The first series of Smith "Critical Assessments" included major articles on Adam Smith and set a new standard for Smith scholarship. However, the years since its publication have seen further developments in the vast field of work on this leading economist. "Adam Smith: Critical Assessments--Second Series" completes the project of the earlier volumes by making available the many significant articles which have appeared during the past decade. It will be an invaluable reference for scholars of Smith. Together, the two series provide those interested in the history of contemporary economics with immediate access to the intellectual legacy of one of the world's greatest economic theorists.

Few other economists have been read and cited as often as R.H. Coase has been, even though, as he admits, "most economists have a different way of looking at economic problems and do not share my conception of the nature of our subject." Coase's particular interest has been that part of economic theory that deals with firms, industries, and markets—what is known as price theory or microeconomics. He has always urged his fellow economists to examine the foundations on which their theory exists, and this volume collects some of his classic articles probing those very foundations. "The Nature of the Firm" (1937) introduced the then-revolutionary concept of transaction costs into economic theory. "The Problem of Social Cost" (1960) further developed this concept, emphasizing the effect of the law on the working of the economic system. The remaining papers and new introductory essay clarify and extend Coarse's arguments and address his critics. "These essays bear rereading. Coase's careful attention to actual institutions not only offers deep insight into economics but also provides the best argument for Coase's methodological position. The clarity of the exposition and the elegance of the style also make them a pleasure to read and a model worthy of emulation."—Lewis A. Kornhauser, Journal of Economic Literature Ronald H. Coase was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Science in 1991.

The most important book on antitrust ever written. It shows how antitrust suits adversely affect the consumer by encouraging a costly form of protection for inefficient and uncompetitive small businesses.

Our quest for prosperity has produced great output but not always great outcomes. The growing list of concerns includes climate and natural capital, abuse of wealth and market power, economic insecurity, gender bias and disparity, competitive and immoderate consumption, and unhealthful lifestyles. Fundamentally, when it comes to well-being, fairness, and the scope of our humanity, the modern economic system still leaves much to be desired. In turn, trust in business and the liberal market system (a.k.a. "capitalism") has been declining and regulation has been rising. Thankfully, a variety of forces-civic, economic, and intellectual-have been probing for better alternatives. The contributions in this volume, coauthored by eminent philosophers, social scientists, and thoughtful business leaders, are submitted in this spirit. Mutuality, or the exchange of benefits, has been established as the prime principle of action and inter-action in addressing the chronic dilemma of human interdependence. Mutuality is a fundament in the social contract approach and it continues to serve us well. But, to address more robustly the concerns outlined above, we need to conceive a cultural economic system that is anchored on more than mutuality. In particular, we must help evolve an economic paradigm where mutuality is more systematically complemented by reasoned and elective morality. Otherwise the design of the state as protector and buffer between the market and society will remain the central (if inadequate) remedy. The essays in this volume integrate philosophy and social science to outline and explore concrete approaches to these important concerns emanating from business practice and theory.

This book makes an innovative link between classical liberalism and questions of international economic order. The author begins with an outline of classical liberalism as applied to domestic economic order. He then surveys the classical liberal tradition from the Scottish Enlightenment to modern thinkers like Knight, Hayekn and Viner. Finally, he brings together the insights of thinkers in this tradition to provide a synthetic overview of classical liberalism and international economic order. The author's deployment of classical liberalism strikes a different note to other 'liberal' interpretations in economics and political science. In particular, classical liberalism points to the domestic preconditions of international order, and advocates unilateral liberalisation in the context of an institutional competition between states.

The book deals with the problems of the world in the social and economic aspects. The general idea is that neoliberalism is basically wrong and will never solve the problem of a fair living standard for everyone. So-called development is not progress at all, but rather it is a sick growth if not done on moral bases. The human creature believes it has reached the final point in evolution, a kind of perfect being, while in fact evolution is not finished and we have to continue the way in spiritual development. If there is any growth or development to be done, it must be a growth in consciousness, and the way to achieve it is through meditation, or other means of sef-improvement. The book rests on a lot of research but absolutely not on personal speculation, the underlying thread and inspiration comes from spiritual wisdom, and this allows a general view that joins everything together from basic wants to spiritual needs. Mankind is already well engaged on its way to a better future.

The European Union is a key actor in international economic governance. Through its foreign economic policies it plays a central role in the negotiation of international trade agreements, the global regulation of the financial services sector, and the provision of aid to developing countries. This book shows how principal-agent theory can be used to shed new light on this complex of policy areas. In particular, the contributions to this volume analyze delegation, control, and agent strategies in a variety of principal-agent relationships shaping the EU’s foreign economic policies: mainly those involving interest groups and governments; governments and the European Commission; and the European Union and international organizations. The chapters, written by leading experts in the field, offer empirically-rich studies of various areas of the EU’s external economic relations including trade, financial regulation, accounting standards and global regulation through the G7/G8. The book is aimed at researchers and advanced students interested in the EU, international economic relations, and principal-agent theory. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of European Public Policy.

Howard Zinn's unique take on this vital period in U.S. history with a new introduction. The postwar boom in the U.S. brought about massive changes in U.S. society and culture. In this accessible volume, historian Zinn offers a view from below on these vital years. By critically examining U.S. militarism abroad and racism at home, he raises challenging questions about this often romanticized period.