Economic-union Books

I can confidently recommend that you regard Bruno S. Sergi as a true expert in his field and his book Economic Dynamics in Transitional Economies as a necessary reference to understanding the EEC, EU and its candidate countries. It is an informative road map of the past, present and future paths to a global economy.

Sergi enlightens us with important explanations which define the differences between the Western and Eastern club's economies and the related social perspectives and politics. This book clearly explains the how and why's of Central and Eastern economic inefficiencies and what developments have occurred and still need to in such transitional economies.

It offers concrete investment strategies and insight with examples of backward-looking investment choices prevalent among those not as forward-thinking as Sergi, who prefer to restructure enterprises that were only successful in a past distorted economy.

It is truly one of the most extensive research references I have seen on the economies of Central and Eastern Europe as well as the future for the EU. The constantly changing scenes of the EU becomes a confusing commotion of combined national perspectives, regulations and recommendations, but Sergi's book helps clarify critical points of interest regarding the impact on both sides come this May 2004. Additionally, he helps answer a contemporary prodding question of when the economic transition will be over for the Eastern club and perhaps more appropriately, when the 1st part of the transformation process will end.

I regard it as a must have for all MBA's studying International Business and a definite recommendation for all involved or concerned with global current events.

Sergi is brave enough to stray from popular economists who deliver what we want to hear in exchange for what we need to know by throwing a temporarily unfavorable light on the existing reality for post-communist countries, yet suggesting economic methods to aid them in leaving the Western club's shadow. Sergi wisely points out that short-term solutions usually have short-term effects. We know all business schools support thinking "outside of the box", and Sergi does just this by forecasting long-term economic effects of applications necessary for long-term benefits across what he defines as the `4 P-governments'.

Sergi can not only speak from painfully in-depth research, but also from his own actual related international experience to support his sound and worthy of adoption theories. Overall, this book is easy to digest yet provides great benefits for understanding global economics in Central and Eastern Europe and its impact on the EU and the World.
- Lisa Marie Bochneak, MBA, Instructor, Leon Kozminski Academy of Entrepreneurship and Management, Warsaw Poland

In this book, Dr.Bruno Sergi has written a dynamic and elequant call for a new consensus called "The Brussels Consensus". The publication of the book could not have come at a better time. The "Washington Consensus" has lost much credibility in many parts of the world. Dr. Sergi's "...Brussels Consensus" greatly improves upon the failures of Washington.

Dr. Sergi carefully and precisely calls for specific and active state directed policy which puts economic transition in Europe in a new dimension. Specifically, under the E.U. dimension, development under the new "....Brussels Consensus", consists of activist state policies based upon assumtions given the world by Keynes, Schumpeter and supply side beliefs. This more responsible analysis of supply side theory and practice is a must read for all policy makers at the cabinet and ministerial level. The public and classroom audience will find that policy writing under Dr. Sergi is quite interesting indeed. A must read for all.

Given the central importance of the Soviet Union in understanding both Germany's war effort and its racial policy in the east, this book fills a considerable void. Over the past 30 years a great deal has been written by German historians in this area, but only a very small percentage of their research has appeared in translation. Alex Kay offers an outstanding overview of many developments in this research and he does so in a concise and highly readable style. There are also many new perspectives on the development of Nazi policy for the east which, even for experienced readers on the Nazi state, will provide for chilling reading.
Overall its an overdue book for the English market and one I would fully recommend.

With this book, Dr. Alex J. Kay has provided students and scholars of German and European history with a superlative and insightful look into German government policy regarding occupational planning during a critical period of World War Two. The topic is both meaningful and timely; in this day and age where superpowers and countries gaining in strength are dealing with issues similar to those which the German government faced during that time period, it is very interesting to draw a comparison between the policies instituted, attempted, and postulated by Germany in 1941 and the policies being established by the United States in its endeavours in the Middle East and elsewhere abroad. For serious readers who are interested, Dr. Alex J. Kay has written some well thought-out articles for the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper here in Germany, and is currently researching an additional book while conducting research in Berlin. In fact, it was his incisive newspaper articles which led this reader to located his 2005 publication "Exploitation, Resettlement, Mass Murder; Political and Economic Planning for German Occupation Policy in the Soviet Union, 1940-1941." Kay's study is part of a larger collection entitled "Studies on War and Genocide" edited by Omar Bartov of Brown University. It is volume 10 of the series. A great read, and a hearty recommendation from this humble student of German History!

