Concerned Markets

øWhen political, social, technological and economic interests, values, and perspectives interact, market order and performance become contentious issues of debate. Such Šhot� situations are becoming increasingly common and make for rich sites of resear

Should we pay children to read books or to get good grades? Should we allow corporations to pay for the right to pollute the atmosphere? Is it ethical to pay people to test risky new drugs or to donate their organs? What about hiring mercenaries to fight our wars? Auctioning admission to elite universities? Selling citizenship to immigrants willing to pay? In What Money Can't Buy, Michael J. Sandel takes on one of the biggest ethical questions of our time: Is there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? If so, how can we prevent market values from reaching into spheres of life where they don't belong? What are the moral limits of markets? In recent decades, market values have crowded out nonmarket norms in almost every aspect of life—medicine, education, government, law, art, sports, even family life and personal relations. Without quite realizing it, Sandel argues, we have drifted from having a market economy to being a market society. Is this where we want to be?In his New York Times bestseller Justice, Sandel showed himself to be a master at illuminating, with clarity and verve, the hard moral questions we confront in our everyday lives. Now, in What Money Can't Buy, he provokes an essential discussion that we, in our market-driven age, need to have: What is the proper role of markets in a democratic society—and how can we protect the moral and civic goods that markets don't honor and that money can't buy?

Labour market institutions, including collective bargaining, the regulation of employment contracts and social protection policies, are instrumental for improving the well-being of workers, their families and society. In many countries, these instituti

Are we barreling toward another massive global financial catastrophe? How can so many bubbles form all at once? Why are so many “disconnected” markets now capable of collapsing in unison? In this remarkably readable book, award-winning Financial Times columnist John Authers takes on these critical questions and offers deeply sobering answers. Authers reveals how the first truly global super bubble was inflated—and might now be inflating again. He illuminates the multiple roots of repeated financial crises: a massive shift in investing power from individuals to big institutions; the migration of key decisions from banks to capital markets; the wholesale financialization of many asset classes; and fundamental failures of both theory and policy. The Fearful Rise of Markets presents a truly global view, avoiding oversimplifications and ideology as it outlines how we got here and where we stand. Even more valuable, it offers realistic solutions—for decision-makers who want to prevent disaster and investors who want to survive it. The herd grows ever larger—and more dangerous How institutional investing, indexing, and efficient markets theory promote herding Cheap money and irrational exuberance Super fuel for super bubbles Too big to fail: the whole story of moral hazard Banks, hedge funds, and beyond Danger signs of the next bubble Forex, equity, credit, and commodity markets move once more in alignment

Globalization and Armed Conflict addresses one of the most important and controversial issues of our time: Does global economic integration foster or suppress violent disputes within and between states? Here, cutting-edge research by leading figures in international relations shows that expanding commercial ties between states pacifies some, but not necessarily all, political relationships. The authors demonstrate that the pacific effect of economic integration hinges on democratic structures, the size of the global system, the nature of the trade goods, and a reduced influence of the military on political decisions. In sum, this book demonstrates how important the still fragile "capitalist peace" is.

"This enjoyable, fast-moving book is concise, relevant, and perceptive. My bottom line is a simple one: This book should be read by all those interested in the way markets operate, be they investors, analysts, or policy makers." From the Foreword by Mohamed A. El-Erian , CEO and co-CIO of PIMCO, and author of When Markets Collide "This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about how we can avoid recurring debt-induced busts in the years ahead, or anyone who wonders how to invest if (when!) the crisis returns. Authers' insights on the global financial crisis are profound." Robert D. Arnott , Chairman, Research Affiliates, LLC, and author of The Fundamental Index: A Better Way to Invest "This book illustrates the dangers to investors who fail to recognize that global asset markets have become more synchronized over time. In a crowded field of works on the financial crisis, Authers' work is unique in both its insight and style." Robert R. Johnson , Ph.D., CFA, Senior Managing Director of the CFA Institute "John Authers has combined his journalistically honed FT skills with great insights. Serious investors and policymakers should read this book." David R. Kotok , Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Cumberland Advisors "John masterfully drives a stake through the myth of global economic decoupling one chapter and example at a time. A must-read in today's economy." Vitaliy Katsenelson , Director of Research at Investment Management Associates, Inc, author of Active Value Investing: Making Money in Range-Bound Markets Are we barreling toward another massive global financial catastrophe? How can so many bubbles form all at once? Why are so many "disconnected" markets now capable of collapsing in unison? In this remarkably readable book, award-winning Financial Times columnist John Authers takes on these critical questions and offers deeply sobering answers. Authers reveals how the first truly global super bubble was inflated--and might now be inflating again. He illuminates the multiple roots of repeated financial crises: a massive shift in investing power from individuals to big institutions; the migration of key decisions from banks to capital markets; the wholesale financialization of many asset classes; and fundamental failures of both theory and policy. The Fearful Rise of Markets presents a truly global view, avoiding oversimplifications and ideology as it outlines how we got here and where we stand. Even more valuable, it offers realis...