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Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have made remarkable progress in improving the living conditions of their people since… the 1990s. Poverty has declined by almost 50 percent, and average life expectancy has increased substantially, especially for children under the age of five. Most children now attend primary school, and three out of four start secondary education. These advances can be largely accounted for by two factors: the fast-paced economic growth of the early 2000s and the substantial expenditures for social programs in the region. However, the region’s economic slowdown has halted the pace of improvement, and social policies have not been implemented consistently or effectively because of flaws in design and execution. These failings raise important questions. Who formulates social policy? What resources do actors bring to decision-making processes, and how do those resources position them within decision-making networks? These are not academic questions. The budget and economic constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic mean that public policies will have to be more efficient and effective while dealing with limited resources. Few analyses to date have focused on the process of formulating social policy, the social networks involved, the details of coordination among actors and organizations, and the institutional, normative, and operational factors that make policies likely to succeed—or fail. There has not been a comprehensive, systematic study of how social policy-making processes and coordination mechanisms—formal or informal— can make a difference in the operational effectiveness and impact of social policies. Who Decides Social Policy? Social Networks and the Political Economy of Social Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean attempts to fill this void. This book combines an institutional political economy approach to policy making with social network analysis of social policy formulation processes. Based on extensive interviews with governmental and nongovernmental actors, the case studies of social policy formulation in Argentina, The Bahamas, Bolivia, and Trinidad and Tobago show that while societal actors are central in the networks in South American countries, government officials are the main participants in the Caribbean countries. The comparative analysis of the networks of ideas, information, economic resources, and political power across these cases indicates that differences in the types of bureaucratic systems and governance structures may explain the diversity of actors with decision power and the resources used to influence social policy formulation across the region. These analytical and methodological contributions—combined with specific examples of policies and programs—will help to enhance the efficiency, efficacy, and sustainability of public policies in the social arena.
Die harten Wettbewerbsbedingungen im liberalisierten Strom-/Gasmarkt führen immer wieder zu Insolvenzen von Energieanbietern (Lieferanten), die bei zahlreichen Gläubigern hohe finanzielle… Schäden verursachen. Eine große Betroffenheit zeigt sich bei den Verteilnetzbetreibern, deren Lieferantenbeziehung auf besonderen energiewirtschaftlichen Vorgaben beruht und bestehende Ansätze der Betriebswirtschaft zur risikobewussten Gestaltung der Lieferantenbeziehung nicht einfach übertragen lässt. Kerstin Eiselbrecher entwickelt ein strategisches Risikomanagementmodell, das den Verteilnetzbetreibern unter Beachtung der energiewirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen und speziell ausgewählter Risikofaktoren einen praxisgerecht gestalteten Risikomanagementprozess mit Handlungsempfehlungen zur frühzeitigen Erkennung/Bewertung, Handhabung und Überwachung des Lieferantenrisikos aus Insolvenzen und Anfechtungen an die Hand gibt. Durch die zentrale Position der Verteilnetzbetreiber in der Supply Chain der Energieversorgung kann ihr Handeln auch dem Risiko weiterer mit den Lieferanten verbundener Marktpartner entgegenwirken. Dr. Kerstin Eiselbrecher promovierte nebenberuflich bei Frau Prof. Dr. Iris Hausladen am Heinz Nixdorf-Lehrstuhl für IT-gestützte Logistik an der HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management. Sie verfügt über eine langjährige Berufserfahrung in der Energieversorgung und referierte auf Tagungen zum Forderungsmanagement der Verteilnetzbetreiber. Schon während ihres Studiums an der Technischen Universität München, Deutschland und der University of Canterbury, Neuseeland widmete sie sich energiewirtschaftlichen Fragestellungen. Ihren wissenschaftlichen Fokus legt sie auf die Verknüpfung energiewirtschaftlicher und betriebswirtschaftlicher Elemente sowie die Verbindung von Theorie und Praxis.
This book delves into the economic development of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Since the 1960s, the GCC… states have harnessed their potential to exploit the wealth accrued from the oil boom to build their infrastructure and grow their economies. However, the high level of dependency on oil as the primary source feeding their output made their economies volatile and vulnerable to fluctuations in the global oil prices. Moreover, the plunge in oil prices and the threat of depletion of this natural resource pose serious challenges to the GCC countries. Consequently, the GCC governments have realized the importance of diversifying their economies following the need to move away from reliance on hydrocarbon.This book contributes to the theoretical literature by enriching the debate on the transition of the GCC countries from rentier states to diversified economies. It helps students and scholars understand this transformation with an expansive comprehension of the contemporary challenges facing the region, as well as outlining prospects for the future.
