Book Description
A classic in economics from the three-time New York Times best seller. Written during a period of acute economic stagnation in 1980, The Zero-Sum Society discusses the human implications of economic problem solving. Interpreting macroeconomics as a zero-sum game, Thurow proposes that the American economy will not solve its most trenchant problems-inflation, slow economic growth, the environment-until the political economy can support, in theory and in practice, the idea that certain members of society will have to bear the brunt of taxation and other government-sponsored economic actions. As relevant today as it was twenty years ago, The Zero-Sum Society offers a classic set of recommendations about the best way to balance government stewardship of the economy and the free-market aspirations of upwardly mobile Americans.
Customer Reviews:
An observation.......2005-03-03
Having worked on Wall Street for 25 years, by and from experience I can assert that ANY economic behavior by any human does entail a marginal error toward/from the misinterpreted phrase "zero sum game.Simply research historic Federal Reserve monetary policy to understand this, let alone structured finance!
Prof. Thurow's point is that the US political economy, its citizens, and those "elites" who make its policy are asymetrically informed. Sooner or later, the US has to restructure its misapplication of redistributing wealth; hence the shock of the 70's, the long-term mess Regan has left; the stock bubble of the mid-90's; the current housing bubble. Another shock a la 1973 and 1978 might redirect this country's "elites'" thinking towards more long-term pragmatic lines.
Not just wrong... badly wrong........2004-06-08
Couldn't agree with the previous review. Even the title is wrong. The economy... any economy is NEVER a zero-sum game. Here is a quote from the author: "Can economic command significantly... accelerate the growth process? The remarkable performance of the Soviet Union suggests that it can... Today the Soviet Union is a country whose economic achievements bear comparison with those of the United States." That was in 1989, JUST BEFORE the Soviet system collapsed. How can anyone be more wrong? Unfortunately, these people teach our kids.
Proven Wrong.......2001-12-29
This book was a sensation when it first appeared in 1980.
But then something unexpected (by Thurow at least) happened. Ronald Reagan was elected President and ignited a period of spectacular economic growth, coupled with low inflation and high employment, that lasted through the next two administrations - thus proving Thurow totally wrong!
Why do publishers keep reprinting books that have been invalidated by history? Why not allow then to sink silently into the dustbin of failed theories where they belong?
As Charlie Chan once said: Theory like mist on eyeglasses. Obscures facts.
Eminently Readable, Hardly Revolutionary.......2000-10-28
This was one of the most readable non-fiction books I've ever come across. It's written in clear effective English and makes its point (mainly through repetition) very well.
Thurow has one basic idea - that the American economy was paralysed in the 1970s because of the variety of groups (upper-class versus lower-class, blacks versus whites, industrial versus agricultural etc.) with conflicting interests that made it impossible for the government to undertake effective policies. As such, this book seems pretty commonsensical and hardly revolutionary nor particularly enlightening. Thurow takes us through the various economic problems that the US faced at the time to show how this is the case.
This problem appears to be the combined flaw of democracy - that people have a say in how the country is run - although he didn't explore that; and capitalism - the doctrine of self-interest. The groups all want to protect themselves. This means that any change will inevitably be vetoed/subject to prolonged protest by at least one group - namely, the group that will have to suffer (by seeing their incomes decline) so that the rest of the economy can benefit. This shows up in the protection of inefficient industries such as steel and textiles, the unwillingness to impose strict income and price controls etc. In effect, the economy will continue to stay stagnant until certain groups are imposed on for the sake of everyone else.
He also makes the interesting case that inflation was not really a problem, backing this up with statistics that show that the average American's standard of living rose; and income differences didn't widen. Rather, it was a matter of perception and psychology.
Book Description
How can you build a successful community of practice that is integrally linked to your company's strategic vision? Learn from the first-hand experience of Hubert Saint-Onge, recognized by Fortune magazine as a leader in the field of knowledge capital, and co-author Debra Wallace, the people responsible for a recent project to establish a community of practice for independent agents at Clarica Life Insurance Company voted one of the most admired knowledge enterprises in the world by practitioners and researchers.
'Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage' combines theory and practice to outline a model for developing successful communities of practice and proposes a direction for establishing communities of practice as an integral part of the organizational structure. Saint-Onge and Wallace relate what worked, what didn't, and why as they tell the story from inception through implementation to assessment. Whether you're developing communities of practice or want to learn how to leverage existing communities for strategic gain, this book provides you with everything you need to launch successful communities of practice in your organization.
* Hubert Saint-Onge has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a leader in the area of leveraging knowledge capital
* Clarica has been voted one of the most admired knowledge enterprises in the world by practitioners and researchers
* Combines theory and practice to outline a model for developing successful communities of practice
Customer Reviews:
Excellent practical guidebook.......2005-12-31
While there are a number of books with marvellous content about the theory of communities of practice, this is the one that I go back to over and over again for practical, step-by-step guidance.
I have used and recommended this book often. It is the manual I employed when I created my first formal community of practice in early 2004 - and that community is still going strong and growing, even though I am no longer working with that organization!
thick clotted prose.......2005-03-27
This book is comprised of the kind of writing Sockel calls "thick clotted prose". After decades of reading the clear, unadorned, precise and excellent English of The Economist, I have become intolerant of pretentious layered jargon. What, for example, does this sentence say, which could not be said in simple words: "The organization's objectives, responses, and business models should be calibrated on the basis of its capabilities." Perhaps it could have been: "Organizations should do things they are good at." If this thick clotted prose had coagulated into high scholarship, I might have bothered to read on. Alas, that was not the case. The authors write, in a gesture alluding to scholarship: "Evidence shows that customers are demanding clearer information from their solution providers..." What evidence? It was not given, nor references to studies showing it. Read this book to find out how not to write.
Better still, get yourself a good book on this topic. See "Cultivating Communities of Practice" by Wenger at al., from Harvard Business School Press. Here you shall find lucid expression, good English, thorough endnoting and source documentation, and a comprehensive treatement of the topic.
Very practical indeed.......2003-09-26
This book has proved very practical indeed with the developing of CoPs in our environment.
A useful practical model.......2003-02-19
The book describes the introduction of a virtual community of practice, the Agents Network, at Clarica Life Insurance, Canada's first and oldest mutual insurance company. The book offers a practical and detailed example of the establishment, implementation and evaluation of the virtual community, with examples of the tools used by the project team at Clarica.
The authors introduce the notion of communities of practice as a new strategy to leverage knowledge capital to create sustainable competitive advantage. By valuing communities of practice, by recognising the contribution of community members, and giving support for time and commitment) and providing an infrastructure (e.g. giving them a communication platform, active facilitation and information resources), the authors suggest that organizations can increase the speed of innovation and knowledge sharing.
The Community Development Process Model (p.137) provides an excellent 'roadmap' to the approach they undertook that is readily understood. Practical suggestions and tools about evaluating the value of the community are also provided. There is a good combination of theory and practice and, therefore, something for anyone interested in this topic. It has a balance between high-level strategic models, and detailed and practical examples.
The approach taken at Clarica was systematic and project-managed, with the organization playing a very active role in facilitating the conceptualisation, establishment, growth and expansion of the community. The organization obviously provided significant resources to undertake the project. Virtual communities of practice, like the one described in the book, clearly require strong organisational support and resources due to the technological infrastructure they require to be effective.
The authors do not purport to provide a recipe - rather, they tell a story about the introduction of a virtual community of practice in one organization - as such, the book offers an in-depth view of the process. The questions asked at the end of each chapter are intended to challenge readers to assess whether the approach described would work in their own organization.
Practitioners may be tempted to read more widely to find alternative approaches to developing communities of practice, and to select 'the best of the best'. The Clarica approach is only one way, but it does provide sound conceptual models that set the strategic context, as well as diving directly into the detail. There is a useful associated website.
The Future is Here!.......2003-01-25
Hubert and Debra, thanks, you two have written a monumental work, but in such a humble and mater-of-fact manner. The more I read, the more I became frustrated with the title, because although the book is about the strategic nature of "Communities of Practice," it offers so much more. For the last thirty years, people have been trumpeting the `end of the hierarchy,' but without anything to put in its place. Know we know the future, and it is here!
