestic industry. This book discusses as well the impact of tariff restrictions on imported footwear. The final chapter deals with the trade adjustment assistance experience of the footwear industry. This book is a valuable resource for economists.

  • The Shanidar Neandertals

    • 1st Edition
    • Erik Trinkaus
    • English
    The Shanidar Neandertals describes the functional morphology of the Neanderthals and their place in human evolution based on a paleontological study of fossils discovered at Shanidar Cave in northeastern Iraq. Functional interpretations are provided that describe and discuss the individual fossils. The phylogenetic implications of the Shanidar specimens are also discussed. Comprised of 14 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the Neanderthal remains from the Shanidar Cave and the paleontological data obtained from the fossils. The discussion then turns to the history of the excavations in Shanidar Cave and the discoveries of the Neanderthals; morphometrics of the Shanidar remains; and determination of the age and sex of the Shanidar Neanderthals. Subsequent chapters focus on various aspects of the Neanderthal fossils, including the cranial and mandibular remains; the dental remains; the axial skeleton; and the upper and lower limb remains. The immature remains are also described, along with bodily proportions and the estimation of stature. This monograph will be of interest to archaeologists, anthropologists, paleontologists, and paleopathologists.

  • Economics and Human Welfare

    Essays in Honor of Tibor Scitovsky
    • 1st Edition
    • Michael J. Boskin
    • English
    Economic Theory, Econometrics, and Mathematical Economics: Economics and Human Welfare: Essays in Honor of Tibor Scitovsky focuses on the principles, influence, and contributions of Tibor Scitovsky on economics. The selection first elaborates on welfare economics and microeconomic theory, property rights doctrine and demand revelation under incomplete information, and experiments in the pricing of theater tickets. Discussions focus on the effect on audience composition, volume, and revenues, failure of bargaining under privacy, growing disenchantment with economic growth, and bargaining as a game of incomplete information. The text then takes a look at economics and the transformation of the idea of progress and changes in the size distribution of income. The text ponders on welfare criteria, distribution, and cost- benefit analysis; position of ethics in the theory of production; and rationing and price as methods of restricting demand for specific products. Topics include excise taxation with revenue distributed like rations; private and social returns to morality; effect of changes in the cost of organization and communication; and logical and historical foundation of the theory of the welfare state. The selection is highly recommended for economists and researchers interested in pursuing studies on the relationship of economics and human welfare.

  • Noncooperative Approaches to the Theory of Perfect Competition

    • 1st Edition
    • Andreu Mas-Colell
    • English
    Economic Theory, Econometrics, and Mathematical Economics: A Series of Monographs and Textbooks: Noncooperative Approaches to the Theory of Perfect Competition focuses on the application of noncooperative approaches to the theory of perfect competition, including Cournot game, no-surplus condition, and Nash equilibria. The selection first elaborates on collusive behavior in noncooperative epsilon-equilibria of oligopolies with long but finite lives and noncooperative price taking in large dynamic markets. Discussions focus on noncooperative equilibria which support the monopoly allocation, alternative definition of perfect epsilon-equilibrium, one-period Cournot game, fixed-demand case, and replication case. The book takes a look at noncooperative price taking in large dynamic markets, no-surplus condition as a characterization of perfectly competitive equilibrium, perfect competition, profit criterion, and the organization of economic activity. Topics include profits to individually improving welfare, structure of firms, competitive allocations as no surplus allocations, profits as rents, Walrasian and perfectly competitive equilibrium, and no-surplus and core equivalence as alternative characterizations of perfectly competitive equilibrium. The manuscript ponders on Nash equilibria of market games and efficiency properties of strategic market games, as well as commodities, agents, assignments, strategic markets games, proper and full Cournot-Nash equilibria, and finiteness and inefficiency. The selection is a valuable source of data for researchers interested in noncooperative approaches to the theory of perfect competition.