The Federal Future of Europe describes the formation of the European Community and also its turning to a Union, particularly thoroughly. Professor Sidjanski convinces the reader that federalism is a solution to help lower nationalism in Europe.

I advise this book to all who are involved in the European Union and/or have developped an interest towards it as analysis of the European Community and the European Union. The book is illuminating and helpful for both students in science politics and for those working towards an improved Europe.

From the Introductory Note by Jacques Delors, former president of the European Commission: "Dusan Sidjanski's particularly opportune analysis in the framework of European federalism casts a clear light on one of the deepest and most permanent mainsprings of European action.

However, if this analysis is not a unique source of my reflection, it is certainly quite clear that it is one of the most illuminating and enriching analysis for the future of Europe which will doubtless be both difficult and exciting.

I wish English-speaking readers of this new edition the pleasure of discovering the major work in European integration".

From the Foreword by Harold K. Jacobson, Professor of International Relations, University of Michigan: "The Federal Future of Europe is a marvellous addition to the English literature on the European Union.

Curiously, given the United States own proud history of federalism, Americans have particularly ignored the federalist position. The English version of The Federal Future of Europe fills a major gap in the literature. It will stand with Haas-s and Moravcsik's works as a seminal statement about Europe.

The Federal Future of Europe was written with insight, knowledge, and passion. Readers will be informed and moved. I strongly commend it to everyone interested in Europe and to those more broadly interested in contemporary international affairs".

This major study of the development of the European project, informed by a thorough knowledge of the Community and Union over the years and by deep understanding of the relevant literatures in political science and political economy is important for all who study the European Union or work with it as officials and business people.

Statement by Ernst B. Haas, Robson Research Professor Emeritus of Government, University of California, Berkeley Dusan Sidjanski's The Federal Future of Europe is remarkable for two reasons. It offers a comprehensive but eminently readable summary and analysis of the institutions of the European Union and of its main policies. This is no mean feat, considering the complexity and sweep of both. But in addition, the discussion is placed in the context of an unwavering commitment to federalism and to a federal future for Europe. Even if we do not agree with the desirability or certainty of that outcome, it is vital that this vision remain on everyone's agenda along with other possible

options, and that it be intelligently defended. Sidjanski succeeds brilliantly in so doing.

Dusan Sidjanski is founder and Professor Emeritus of the Department of Political Science, University of Geneva and Professor emeritus, European Institute. He has authored numerous publications, most recently, The ECE in the Age of Change (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations), 1999.

Professor Sidjanski's main publications include: Fédéralisme amphictyonique,

Lausanne, 1956; Dimensions européennes de la science politique, Paris, 1963; L'Europe des affaires (with Jean Meynaud), Paris 1967; "Pressure Groups and the European Economic Community", (C. Cosgrove and K. J. Twitchett, Ed), The New International Actors, New York and London, 1970; Les groupes de pressions dans la Communauté européenne, (J. Meynaud), Brussels, 1971; "The Left, the Right, the Establishment and the Swiss Electorate" with R. Inglehart, Party Identification and Beyond, (I. Budge, et al., ed.), London, 1976; The Role of executive heads in regional economic integration, with H. K. Jacobson, Geneva, 1978; De la démocratie européenne, Paris, 1979; "Regional Patterns of Economic Cooperation", with H. Jacobson, Comparative Regional Systems, (W. J. Feld & G. Boyd, ed.), New York, 1980; The Emerging International Economic Order, H.K. Jacobson & D. Sidjanski, ed., London & Beverly Hills, 1982; L'Europe du Sud dans la Communauté européenne, (with U.

Ayberk et al.), Paris, 1990; Union ou désunion de l'Europe?, Geneva, 1991 and The ECE in the Age of Change, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations, New York and Geneva, 1998.

Available now from publisher or ask amazon to get it!

IF YOU ARE A UNION OFFICAL OR SOMEONE WHO JUST NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING THE FMLA LAWS, THIS IS FOR YOU. EASY TO READ LARGE PRINT AND WRITTEN FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON TO READ.

