Knowledge that Transforms

Editor's Note Our policy is to annotate all English-language books on economics and related subjects that are sent to us. A very small number of foreign-language books are called to our attention and annotated by our consulting editors or others. Our staff does not monitor and order books published; therefore, if an annotation of a book does not appear six months after the publication date, please write to us or the publisher concerning the book.

Editor's Note Our policy is to annotate all English-language books on economics and related subjects that are sent to us. A very small number of foreign-language books are called to our attention and annotated by our consulting editors or others. Our staff does not monitor and order books published; therefore, if an annotation of a book does not appear six months after the publication date, please write to us or the publisher concerning the book.

The categories listed below are used to classify books, book reviews, journal articles, and dissertations indexed in JEL, JEL on CD, and EconLit. New changes to the classification system appear as soon as possible on www.econlit.org . The JEL classification system may be used freely for scholarly purposes. We suggest the following format: “JEL: A10, B10, etc.”

Microplastics are small pieces of plastic that are less than 5 mm in size and can be found in most environments, including the oceans, rivers, and air. These small plastic particles can have negative impacts on wildlife and the environment. In this review of the literature, we analyze the presence of microplastics in various species of wildlife, including fish, birds, and mammals. We describe a variety of analytical techniques, such as microscopy and spectrometry, which identify and quantify the microplastics in the samples. In addition, techniques of sample preparation are discussed. Summary results show that microplastics are present in all the wildlife species studied, with the highest concentrations often found in fish and birds. The literature suggests that microplastics are widely distributed in the environment and have the potential to affect a wide range of species. Further research is required to fully understand the impacts of microplastics on wildlife and the environment.

Evan Kwerel of Federal Communications Commission reviews “Spectrum Auctions: Designing Markets to Benefit the Public, Industry and the Economy” by Geoffrey Myers. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Explores challenges of public policy decision-making, providing practical examples of harnessing auctions to elicit information and improve policy decisions.”

Joshua Gans of University of Toronto reviews “Making Wise Decisions in a Smart World: Responsible Leadership in an Era of Artificial Intelligence” by Peter Verhezen. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Considers the importance of sound decision-making in the uncertain and turbulent era of artificial intelligence (AI), discussing how organizations can create sustainable value and thrive without harming others.”

Mostafa Beshkar of Indiana University-Bloomington reviews “A World Trading System for the Twenty-First Century” by Robert W. Staiger. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Discusses the success of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its ideal economic environment, evaluating whether twenty-first-century changes in the global economy imply the need for changes in the design of the World Trade Organization (WTO) system.”

Eric M. Leeper of Department of Economics, University of Virginia reviews “A Monetary and Fiscal History of the United States, 1961-2021” by Alan S. Blinder. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Examines monetary and fiscal policy in the United States since the 1960s, chronicling how stabilization policy struggled to fight recessions, unemployment, and inflation.”

Kaushik Basu of Cornell University reviews “Prioritarianism in Practice” edited by Matthew D. Adler and Ole F. Norheim. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Twelve papers explore the use of prioritarianism as a methodology for evaluating governmental policy, highlighting the value of giving extra weight to the well-being of the worse off in policy assessment across a variety of domains.”