If handbooks can be inspiring, this is it! Like a true companion, it takes in its stride conversations both big and small. Its entries do not just present an international and multidisciplinary mix, but true to life they work on several different scales. And, importantly, the book makes its authority evident. For it is like an extended website, but with all the added advantages of an encyclopaedia that actually tells you about the authors and the sources on which they have drawn. The resulting compilation is highly intelligent, thoughtful and above all usable. Dame Marilyn Strathern, University of Cambridge, UK The Elgar Companion to Development Studies is a major production in the development studies field, authored by a star-studded cast of contributors. With 136 entries covering a vast range of topics, it should quickly establish itself as a leading work of reference. We should all feel indebted to David Clark, who has successfully brought this substantial publishing project to completion. John Toye, University of Oxford, UK This is a most comprehensive handbook on development studies. It brings together a wide, varied array of carefully crafted summaries of 136 key topics in development by an international cast of well-respected academics and other experts in respective areas of study. The handbook is heavily interdisciplinary, organically combining economic, political, historical, social, cultural, institutional, ethical, and human aspects of development. While the wide range of entries might appear as a simple glossary listing or an encyclopedic collection, each of the 136 entries offers more depth and discussion than the average handbook. . . . Viewed in this light, this companion is highly likely to become known as a leading reference work on the topic. Highly recommended. Ismael Hossein-Zadeh, Choice The Elgar Companion to Development Studies is an innovative and unique reference book that includes original contributions covering development economics as well as development studies broadly defined. This major new Companion brings together an international panel of experts from varying backgrounds who discuss theoretical, ethical and practical issues relating to economic, social, cultural, institutional, political and human aspects of development in poor countries. It also includes a selection of intellectual biographies of leading development thinkers. While the Companion is organised along the lines of an encyclopaedia, each of its 136 entries provide more depth and discussion than the average reference book. Its entries are also extremely diverse: they draw on different social science disciplines, incorporate various mixes of theoretical and applied work, embrace a variety of methodologies and represent different views of the world. The Elgar Companion to Development Studies will therefore appeal to students, scholars, researchers, policymakers and practitioners in the filed of development as well as the interested layman.

This unique Companion provides a comprehensive overview and critical evaluation of existing conceptualizations and new developments in innovation research. It draws on multiple perspectives of innovation, knowledge and creativity from economics, geography, history, management, political science and sociology. The Companion brings together leading scholars to reflect upon innovation as a concept (Part I), innovation and institutions (Part II), innovation and creativity (Part III), innovation, networking and communities (Part IV), innovation in permanent spatial settings (Part V), innovation in temporary, virtual and open settings (Part VI), innovation, entrepreneurship and market making (Part VII), and the governance and management of innovation (Part VIII).

Arguably one of the most important economists who has lived, Ricardo's impact on the economics profession is immense. This unique and comprehensive Companion elucidates his significance and continuing legacy. Ricardo made major contributions to all fields of the subject, from monetary issues to value and income distribution, from capital accumulation, technical progress and economic growth to foreign trade and international specialisation, and from taxes to public debt. What he called the main problem of political economy, the distribution of income and wealth, is again back on the political and economic agenda with a vengeance. Leading experts in the field explore his influence and offer novel interpretations of received doctrines.