In a very real sense this book focused on applied philosophy. It is an answer to those who might feel that all of philosophy is so much academic banter and never filters its way into the actual issues of the day. This book introduces philosophy and shows how it relevant it is. The ideas reflect the time and the culture, and they help to shape its future development. The tools that the philosopher uses-language, logic, reason, intuition, etc.-also shape and are shaped by the culture.

The book is divided into five parts: Methods of Inquiry (dealing with sources, nature and validity of knowledge, commonly known as epistemology, along with science and its relationship to philosophy), Man and His Place in the World (classical questions about the nature of man and the mind, and what is the self, again in terms of the realities of scientific progress; this section also deals with freedom and determinism and shows how our lives and experiences contain elements of each), Types of Philosophy (Naturalism, Idealism, Realism, Pragmatism, Analytic Philosophy and Existentialism/Phenomenology, along with areas in which all of these types agree and disagree), the Realm of Values (questions of values, ethics, morality, aesthetics, and this is where oriental philosophies were introduced), and the Social Scene (civil liberties and the rule of law, individualism and governmental control, and the philosophies of history and education).

The topics brought up in the social scene are so crucial to today's world, where invective between liberals and conservatives is so often slung. There is such a gulf of misunderstanding between people and we are too muddle-minded to work our way through it. The questions of big government ("constitution doesn't call for welfare" versus the notions of "common good or social contract") versus individualism are critical in a society where democrats are considered synonymous with communists and republicans are considered de facto fascists. The philosophies of history cover Spengler, Toynbee, Sorokin and others-these are thinkers who truly influenced their time and the ensuing generations.

There is a lot of treatment at the beginning of the book to the epistemological questions; I'm not sure if I would have led with this. As Woody Allen said: "Is knowledge knowable; if not, how do we know this?" As this very ubiquitous textbook popularizes philosophy, it's worth taking note of the fact that these issues may turn off a lot of students. Tying philosophy too closely to science and giving too much credence to scientific methods of inquiry also has its risks. As Durant, Roszak, Mumford and others have pointed out, science and technology are often given too much power over the humanities, and they are better placed inside the fold of humanistic study (this is not necessarily an anti-progressivist view, and need not take away from the scientific method itself for the practice of science).

The section on Man and His Place in the World deals with the philosophical questions that adolescents love the most: who am I, what is the self, what is reality, what is the mind, what is freedom. This is all the fun stuff and the section that asks the big questions that draws in the curious young minds.

The "types of philosophy" leads back into dry definition of terms, but this is necessary. The progression from naturalism (only empirical things are real) to idealism (ideas are real), to realism (both the objects of our senses exist and the knowing of these objects also exist) and to pragmatism (which emphasizes both experience and experimentation, and allows us to look pragmatically at the consequences or ends to see what is real) is a telling one in the history of our own (for those of us who are Western) culture, and it invites the reader to test one's own beliefs against the schools put forth. Analytic philosophy and existentialism/phenomenology are the most constructs discussed; the former deals extensively with linguistic studies and the latter is associated with problems of existence and alienation in the modern world.

The section on values, ethics and morals raises a lot of questions that should concern any critical thinker; this section discusses what it means to live a moral life. This is also the section that veers into religion, and there is a very good exposition on the variations of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that are prevalent in the world today. This is also the only section that deals with Eastern philosophy and religion such as Hinduism and Buddhism. In all, these issues are so vital in this age of "crusading" our value-perspectives in the post cold war world.

In all, the book is an excellent foundation for a beginning inquiry into philosophy. It is a highly readable textbook that will help you understand why you care about philosophy and give you the tools to pursue further study.

As a new student of philosophy, I must admit that I was assigned this title as a text in class. Though, as text books go, it is suprisingly thin (450 pages), it is packed with definitions, explanation, comparisons, and reflections. I found it easy to read, and most enjoyed the separate introductions (with quotes) of nearly all leading philosophers throughout history. Also very helpful, the suggested readings (at the end of every chapter) allow you to immediately find sources of greater substance on very specific subjects. The authors even included brief descriptions of each book, to further narrow your search. I would have to rate it as the best textbook yet, on a difficult subject to introduce in a cohesive manner! I will be reading other texts by these authors - without being assigned to them!