This book examines the business models, performance, and decision-making approaches employed by financial institutions in Central and Southeast Europe. The… respective contributions cover a wide range of industries, including banking, pharmaceuticals, and airline business services, and present both theoretical and empirical studies that highlight economy-wide risks and opportunities for European companies.The book is divided into four parts, the first of which provides a critical assessment of the competitiveness and performance of European companies, while the second examines decision-making approaches at financial institutions; the third and fourth parts address the macroeconomic risks and opportunities for business development in Europe. Intended for scholars, political decision-makers, and practitioners, the book offers new perspectives on Central and Southeast European financial and business research.
Dieses Buch stellt der Einkaufspraxis einen systematischen Handlungsleitfaden zur Formulierung und Implementierung von Strategien im Dienstleistungseinkauf zur Verfügung. Für die… strategische Ausrichtung des Supply Managements in der Beschaffung von Dienstleistungen und Services bildet die 15M-Architektur den strukturellen Rahmen. Entsprechend werden Dienstleistungen innerhalb der Rahmenstrategie des Einkaufs positioniert. Auf dieser Basis können Marktstrategien für wichtige Dienstleistungskategorien und Lieferanten- bzw. Dienstleisterstrategien formuliert sowie die Beschaffungsprozesse ausgerichtet werden. Abschließend wird das Einkaufscontrolling mit der Entwicklung von dienstleistungsspezifischen Zielgrößen und Kennzahlen beschrieben. Das Buch hilft Einkäufern dabei, mit den besonderen Herausforderungen bei der Beschaffung von industriellen Dienstleistungen und Services besser umgehen zu können.
Altersarmut? Nein danke! Handlicher Leitfaden zur bAV für Vermittler, Personalverantwortliche und BeraterDieser Leitfaden aus der Praxis für die Praxis erläutert… übersichtlich und auf das Wesentliche reduziert die aktuellen Regelungen zur betrieblichen Altersvorsorge. Die vorliegende 4. Auflage wurde im Zuge des Gesetzes zur Stärkung der betrieblichen Altersvorsorge gründlich durchgesehen und auf den Rechtsstand Sommer 2020 aktualisiert. Das Buch ist insbesondere für Vermittler direkt vor Ort beim Kunden einsetzbar, dient aber auch Steuerberatern, Personalverantwortlichen, Geschäftsführern kleinerer Unternehmen und Freiberuflern als Einführung in die komplexe Materie sowie als handliches Nachschlagewerk.
This book illustrates key sustainability issues in global textile and fashion value chains, by examining individual types of fibers either… at a single step in or along the entire value chain. It approaches sustainability-related issues in the textile and fashion value chain from an interdisciplinary and holistic viewpoint, with each contribution linking questions on the textile and fashion value chain to various drivers, indicators and concepts of sustainability. Each chapter represents a single step in the textile and fashion value chain, exploring and considering a wide range of interwoven and interdependent technological, environmental, social, political and economic aspects. Various fibers, textile engineering and chemical treatment steps, as well as innovative business concepts and regulatory frameworks across the entire textile and fashion value chain are identified, analyzed, discussed and critically evaluated. The book provides a systematic overview of the potential and challenges of sustainable textile and fashion value chains, making it of interest to practitioners and scientists in sustainability science, environmental economics, and business, management and innovation. Further, it offers a valuable source of information for industrial and mechanical engineering researchers, and for students in the areas of textile engineering, fashion, or the apparel and clothing industry.