Offering a cutting-edge, transdisciplinary approach to bio-physical and bio-cultural scales of sustainability, this Companion explores diverse understandings of the what, how, why and where questions of sustainability. It examines the key notion of how to optimize human quality of life whilst minimizing environmental suffering. Integrating a range of disciplines through the social sciences, natural sciences and arts and humanities, this Companion focuses on the human component of sustainability, using a place-based and life-scape approach to environmental questions. Chapters analyze critical topics including: urbanization and city life, environmental conservation and rural landscapes, long-term interactions with natural life, climate change and the importance of mountain regions. Looking beyond an economic analysis of sustainability and well-being, this Companion incorporates cross-cutting social, cultural, judicial and spiritual dimensions of sustainability and regenerative development. With a combination of international case studies and an interdisciplinary framework for understanding the topic, this will be an interesting read for those studying sustainability from a range of disciplinary bases including ecological economists, human ecologists and geographers. It will also be beneficial to urban planners and ecologists interested in how the profoundly impactful evolutionary trend towards the urban environment is impacting human geographies around the world. Contributors include:B. Antaki, J. Balsiger, A. Barreau, S. Boillat, B. Boley, A. Borsdorf, F. Boyer, M. Bush, J.B. Campbell, M. Carré, R. Cheddadi, T.J. Christoffel, B. Debarbieux , M.E. Donoso-Correa, N. Dudley, W. Dunbar, F. Ficetola, L. François, L.M. Frolich, E. Guevara, J.A. González, A. Haller, C.P. Harden, D. Harmon, A.-J. Henrot, S.L. Hitchner, G.A. Holdridge, K. Huang, J.T. Ibarra, K. Ichikawa, E.A. Macdonald, C. Mena, C. Merchant, A. Michaels, C. Monterrubio-Solís, E. Müller, M. Navarro, H. Norberg-Hodge, M. Oliva, S. Padgett-Vasquez, S.E. Pilaar Birch, D. Quiroga, J.K. Reap, L.M. Resler, A. Rhoujjati, R. Rozzi, F.O. Sarmiento, J.W. Schelhas, Y. Shao, C. Stadel, P. Taberlet, K. Taylor, S.J. Walsh, K.R. Young, Z. Zheng, F.M. Zimmermann, S. Zimmermann-Janschitz

This Companion takes stock of the trajectory, achievements, shortcomings and prospects of Marxist political economy. It reflects the contributors' shared commitment to bringing the methods, theories and concepts of Marx himself to bear across a wide range of topics and perspectives, and it provides a testimony to the continuing purpose and vitality of Marxist political economy. As a whole, this volume analyzes Marxist political economy in three areas: the critique of mainstream economics in all of its versions; the critical presence of Marxist political economy within, and its influence upon, each of the social science disciplines; and, cutting across these, the analysis of specific topics that straddle disciplinary boundaries. Some of the contributions offer an exposition of basic concepts, accessible to the general reader, laying out Marx's own contribution, its significance, and subsequent positions and debates with and within Marxist political economy. The authors offer assessments of historical developments to and within capitalism, and of its current character and prospects. Other chapters adopt a mirror-image approach of pinpointing the conditions of contemporary capitalism as a way of interrogating the continuing salience of Marxist analysis. This volume will inform and inspire a new generation of students and scholars to become familiar with Marxist political economy from an enlightened and unprejudiced position, and to use their knowledge as both a resource and gateway to future study.

Ronald H. Coase, one of the most innovative and provocative economists of the twentieth century, has had a lasting influence in economics, law and economics, organization theory, management and political science. In this comprehensive Companion, 31 leading economists, social scientists and legal scholars, including two Nobel Laureates, offer the first global assessment of the initial impact of Coase’s work and the continuing inspiration that researchers and policy makers find in his contributions. The book presents a review of the continuing power of Coase’s work, including the reshaping of public policies with particular respect to public utilities and network industries. Further chapters explore research programmes that he initiated including the concept of transaction costs and the analysis of property rights, especially in terms of the regulation of the communications industry and the creation of markets for the right to pollute. The book clearly demonstrates the originality of Coase’s work and the challenge that it posed to conventional perspectives which has been a hallmark of his research throughout his life, from his initial view on the nature of the firm to his recent analysis of the development of capitalism in China. Less well-known features of Coase’s research going beyond his famous papers on ‘The Nature of the Firm’ and ‘The Problem of Social Cost’ are also explored in detail. From economics to public policy, this complete and thorough assessment of Coase’s vast contribution will be an invaluable reference to all those interested in the many areas influenced by this great economist.

The breadth and depth of the insights presented here will appeal especially to students and scholars of economics and historians interested in economics, social science and applied public policy. --

This comprehensive Companion examines the achievements and challenges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the world’s first permanent international criminal tribunal. It provides an overview of the first two decades of the ICC’s existence, investigating the dominant narratives and counter-narratives that have emerged about the institution and its work.

A comprehensive overview of the governance of urban infrastructures, this Companion combines illustrative cases with conceptual approaches to offer an innovative perspective on the governance of large urban infrastructure systems. Chapters examine the challenges facing urban infrastructure systems, including financial, economic, technological, social, ecological, jurisdictional and demand.

The Elgar Companion to Economics and Philosophy aims to demonstrate exactly how these two important areas have always been linked, and to illustrate the key areas of overlap. The contributors are well-known and distinguished authors from a variety of disciplines, who have been invited both to survey and to provide a personal assessment of current and prospective future states of their respective areas of philosophical interest.