The free market makes the world go around. Maybe it’s time we all tried to understand it a little better. Luckily Eamonn Butler is the ideal teacher to get us all up to speed. Markets are everywhere. But how many of us understand how they work, and why? What does a ‘free market’ really mean? Do free markets actually exist? Should we have more or less of them? Most of all – do we really need to know all this? Answer: Yes we do. MAKING ECONOMICS SIMPLE SO THAT EVEN POLITICIANS CAN UNDERSTAND IT If any mention of free markets sends your mind screaming back to your musty old school economics textbook, think again. The Best Book on the Market will keep you gripped, intrigued and well informed. Abandoning complicated mumbo-jumbo, Eamonn Butler, Director of the UK’s leading free market think-tank, demystifies the world of markets, competition, monopolies and cartels, prices and overspills. Using examples from our everyday lives Dr Butler explains how the markets we have, and the many more we need, can work to create a richer, freer and more peaceful world. STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE FREE ECONOMY He delves into the morality of markets and interrogates important issues such as why feckless rock-stars are paid much more than worthy nurses; whether we should worry about people trading in arms, water, healthcare etc; whether black markets are immoral; and questions of equality; sweatshops, and fair trade. “This book is about the free market and how unfree it can be when there is a lack of belief in freedom itself. Eamonn Butler presents solid arguments against government attempts to ‘perfect’ the markets by regulation, controls, subsidies, or by adopting measures which obstruct competition and private ownership.” Václav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic “Vividly and simply explains competition, entrepreneurship and prices”. John Blundell, Director, Institute of Economic Affairs “A great little book that gets to the heart of how and why markets work, in a very engaging and easily understood way”. Dan Lewis, Research Director, Economic Research Council “I welcome this witty, lucid explanation of how entrepreneurs and business people make a positive contribution to our lives, and why economists often don't”. Andrew Neil , leading journalist and BBC presenter “Anything which educates the public – and politicians – on how the free economy actually works is always welcome. Dr Butler does this in style”. Lord Lawson, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer “Everyone in business would do well to understand the basic principles of markets which Dr Butler clarifies so well in this short book”. Allister Heath, Editor of The Business and Associate Editor of The Spectator «This book does great justice to the vibrancy of markets and what makes them tick» Ruth Richardson, former Finance Minister of New Zealand «It's refreshing to see an economist who understands the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in pushing progress forward, and who can explain it in straightforward language.» Trevor Baylis OBE (inventor of the wind-up radio) «I'm glad to see that Dr Butler stresses the role of innovators – and the importance of market structures that encourage innovation.» Sir Clive Sinclair (inventor) «Dr Butler's book is a welcome and very readable contribution on the mechanisms and morality of the free economy.» Sir John Major KG CH (former UK Prime Minister) “'Market' is one of the first six-letter wor
Bond Evaluation, Selection, and Management synthesizes fundamental and advanced topics in the field, offering comprehensive coverage of bond and debt management. This text provides readers with the basics needed to understand advanced strategies, and explanations of cutting edge advanced topics. Focusing on concepts, models, and numerical examples, readers are provided with the tools they need to select, evaluate, and manage bonds. Provides a comprehensive exposition of bond and debt management. Covers both the fundamental and advanced topics in the field, including bond derivatives. Focuses on concepts, models, and numerical examples. Reinforces important concepts through review questions, web exercises, and practice problems in each chapter.
Get up to speed on Symbian OS v7.0s with this new, from the source reference guide. After a brief introduction to Symbian OS fundamentals the book focuses on describing the interaction between the OS and the application, broadly following the lifecycle of an application. It describes the new features particular to v7.0s and provides conceptual and theoretical underpinnings to give the reader a thorough understanding of the OS. Aims to build a general understanding of Symbian OS, not just for a particular smartphone or UI Packed with code and examples Details advanced features such as user interfaces, files and views, multimedia services and communications, and messaging
An easy-to-follow introduction to support vector machines This book provides an in-depth, easy-to-follow introduction to support vector machines drawing only from minimal, carefully motivated technical and mathematical background material. It begins with a cohesive discussion of machine learning and goes on to cover: Knowledge discovery environments Describing data mathematically Linear decision surfaces and functions Perceptron learning Maximum margin classifiers Support vector machines Elements of statistical learning theory Multi-class classification Regression with support vector machines Novelty detection Complemented with hands-on exercises, algorithm descriptions, and data sets, Knowledge Discovery with Support Vector Machines is an invaluable textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. It is also an excellent tutorial on support vector machines for professionals who are pursuing research in machine learning and related areas.