Nine months on the New York Times bestseller list. Over One Million Copies Sold! YES, YOU CAN WIN! Master negotiator… Herb Cohen has been successfully negotiating everything from insurance claims to hostage releases to his own son’s hair length and hundreds of other matters for over five decades. Ever since coining the term “win-win” in 1963, he has been teaching people the world over how to get what they want in any situation. In clear, accessible steps, he reveals how anyone can use the three crucial variables of Power, Time, and Information to always reach a win-win negotiation. No matter who you’re dealing with, Cohen shows how every encounter is a negotiation that matters. With the tools and skill sets he has devised, honed, and perfected over countless negotiations, the power of getting what you deserve is now a practical necessity you can fully master. “Flawlessly organized.” —Kirkus Reviews
This book examines real estate markets and urban development in Central America, Mexico and The Caribbean (CAMEC). It considers both… residential and commercial real estate with a focus on industrial and hospitality sectors, infrastructure and logistics. The CAMEC region is besieged by complexity. Prone to natural disasters, and with the Mexico/US border constituting the largest human migration corridor on Earth, the region is also a vital trading hub for goods, linking commerce between the world’s two largest oceans and the Americas. The real estate markets in this area are dynamic, rapidly developing and under researched. This book analyses the particularities of these markets and the context in which investors and developers operate. The authors present case studies and contributions from key players in major cities in the region. The book exposes the regional risks and opportunities connected to urban development including market transparency, urban equity and development regulation. The research presented in this volume gives the reader a comprehensive picture of each country under study, detailing their individual commercial, residential, industrial, leisure and infrastructure sectors. This is essential reading for international investors, real estate students, researchers, and professionals with an interest in the region.
Capitalism, Institutions and Social Orders develops a novel political economy approach by establishing a dialogue between the Social Structures of… Accumulation (SSA) theory and Ernesto Laclau’s post-Marxism theory. Using this synthesis, it provides an in-depth analysis of Spain’s recent socio-economic evolution since the early 1990s. The book develops a theoretical framework capable of appraising capitalist dynamics together with their relationship to the institutional environment surrounding and structuring them. This is in order to explore the interrelation between the historical development of the capitalist mode of production, on the one hand, and the various co-existing social processes, social consensuses and political identities, on the other. Contemporary Spain provides an interesting case study: until the onset of the Great Recession, Spain had an impressive macroeconomic record supported by several contradictory social processes, such as a massive real estate bubble, an upsurge in private indebtedness and a deteriorating manufacturing sector. However, the accumulation of internal imbalances during those years led inevitably to the sudden disintegration of this institutional and social environment in the years after 2008, thus resulting into a breakdown of capitalist activity accompanied by widespread social contestation. The book also explores the ensuing political scenario, including the emergence of the ‘indignados’ movement and the anti-austerity party Podemos. This work is of significant interest to critical political economy and discourse-theory scholars, critical theorists in general, and social scientists concerned with the recent Spanish experience.
This book investigates the world of leading indicators and explores how they can be used effectively, providing 21st-century safety professionals… with alternative metrics and guidance, which will enable them to make a difference in managing risk within an organization. The safety and health profession has been hindered by ineffective metrics for decades, with the primary metrics of choice being the OSHA incident rate and lost time accident rate. This narrow focus on what constitutes loss is not in line with the new concepts of managing the total risk that an organization faces. The book looks at indicators on a tactical level where they can be very effective in providing management with clear direction and "manageable" items they can utilize to elevate the safety efforts of an organization. It also explores the limitations of leading indicators at the strategic level and how they’re tied into the management merit review system to determine bonus and salary increase structures. It features measurements of areas of loss not usually considered by safety managers, suggests ways to use leading indicators, and promotes a departure from traditional "body count" thinking. This book will be of interest to safety professionals involved in risk management in the modern workplace.
This book provides a clear roadmap for the roles workers and leaders in business, labor, education, and government must play… in building a new social contract for all to prosper. It is a call to action for a collaborative effort to develop both high-quality jobs and strong, successful businesses while simultaneously overcoming the deep social and economic divisions that are all too apparent in society today. Written by two leading and trusted experts in the field of employment and work from MIT and Cornell University, this book is a practical, action-oriented guide. Readers will feel empowered to take actions needed to shape a better future of work for themselves, their employees, their co-workers, and others they may represent. It emphasizes the need to fix America's broken social contract and reimagine a new one. The most important message of this book is that we have the ability to shape the work of the future by harnessing the power of new technologies. The book is essential reading for business executives, labor leaders and workforce advocates, government policy makers, politicians, and anyone who is interested in using emerging knowledge and technologies to drive innovation, creating high-quality jobs, and shaping a more broadly shared prosperity.
