Knowledge that Transforms

Neviana Petkova of University of Oregon reviews “Trade Liberalisation: Impact on Growth and Trade in Developing Countries” by Ashok Parikh,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Nine papers, most previously published, present a quantitative assessment of trade liberalization and its impact on micro and macro economics structure in developing countries. Papers discuss disciplining firms--the impact of trade reforms on profit margins in the Indian industry (Uma S. Kambhampati and Ashok Parikh); whether liberalization has affected profit margins in the Indian industry (Kambhampati and Parikh); exports, inward foreign direct investment, and regional economic growth in China (Haishun Sun and Parikh); the impact of trade liberalization on import demands in India--a panel data analysis for commodity groups (Rajesh Mehta and Parikh); whether trade liberalization accelerates convergence in per capita incomes in developing countries (Parikh and Miyuki Shibata); dynamics of the relationship between the terms of trade and the trade balance in developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America (Parikh and Shibata); the relationship between trade liberalization, economic growth, and balance of payments in developing countries (Parikh and Corneliu Stirbu); the relationship between trade liberalization, growth, and balance of payments in developing countries--an econometric study (Parikh); and instability and volatility of capital flows in developing countries (Alberto Gabriele, Korkut Boratav, and Parikh). Parikh is in the Department of Economics at the University of East Anglia. Author and subject… Index.”

John T. Cuddington of Colorado School of Mines reviews “A Handbook of Primary Commodities in the Global Economy” by Marian Radetzki,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Examines the increasingly crucial role of commodities in the world economy and considers pertinent issues surrounding international commodity markets. Discusses the historical framework; the geography of commodity production and trade; comparative advantage and trade policy distortions; price formation and price trends in commodities; the commodity exchanges, commodity investments, and speculation; the economics of exhaustible resource depletion; fears of, and measures to assure, supply security; producer cartels in international commodity markets; public ownership in primary commodity production; and the monoeconomies--issues raised by heavy dependence on commodity production and exports. Radetzki is Professor of Economics at Lulea University of Technology. Index.”

Catherine D. Wolfram of University of California, Berkeley reviews “The Unsustainable Costs of Partial Deregulation” by Paul W. MacAvoy,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Assesses the results of deregulation in the United States over the last thirty years and analyzes whether deregulation has achieved any of its stated goals in the electricity, gas delivery, and telecommunications industries. Discusses an introduction to network technology and market structure; the regulation of networks; electric and gas network performance and partial deregulation; the strategic response of Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation to partial deregulation during the California power crisis; the long distance telephone networks and partial deregulation; and the singular result of partial deregulation and what can be done. MacAvoy is Williams Brothers Professor Emeritus of Management Studies at Yale University. Bibliography; index.”

Stefan Szymanski of City University London reviews “Economics, Uncertainty and European Football: Trends in Competitive Balance” by Loek Groot,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Explores the development of competitive balance in the major European football countries over an extended period of time and considers some policy prescriptions for the governance of the European football market. Discusses using football statistics--the basic techniques; competitive balance--sport's most precious good; static competitive balance; competitive balance based on team quality; dynamic competitive balance; and the future of European football--back to the 1950s. Groot is Associate Professor of Public Sector Economics in the Utrecht School of Economics at Utrecht University. Index.”

Richard Green of University of Birmingham reviews “Electricity and Energy Policy in Britain, France and the United States since 1945” by Martin Chick, Martin Chick,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Presents a major economic and historical study of the development of electricity and energy policy in Britain, France, and the United States since 1945. Discusses shifting from coal to oil--what price security?; the European Coal and Steel Community; moving the margin to the center--pricing electricity; electricity investment--rewarding the past, discounting the future; and deregulation, privatization, and liberalization. Chick is Senior Lecturer in Economic and Social History at the University of Edinburgh. Bibliography; index.”