Discover grid computing-how to successfully build, implement, and manage widely distributed computing architecture With technology budgets under increasing scrutiny and system architecture becoming more and more complex, many organizations are rethinking how they manage and use technology. Keeping a strong business focus, this publication clearly demonstrates that the current ways of tying applications to dedicated hardware are no longer viable in today's competitive, bottom line-oriented environment. This evolution in distributed computing is leading a paradigm shift in leveraging widely distributed architectures to get the most processing power per IT dollar. Presenting a solid foundation of data management issues and techniques, this practical book delves into grid architecture, services, practices, and much more, including: * Why businesses should adopt grid computing * How to master the fundamental concepts and programming techniques and apply them successfully to reach objectives * How to maximize the value of existing IT investments The author has tailored this publication for two distinct audiences. Business professionals will gain a better understanding of how grid computing improves productivity and performance, what impact it can have on their organization's bottom line, and the technical foundations necessary to discuss grid computing with their IT colleagues. Following the author's expert guidance and practical examples, IT professionals, architects, and developers will be equipped to initiate and carry out successful grid computing projects within their own organizations.
Micro and nanosystems represent a major scientific and technological challenge, with actual and potential applications in almost all fields of the human activity. The aim of the present book is to present how concepts from dynamical control systems (modeling, estimation, observation, identification, feedback control) can be adapted and applied to the development of original very small-scale systems and of their human interfaces. The application fields presented here come from micro and nanorobotics, biochips, near-field microscopy (AFM and STM) and nanosystems networks. Alina Voda has drawn contributions from leading experts at top research universities in France to produce a first overview of the major role that control systems science can play in the development of micro and nanosciences and technologies.
Arithmetic and Logic in Computer Systems provides a useful guide to a fundamental subject of computer science and engineering. Algorithms for performing operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division in digital computer systems are presented, with the goal of explaining the concepts behind the algorithms, rather than addressing any direct applications. Alternative methods are examined, and explanations are supplied of the fundamental materials and reasoning behind theories and examples. No other current books deal with this subject, and the author is a leading authority in the field of computer arithmetic. The text introduces the Conventional Radix Number System and the Signed-Digit Number System, as well as Residue Number System and Logarithmic Number System. This book serves as an essential, up-to-date guide for students of electrical engineering and computer and mathematical sciences, as well as practicing engineers and computer scientists involved in the design, application, and development of computer arithmetic units.
Financial services institutions like international banks and insurance companies frequently need to adapt to changes in their environments, yet manage risk and ensure regulatory compliance. The author Hans Wegener reveals how metadata can be used to achieve a successful and technological evolution. This unique approach is divided into three parts to: Explain how metadata can be used to increase an organization's ability to adopt changes Outline the peculiarities of financial corporations and how they affect value creation and solution design Present the practical side of effectively managing metadata and sustaining long term success Wegener firstly illustrates the peculiarities of both metadata management and the financial services industry. He combines both, puts them into context of use, and explains where and how this makes life difficult, as well as where and how value is created. This enables the reader to understand the impact of metadata management on his/her organization, its typical side effects, necessities, and benefits. The book then goes onto reveal how different crosscutting concerns managed in large financial corporations (change, risk, and compliance management) can revolutionize business by supporting them with metadata management. This provides a blueprint to be used in strategic planning. Finally, the mechanics of three important practical areas are discussed in-depth, namely managing evolution, quality, and sustainability. This provides helpful scripts for practitioners to be used in real-life.
Written by Bruce Hopkins, the foremost expert on nonprofit law, this is your complete analysis of the procedures and practices of the IRS in its audits of tax-exempt organizations. Practical in presentation, this book offers advice on undergoing audits, details today's exempt organizations' issues, and authoritatively examines detailed documentation and citations, as well as numerous case studies, tips, forms, and checklists.
Line-by-line tips and instructions to successfully file Form 1023 IRS Form 1023 Tax Preparation Guide provides comprehensive instructions for completing and filing the new and significantly revised Form 1023 (Application for Recognition of Exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code). Nonprofit organizations–including health and human service organizations, schools, private foundations, churches, libraries, museums, cultural institutions, environmental protection organizations, and other charitable, smaller groups–contend daily with issues related to their IRS filings, from qualifying and applying for tax-exempt status to maintaining and managing it. Written for nonprofit executives and directors, accountants, nonprofit boards, lawyers, consultants, and volunteers, IRS Form 1023 Tax Preparation Guide is brimming with helpful advice and features, including: * Strategies for obtaining IRS recognition of tax-exempt status as a charitable organization including a Suitability Checklist to evaluate viability of making application * Insights into the rationale behind the information requested by the IRS * Specific suggestions for answering each question on Form 1023 and navigating the steps involved in the approval process * Practical advice on the alternatives available in contesting an adverse IRS determination * An overview of state filing requirements * A companion Web site that allows nonprofits to download key model forms and connect to IRS forms * Easy-to-use worksheets to help manage such critical concerns as public charity status, tax-exempt eligibility, reporting to the IRS, and tax compliance