A fast-paced tell-all. . .one of the great business stories of our young century.--Steve Cherry, IEEE Spectrum Magazine The Xbox… 360 and PlayStation 3 game systems have changed the face of home entertainment. But few know the amazing story inside the consoles--how David Shippy and his team of engineers at the Sony/Toshiba/IBM Design Center (STI) forged the tiny miracle at the core of it all: a revolutionary microprocessor chip that set a new paradigm in personal computing. At stake were the livelihoods--and sanity--of an unsung group of tireless visionaries. At war were the giants Microsoft and Sony. "Drama and secret deals. . . This is the real deal."--Bob Molyneaux, ChipBridge Here is a dazzling, behind-the-scenes account of life in the tech world, featuring memorable characters, high-level corporate intrigue, and cutthroat business dealings. It's a story that's never been told--until now. "The real story of a team of people tasked with doing the impossible."--John C. Beck, author of Got Game "Remarkable. . .fascinating."--Dean Takahashi, author of Opening the Xbox "The story of the whole effort to build the Cell."--The Wall Street Journal
“I highly advise anyone who has an interest in life online to get this book, sit down, and take notes… because you're going to want to hear what Brittany has to say.” –Iskra Lawrence, Aerie Model and Instagram star (@iskra) If you’ve ever scrolled through your Instagram feed and thought, I wear clothes, eat avocado toast and like sunsets, why can’t someone pay me to live my best life? this book is for you . . . Every one of your favorite influencers started with zero followers and had to make a lot of mistakes to get where they are today—earning more money each year than their parents made in the last decade. But to become a top creator, you need to understand the strategies behind the Insta-ready lifestyle . . . As nightlife blogger, then social media strategist, and now Senior Director of Influencer Strategy and Talent Partnerships at Hearst Magazines Digital Media, Brittany Hennessy has seen the role of influencers evolve and expand into something that few could have imagined when social media first emerged. She has unrivaled insight into where the branded content industry was, where it is, and where it's going. In this book she'll reveal how to: *Build an audience and keep them engaged *Package your brand and pitch your favorite companies *Monetize your influence and figure out how much to charge Plus tips on: *Landing an agent *Getting on the radar of your favorite sites *Praising a brand without alienating their competitors Whether you’re just starting out or you're ready for bigger campaigns, Hennessy guides you through core influencer principles. From creating content worth double tapping and using hashtags to get discovered, to understanding FTC rules and delivering metrics, she’ll show you how to elevate your profile, embrace your edge, and make money—all while doing what you love.
Dances with Dependency offers effective strategies to eliminate welfare dependency and help eradicate poverty among indigenous populations. Beginning with an… impassioned and insightful portrait of today’s native communities, it connects the prevailing impoverishment and despair directly to a “dependency mindset” forged by welfare economics. To reframe this debilitating mindset, it advocates policy reform in conjunction with a return to native peoples’ ten-thousand-year tradition of self-reliance based on personal responsibility and cultural awareness. Author Calvin Helin, un-tethered to agendas of political correctness or partisan politics, describes the mounting crisis as an impending demographic tsunami threatening both the United States and Canada. In the United States, where government entitlement programs for diverse ethnic minorities coexist with an already huge national debt, he shows how prosperity is obviously at stake. This looming demographic tidal wave viewed constructively, however, can become an opportunity for reform—among not only indigenous peoples of North America but any impoverished population struggling with dependency in inner cities, developing nations, and post-totalitarian countries.
This year alone, 3.2 million U.S. students will graduate from college. Unprecedented percentages of them will move back home, and… many will be unable to obtain a job in their fields of study. Improvise is an inspiring story of how Fred Cook followed an unusual yet fascinating path from young adulthood to the corner office as CEO of the award-winning PR firm GolinHarris. Melding learnings from a lifetime of uncommon experiences with insights from a surprisingly successful corporate career, this book will inspire workers mired in indecision and dimly lit prospects. Following college, Cook was initiated into the business world through a dozen odd jobs, each of which provided valuable insights into the business world and the understanding of how to make the most of even the smallest opportunity. Each chapter delivers a bold truth, supported by relevant episodes from Cook's personal life and reinforced by his encounters with corporate America. Filled with colorful anecdotes about being punched by a guru, stalked by an intern, and lectured by Steve Jobs, Improvise is full of hilarious yet poignant moments.