In Nonaka and Takeuchi's "The Knowledge Creating Company," there was the suggestive diagram of the "hypertext organization." It showed three layers, the hierarchy, the project team community and a third space, the knowledge community. A few years later Nonaka understood that this third space was what the Japanese call "Ba," a shared mental space. Is this not what you two are talking about in your "Reflective and Strategic - Communities of Practice?"
Please write your next book as quickly as possible and reveal the key to the "culture of leadership," a phrase that got short-shrift. Revisit the earlier work you did at The Mutual Group around "values." I am convinced this, more than any number of memos, meetings and check lists, was what made it possible to accomplish what you did at Clarica.
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Interactions Between Fish and Aquatic Macrophytes in Inland Waters: A Review (Fao Fisheries Technical Paper)
T. Petr
Manufacturer: Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN (FA
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 9251044538 |
Book Description
Macrophytes and macrophytes ecology have gained an added importance with the introduction of, and legal requirement to implement, the European Water Framework Directive. This reflects the valuable role that aquatic plant communities play in assessing the ecological status of water bodies. Significant changes in the status and general abundance of these communities has been recorded in the last three decades, consequent on such factors as global warming and, increasingly, on the spread of aggressive alien species. These changes have been most felt in those waters that are exploited for amenity and recreational pursuits.
The increased biomass of aquatic vegetation in water bodies has adversely impacted on leisure use of these systems but has also impacted on their use for agricultural, flood relief, municipal and domestic purposes. The loss to national economies resulting from this excessive plant biomass has been appreciable and has put pressure on water managers to develop weed control procedures that are efficient, environmentally sensitive and cost-effective. The results from the most up-to-date research activities and field trials of leading aquatic plant scientists and managers in all five continents, aimed at resolving these weed problems, has been drawn together in this volume.
The title of this special issue, 'Macrophytes in aquatic ecosystems: from biology to management', is wide-ranging and reflects the broad scope and scale of the papers presented therein. It further recognises the old paradigm: 'knowledge to achieve management and management to achieve knowledge'.
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Management and Ecology of Freshwater Plants (Developments in Hydrobiology)
Manufacturer: Springer
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ASIN: 0792344332 |
Book Description
There is a growing need for appropriate management of aquatic plants in rivers and canals, lakes and reservoirs, and drainage channels and urban waterways. This management must be based on a sound knowledge of the ecology of freshwater plants, their distribution and the different forms of control available including chemical, physical, biological and biomanipulation. This series of papers from over 20 different countries was generated from the highly successful European Weed Research Society symposia on aquatic plant management, this being the ninth. The contributions provide a valuable insight into the complexities involved in managing aquatic systems, discuss state-of-the-art control techniques such as biomanipulation using fish and waterfowl and the use of straw, and deal with patterns of regrowth and recovery post-management. Careful consideration is given to the use of chemicals, a practice which has come under scrutiny in recent years.
Underpinning the development of such control techniques is a growing body of knowledge relating to the biology and ecology of water plants, including growth responses under different trophic conditions, the impact of pollution, and aspects of photosynthesis. The authorship of the papers represents the collective wisdom of leading scientists and experts from fisheries agencies, river authorities, nature conservation agencies, the agrochemical industry and both governmental and non-governmental organisations.
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Biology, Ecology and Management of Aquatic Plants (DEVELOPMENTS IN HYDROBIOLOGY Volume 147)
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0792361822 |
Book Description
There is a growing need for appropriate management of aquatic plants in rivers and canals, lakes and reservoirs, and drainage channels and urban waterways. This management must be based on a sound knowledge of the ecology of freshwater plants, their distribution and the different forms of control available including chemical and physical, and biological and biomanipulation.
This series of papers from over 20 different countries was generated from the tenth in the highly successful series of European Weed Research Society symposia on aquatic plant management, this being the tenth. It provides a valuable insight into the complexities involved in managing aquatic systems, discusses state-of-the-art control techniques and deals with patterns of regrowth and recovery post-management. Careful consideration is given to the use of chemicals, a practice which has come under scrutiny in recent years. Underpinning the development of such control techniques is a growing body of knowledge relating to the biology and ecology of water plants. The authorship of the papers represents the collective wisdom of leading scientists and experts from fisheries agencies, river authorities, nature conservation agencies, the agrochemical industry and both governmental and non-governmental organisations.