  • Workers' Earnings and Corporate Economic Structure

    • 1st Edition
    • Randy Hodson
    • English
    Workers' Earnings and Corporate Economic Structure investigates the role of economic structure in determining employees' earnings and how workplace organization contributes to social inequality. The study focuses on the characteristics of the organization of capital rather than on different management styles or systems. Earnings as a key labor force outcome are examined at both the industry and company levels of economic organization. Comprised of nine chapters, this volume begins with an overview of economic explanations for the diversity of wage labor in advanced capitalist countries, and whether the labor market in the United States is structured by the organizational characteristics of capital. The discussion then turns to the dual economy model of industrial structure; an alternative resource approach to the study of organizational structure and labor segmentation; and enterprise- and industry-level sectoral models of economic structure. Subsequent chapters explore the relationship between the sectoral models and poverty, class position, and racial and gender groups; the ability of the sectoral models to explain workers' earnings and select continuous-variable models of the impact of economic structure on workers' earnings; earnings determination within economic sectors; and the impact of economic structure across class, occupational, and status groups. The final chapter offers concluding thoughts and reflections and integrates the insights derived from the study of industrial structure with themes from the broader field of social stratification. This book will be of interest to economists, sociologists, and workers and industry officials.

  • Protecting the Social Service Client

    Legal and Structural Controls on Official Discretion
    • 1st Edition
    • Joel F. Handler
    • Robert H. Haveman
    • English
    Protecting the Social Service Client: Legal and Structural Controls on Official Discretion examines the treatment of clients of public and private social service agencies and highlights the role of consumer protection in dealing with the existence and abuse of administrative discretion. Of particular concern is the legal rights of these social service clients — principally the poor — and how effectively these rights are being enforced. The history of due process protection (that is, by means of appeals and court hearings) is discussed and a number of legal and structural remedies are offered. Comprised of six chapters, this book begins by setting forth the issues and reviewing the experiences of client protections under the due process model, with emphasis on discretion as a key legal issue in social services. The reader is then introduced to legal theory, particularly how constitutional and statutory law defines the legal interests of social service clients and what system of protection is provided by the law. Subsequent chapters focus on the protection of client rights in practice as well as several different legal and structural remedies to client protections. The legal protection of clients is analyzed, first from the client perspective and then from the point of view of the policymaker. This monograph is intended for social work professionals, administrators, policymakers, and advocates of the rights of people who deal with social welfare agencies.

  • New Quantitative Techniques for Economic Analysis

    • 1st Edition
    • Giorgio P. Szegö
    • English
    Economic Theory, Econometrics, and Mathematical Economics: New Quantitative Techniques for Economic Analysis provides a critical appraisal of the results, the limits, and the developments of well-established quantitative techniques. This book presents a detailed analysis of the quantitative techniques for economic analysis. Organized into four parts encompassing 16 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the general questions concerning models and model making. This text then provides the main results and various interesting economic applications of some quantitative techniques that have not been widely used in the economic field. Other chapters consider the principle of optimality in dynamic programing wherein the infinite sequence of consumption-saving decisions can be reduced to one decision. This book discusses as well the methods for online control and management of large-scale systems. The final chapter deals with special problems. This book is a valuable resource for economists, social scientists, epistemologists, economic historians, and research workers.

  • Language Development and Aphasia in Children

    New Essays and a Translation of Kindersprache und Aphasie by Emil Fröschels
    • 1st Edition
    • R. W. Rieber
    • English
    Language Development and Aphasia in Children: New Essays and a Translation of Kindersprache und Aphasie by Emil Fröschels deals with problems of theory, method, and therapy as well as the interpretation of language development and aphasia in children. A translation of Emil Fröschels' book Kindersprache und Aphasie into English (Child Language and Aphasia) is included. Comprised of 26 chapters, this book begins with a historical review that illustrates how the ideas of other influential figures laid the groundwork for Child Language and Aphasia (1918), including Géraud de Cordemoy and Denis Diderot. The discussion then turns to the environment that surrounded Child Language and Aphasia and some of Fröschels' observations regarding the nature of aphasia in children. The effect of left hemisphere arteriopathy on communicative intent, expression, and language comprehension in a right-handed nine-year-old girl is also examined. Subsequent chapters focus on theories of reading and language development; the psychology of association; the theory of the transitive contents of consciousness; and stuttering in children and aphasics. This monograph should be of considerable interest to students, researchers, and specialists in the fields of neurolinguistics, psycholinguistics, neuropsychology, and neurophysiology.

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