An acclaimed classic detailing the economic history of America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and exposing the… capitalist giants who changed the worldFrederick Lewis Allen's insightful financial history of the United States--from the late 1800s through the stock market collapse of 1929--remains a seminal work on what brought on America's worst economic disaster: the Great Depression. In the decades following the Civil War, America entered an era of unprecedented corporate expansion, with ultimate financial power in the hands of a few wealthy industrialists who exploited the capitalist system for everything it was worth. The Rockefellers, Fords, Morgans, and Vanderbilts were the "lords of creation" who, along with like-minded magnates, controlled the economic destiny of the country, unrestrained by regulations or moral imperatives. Through a combination of foresight, ingenuity, ruthlessness, and greed, America's giants of industry remolded the US economy in their own preferred image. In so doing, they established their absolute power and authority, ensuring that they--and they alone--would control the means of production, transportation, energy, and commerce--thereby setting the stage for the most devastating global financial collapse in history.As Gretchen Morgenson thoughtfully states in her introduction, "It is not immediately clear why the frequency and severity of financial scandals is increasing in the United States. What is clear is that we need to understand the origins of these disasters, as well as the policies and people that bring them on. . . . While distant actions may seem unrelated to current events, rereading about the past almost always provides surprising insights into the present."The Lords of Creation, first published in the midst of the Great Depression, when the financial catastrophe was still painfully fresh, is a fascinating story of bankers, railroad tycoons, steel magnates, speculators, scoundrels, and robber barons. It is a tale of innovation and shocking exploitation--and a sobering reminder that history can indeed repeat itself.
An award-winning journalist shows how workplace diversity initiatives have turned into a profoundly misguided industry--and have done little to bring… equality to America's major industries and institutions. Diversity has become the new buzzword, championed by elite institutions from academia to Hollywood to corporate America. In an effort to ensure their organizations represent the racial and ethnic makeup of the country, industry and foundation leaders have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to commission studies, launch training sessions, and hire consultants and diversity czars. But is it working?In Diversity, Inc., award-winning journalist Pamela Newkirk shines a bright light on the diversity industry, asking the tough questions about what has been effective--and why progress has been so slow. Newkirk highlights the rare success stories, sharing valuable lessons about how other industries can match those gains. But as she argues, despite decades of handwringing, costly initiatives, and uncomfortable conversations, organizations have, apart from a few exceptions, fallen far short of their goals.Diversity, Inc. incisively shows the vast gap between the rhetoric of inclusivity and real achievements. If we are to deliver on the promise of true equality, we need to abandon ineffective, costly measures and commit ourselves to combatting enduring racial attitudes
Turn cyber intelligence into meaningful business decisions and reduce losses from cyber events Cyber Intelligence-Driven Risk provides a solution to… one of the most pressing issues that executives and risk managers face: How can we weave information security into our business decisions to minimize overall business risk? In today's complex digital landscape, business decisions and cyber event responses have implications for information security that high-level actors may be unable to foresee. What we need is a cybersecurity command center capable of delivering, not just data, but concise, meaningful interpretations that allow us to make informed decisions. Building, buying, or outsourcing a CI-DR™ program is the answer. In his work with executives at leading financial organizations and with the U.S. military, author Richard O. Moore III has tested and proven this next-level approach to Intelligence and Risk. This book is a guide to: Building, buying, or outsourcing a cyber intelligence–driven risk program Understanding the functional capabilities needed to sustain the program Using cyber intelligence to support Enterprise Risk Management Reducing loss from cyber events by building new organizational capacities Supporting mergers and acquisitions with predictive analytics Each function of a well-designed cyber intelligence-driven risk program can support informed business decisions in the era of increased complexity and emergent cyber threats.
The tax facts and strategies that every small business owner needs to know for their 2020 tax return and year-round… planning Owning a small business is a big responsibility. While all small business owners seek to improve their bottom line, few realize all the ways that both current and new tax laws can help them do so. With J.K. Lasser's Small Business Taxes 2021 you'll quickly discover how. Written in a straightforward and accessible style, this reliable resource offers a complete overview of small business tax planning and provides you with the information needed to make tax-smart decisions throughout the year. Focusing on strategies that help you use deductions and tax credits effectively, shield business income, and maximize other aspects of small business taxes, this practical guide will show you how your actions in business today can affect your bottom line from a tax perspective tomorrow. It also shows COVID-19-related refund opportunities to improve your cash flow. In this fully updated volume, you'll find: Detailed coverage of the newest tax laws, court decisions, and IRS rulings Planning strategies that can help you run a tax-smart business all year long Comprehensive information on each available write-off, such as the QBI deduction, as well as dollar limits and record-keeping requirements Clear instructions on where to report income and claim deductions and credits on your tax forms Guidance on tax implications for PPP loans, opening or closing a business, running a sideline activity or multiple businesses, and succession planning Help with state taxes and a guide to information returns you may need to file Sample forms and checklists to help you prepare for tax time