Jordan Matsudaira of Cornell University reviews “The Price of Independence: The Economics of Early Adulthood” by Sheldon Danziger, Cecilia Elena Rouse,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Ten papers examine how economic conditions affect young people's transition to adulthood, focusing on the lengthening and increasingly varied transitions in recent generations. Papers discuss failure to launch--crossnational trends in the transition to economic independence; whether the company man is an anachronism--trends in long-term employment in the United States, 1973-2006; health insurance and the transition to adulthood; blurring the boundary--changes in collegiate participation and the transition to adulthood; labor market experiences and transitions to adulthood; young adults leaving the nest--the role of the cost of living; sticking around--delayed departure from the parental nest in Western Europe; to have and to hold--an analysis of young adult debt; family background and children's transitions to adulthood over time; and early incarceration spells and the transition to adulthood. Danziger is Henry J. Meyer Distinguished University Professor of Public Policy and Codirector of the National Poverty Center in the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan. Rouse is Theodore A. Wells '29 Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University and Director of the Princeton Education Research Section. Index.”

Taryn Dinkelman of Princeton University reviews “Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics--Global 2007: Rethinking Infrastructure for Development” by Francois Bourguignon, Boris Pleskovic,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Six papers and eight comments, originally presented at the Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics held in Tokyo in May 2006, examine the role of infrastructure in development. Papers discuss infrastructure and development--a survey of recent and upcoming issues (Antonio Estache); climate change impacts, energy, and development (Michael Grubb); managing China's energy resources (Jiang Kejun); rural infrastructure and agricultural development (Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Satoru Shimokawa); spurring economic development by capitalizing on brand agriculture--turning development strategy on its head (Masahisa Fujita); and infrastructure and regional cooperation (Haruhiko Kuroda, Masahiro Kawai, and Rita Nangia). Also includes the welcome, opening, and keynote addresses presented at the conference. Bourguignon is Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank. Pleskovic is Research Manager in Development Economics at the World Bank. No index.”

Francisco Rodriguez of United Nations Development Programme and Wesleyan University reviews “A Year without “Made in China”: One Family\'s True Life Adventure in the Global Economy” by Sara Bongiorni,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Chronicles the story of one family that embarked on a yearlong boycott of Chinese products in order to determine whether they could live without the world's fastest growing economy. Discusses excluding Chinese products from the author's home; the difficulty of finding non-Chinese children's shoes and toys; the difficulties that arose during the boycott; China's relationship with Wal-Mart; China's influence in France and in the electronics market; the difficulty of finding clothing not made in China; the family's growing acceptance of the boycott and the difficulty of finding non-Chinese office supplies; Hurricane Katrina and questions about the ethics of a boycott in a time of personal tragedy; considering whether to extend the boycott past one year; Christmas shopping and the boycott; and the end of the boycott. Bongiorni is an author and former business reporter. Index.”

Patricia M. Anderson of Dartmouth College reviews “Higher Ground: New Hope for the Working Poor and Their Children” by Greg J. Duncan, Aletha C. Huston, Thomas S. Weisner,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Explores how the city of Milwaukee's New Hope program can serve as a model for national antipoverty policies. Discusses creating New Hope; participants; the evaluation; work and poverty; children; families; New Hope's lessons; and New Hope and national policy. Duncan is Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education and Social Policy and Faculty Fellow in the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University. Huston is Priscilla Pond Flawn Regents Professor of Child Development and Fellow in the Population Research Institute at the University of Texas, Austin. Weisner is Professor of Anthropology in the Departments of Psychiatry and Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Index.”

Sara Markowitz of Emory University reviews “Paying the Tab: The Economics of Alcohol Policy” by Philip J. Cook,. The EconLit Abstract of the reviewed work begins “Presents an analysis of the complex policy issue of alcohol control. Discusses a brief history of the supply side; the alcoholism movement; drinking--a primer; prices and quantities; alcohol control as injury prevention; long-term effects--hearts and minds; the tendency of drinkers to earn more than those who abstain; evaluating interventions; regulating supply; taxing the alcohol industry; youth as a special case; and alcohol-control policy for the twenty-first century. Cook is Professor of Public Policy and Economics at Duke University. Index.”