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Relationships between fish and aquatic plants: A plan of study (Miscellaneous paper)
K. Jack Killgore
Manufacturer: U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0006P3808 |
Book Description
THE definitive genetics lab manual for over 50 years, this user-friendly volume stresses classical genetics, but includes some of the recent advances related to molecular and human genetics as well.
Drosophila and Maize Experiments in Genetics: Monohybrid Crosses; Dihybrid Crosses. Cell Reproduction: Mitosis. Meiosis in Animals: Oogenesis and Spermatogenesis. Meiosis in Angiosperms: Microsporogenesis and Megasporogenesis. Polytene Chromosomes from Drosophila Salivary Glands. Sex Chromosomes and Gene Transmission. The Sex Check: A Study of Sex Chromatin in Human Cells. Human Chromosomes. Linkage and Crossing Over. Genetics of Ascospore Color in Sordaria: An Investigation of Linkage and Crossing Over Using Tetrad Analysis. Open-Ended Experiments Using Drosophila: Locating a Mutant Gene in Its Chromosome. Isolation of DNA. Restriction Endonuclease Digestion and Gel Electrophoresis of DNA. Amplification of DNA Polymorphisms by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and DNA Fingerprinting. Transformation of Escherichia coli. Gene Action: Synthesis of ... b-Galactosidase in Escherichia coli. Chromatographic Characterization of Drosophila melanogaster Mutants. Bacterial Mutagenesis. Gene Recombination in Phage. Polygenic Inheritance: Fingerprint Ridge Count. Population Genetics: The Hardy-Weinberg Principle; The Effects of Selection and Genetic Drift. Applied Human Genetics.
For anyone interested in hands-on genetics work.
Customer Reviews:
Great educational tool for beginners.......2007-01-15
This slim volume is packed with various laboratory protocols for beginning level geneticists. Protocols in general consist of non-commercial products.
Book Description
Genetic Investigations for the Laboratory includes a balanced mix of topics for the introductory genetics laboratory. The text emphasizes genetic science as an on-going process of inquiry and investigation in which skills such as data gathering, measuring, calculating, hypothesizing, inferring, analyzing, report writing and utilization of the resources of the World Wide Web are utilized. Students explore genetics by using a wide range of model organisms including Escherichia coli (bacterium), Zea mays (corn), Sordaria fimicola (sac fungus), Helianthus annus (sunflower), Pisum sativum (garden pea), and Drosophila melanogaster (fruit-fly). Most chapters can be completed in a single two or three-hour laboratory period, but several do require follow-up data gathering during a subsequent period. Chapters throughout the third edition provide both a theoretical and historical overview on each topic, making it unnecessary for the user to supplement procedural instructions. The third edition includes new chapters on gene expression (Chapter 13), complementation (Chapter 15), and bioinformatics (Chapter 17).
Book Description
This revised workbook/lab text consists of 21 projects that can be executed with readily available materials, a minimum of elaborate equipment and a reasonable amount of preparation time. Early projects deal with biochemistry and cytochemistry; the middle ones focus on organelles and their physiology; and later activities explore more advanced molecular topics such as restriction mapping strategies. New to this edition: a concise section on statistics covering the mean, standard deviation and standard error; and a chapter designed to enable students to write up their work as a lab report.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Science World, published by Thomson Gale on October 3, 2005. The length of the article is 1580 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Who dunnit? Wildlife criminals beware: one lab uses high-tech tools and detective work to solve crimes against nature.(LIFE GENETICS)(National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory)
Author: Jeanna Bryner
Publication:
Science World (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 3, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 62
Issue: 3
Page: 8(6)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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Zero-Sum Solution
Fortune Favors the Bold: What We Must Do to Build a New and Lasting Global Prosperity
The Future of Capitalism: How Today's Economic Forces Shape Tomorrow's World
Head to Head: The Coming Economic Battle Among Japan, Europe, and America
Building Wealth: The New Rules for Individuals, Companies, and Nations in a Knowledge-Based Economy
