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Books in Social sciences and humanities

  • The Theory of Gambling and Statistical Logic

    • 2nd Edition
    • Richard A. Epstein
    • English
    Early in his rise to enlightenment, man invented a concept that has since been variously viewed as a vice, a crime, a business, a pleasure, a type of magic, a disease, a folly, a weakness, a form of sexual substitution, an expression of the human instinct. He invented gambling. Recent advances in the field, particularly Parrondo's paradox, have triggered a surge of interest in the statistical and mathematical theory behind gambling. This interest was acknowledge in the motion picture, "21," inspired by the true story of the MIT students who mastered the art of card counting to reap millions from the Vegas casinos. Richard Epstein's classic book on gambling and its mathematical analysis covers the full range of games from penny matching to blackjack, from Tic-Tac-Toe to the stock market (including Edward Thorp's warrant-hedging analysis). He even considers whether statistical inference can shed light on the study of paranormal phenomena. Epstein is witty and insightful, a pleasure to dip into and read and rewarding to study. The book is written at a fairly sophisticated mathematical level; this is not "Gambling for Dummies" or "How To Beat The Odds Without Really Trying." A background in upper-level undergraduate mathematics is helpful for understanding this work.
  • Handbook of Financial Econometrics Set

    • 1st Edition
    • Yacine Ait-Sahalia + 1 more
    • English
    Vol 1 covers fundamental econometric techniques and tools on recent advances in financial econometrics. Parametric and nonparametric, in continuous time and discrete time, these techniques and tools include Markov processes, a system for categorizing volatility concepts, a simulated method of moments indicator, and models for the timing of events. Together they reveal the ways that local characterizations can lead to long-run implications and how relationships between observed and unobserved values can be inferred. Vol 2 covers important research even as they make unique empirical contributions to the literature. These subjects are familiar: portfolio choice, trading volume, the risk-return tradeoff, option pricing, bond yields, and the management, supervision, and measurement of extreme and infrequent risks. Yet their treatments are exceptional, drawing on current data and evidence to reflect recent events and scholarship.
  • Optimizing Optimization

    The Next Generation of Optimization Applications and Theory
    • 1st Edition
    • Stephen Satchell
    • English
    The practical aspects of optimization rarely receive global, balanced examinations. Stephen Satchell’s nuanced assembly of technical presentations about optimization packages (by their developers) and about current optimization practice and theory (by academic researchers) makes available highly practical solutions to our post-liquidity bubble environment. The commercial chapters emphasize algorithmic elements without becoming sales pitches, and the academic chapters create context and explore development opportunities. Together they offer an incisive perspective that stretches toward new products, new techniques, and new answers in quantitative finance.
  • The Psychology of Learning and Motivation

    Advances in Research and Theory
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 51
    • English
    The Psychology of Learning and Motivation series publishes empirical and theoretical contributions in cognitive and experimental psychology, ranging from classical and instrumental conditioning to complex learning and problem solving. Each chapter thoughtfully integrates the writings of leading contributors, who present and discuss significant bodies of research relevant to their discipline. Volume 51 includes chapters on such varied topics as emotion and memory interference, electrophysiology, mathematical cognition, and reader participation in narrative.
  • Technology Entrepreneurship

    Creating, Capturing, and Protecting Value
    • 1st Edition
    • Thomas N. Duening + 2 more
    • English
    Recognizing the unique needs of the technology startup, Duening focuses on intellectual property development, funding, and marketing/selling more than other texts in this market. Extensive use of technology examples, case studies, and assignments keeps the book relevant and motivating for engineering students.
  • Renewable Energy Systems

    The Choice and Modeling of 100% Renewable Solutions
    • 1st Edition
    • Henrik Lund
    • English
    How can society quickly convert to renewable energy? Can worldwide energy needs ever be met through 100% renewable sources? The answers to these questions rest largely on the perception of choice in the energy arena. It is of pivotal importance that engineers, researchers and policymakers understand what choices are available, and reasonable, when considering the design and deployment of new energy systems. The mission of this new book, written by one of the world's foremost experts in renewable power, is to arm these professionals with the tools and methodologies necessary to make smart choices when implementing renewable energy systems.
  • Handbook of Financial Econometrics

    Tools and Techniques
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 1
    • Yacine Ait-Sahalia + 1 more
    • English
    This collection of original articles—8 years in the making—shines a bright light on recent advances in financial econometrics. From a survey of mathematical and statistical tools for understanding nonlinear Markov processes to an exploration of the time-series evolution of the risk-return tradeoff for stock market investment, noted scholars Yacine Aït-Sahalia and Lars Peter Hansen benchmark the current state of knowledge while contributors build a framework for its growth. Whether in the presence of statistical uncertainty or the proven advantages and limitations of value at risk models, readers will discover that they can set few constraints on the value of this long-awaited volume.
  • Natural Hazards and Human-Exacerbated Disasters in Latin America

    Special Volumes of Geomorphology
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 13
    • Edgardo Latrubesse
    • English
    The main objective of the book is to offer a vision of the dynamics of the main disasters in South America, describing their mechanisms and consequences on South American societies. The chapters are written by selected specialists of each country. Human-induced disasters are also included, such as desertification in Patagonia and soil erosion in Brazil. The receding of South-American glaciers as a response to recent climatic trends and sea-level scenarios are discussed. The approach is broad in analyzing causes and consequences and includes social and economic costs, discussing environmental and planning problems, but always describing the geomorphologic/geolo... involved processes with a good scientific substantiation. This is important to differentiate the book from others of a more 'social' impact that discuss risks and disasters with emphases mainly on economy and simple impacts.
  • Handbook of Agricultural Economics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 4
    • Robert E. Evenson + 1 more
    • English
    Advances in agriculture offer many countries the best and only chance of reducing poverty. Yet economic growth and population increases are driving higher demand for food and rising real prices. What solutions have successfully promoted agriculture? This volume examines national and international food agriculture policies and how they enhance agricultural productivity growth. It provides unique historical reviews on policies and their effects, and it clearly articulates both positive and negative lessons for promoting agriculture lead growth. With chapters written by international authorities, this book recognizes that agriculture is not just about providing food for today, but about growing it in an environmentally sustainable way that can help people work their ways out of poverty.Chapters cover international macro-economic policies and trade, farm structure in developing countries, regional experiences in agriculture, and regional studies on agricultural productivity policies.
  • Handbook of Financial Econometrics

    Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 2
    • Yacine Ait-Sahalia + 1 more
    • English
    Applied financial econometrics subjects are featured in this second volume, with papers that survey important research even as they make unique empirical contributions to the literature. These subjects are familiar: portfolio choice, trading volume, the risk-return tradeoff, option pricing, bond yields, and the management, supervision, and measurement of extreme and infrequent risks. Yet their treatments are exceptional, drawing on current data and evidence to reflect recent events and scholarship. A landmark in its coverage, this volume should propel financial econometric research for years.