Purchasing the book by chance as am having competition law course. It is comprehensive with introduction and illustration of the legal principles prior to showing the cases, in particular, the authors have listed lots of question for reader to think about the cases, as well as questions for the legislation and comparison between the US and EC law, in which only the book from Areeda in the Antitrust Analysis do in the same field. Take it...

I had great success using the galleys of Global Competition Law & Economics to teach comparative competition/antitrust law at the University of Haifa Law School during the summer of 2006, to both American and Israeli law students.

This textbook is the first and only one on the market that is extremely well suited for use in a comparative competition law or antitrust law class. When I taught comparative antitrust/competition law in Scotland a few years ago I had to put my own material together because there was no comparative textbook on the market suitable for classroom use. It is simply astonishing that, even though knowledge of European competition law has been important for a United States antitrust lawyer for more than a decade - and vice-versa! - until now there was no single volume that bridged these fields comprehensively. But at long last the market has filled this considerable gap - by producing Global Competition Law & Economics.

This is an extraordinarily teachable book that contains everything you might want to present in a comparative competition or antitrust law class. It always contained exactly what I was looking for - the relevant background, and both the similarities and the areas of greatest contrasts between the United States and the European systems. Moreover, it contains so much of each type of material that the instructor gets the pleasure of picking and choosing which of their favorite topics to cover.

Both the law and the economics are extremely clearly and interestingly presented. I used it to teach a class of students who has never before taken a class in antitrust or competition law. For this reason we had to omit much of the book's more sophisticated material. However, I have no doubt that anyone teaching an upper level class for students who already have taken a basic class in United States antitrust law or EU competition law would find this more advanced material extremely useful. Its mix of background material and state-of-the art material should make it similarly valuable for competition/antitrust lawyers who have an international practice.

I believe I speak for comparative competition/antitrust teachers everywhere when I say "thank you". Finally, the comparative book we have been waiting for has arrived. Finally, the comparative competition/antitrust field has a standard textbook to use. And what a wonderful standard it is.

Robert H. Lande
Venable Professor of Law
University of Baltimore School of Law

Peter Rachleff writes this narrative of the Hormel Strike from the prospective of the common man. His unique vantage into the Labor movement is both intriguing and compelling. He breaks with the standard fodder of analyzing union structure and instead delves into the plight of the "every-man" (i.e. the rank-and-filer). Excellent.

Rachleff, labor historian who "studies the past because he is interested in the future", writes the perfect and much needed antidote to Barbara Koppel's Academy Award-winning documentary about the Hormel Strike, a film that cast the P-9ers and their supporters as "hapless victims" engaged in a hopeless cause. As an academic AND an activist who personally participated in this struggle and became the chair of the Twin Cities P-9 Support Committee, Rachleff succeeds in putting things into their proper historical perspective, describing the betrayal of a community by a formerly paternalistic family owned corporation (and a DFL governor) and a rank-and-file by their own international union, but most importantly, he inspires all working stiffs by showing union democracy in action and the potential of a movement that motivates family, friends, and workers from around the country. The final chapter outlines the positive lessons drawn from these experiences and gives hope for the future of the labor movement. This is a must read for any union member and anyone thinking that they need a union.

In "Harmonizing Europe," Duina and his unique perspective facilitate his ability to do a splendid job of concentrating on the intricacies involved with the merger of Europe into one, more uniform, entity. His detailed analysis of the effects of equal pay and environmental issues on the EU is enlightening. As we move into an era of more political, economic, and social mergers between nations along the lines of NAFTA, ASEAN, CARICOM, etc, this book serves as a model for understanding these phenomenons.

It is not easy to understand a totally new experiment like the one putting together many States with so different racial and cultural background. There are no previous examples to use as reference. Duina decided to take a very detailed picture of a moment in the EU evolution. If we had more pictures like this, that would allow the assembly of a movie, the closest thing man has devised to link together actual information and time. The book is very clearly designed and assembled, an excellent example of normative science implementation.

Managment theories come and go, but the basics will always hold firm. This book presents those principles in a readable and common sense manner. Many of the ideas are not new, but have stood the test of time, and have bypassed a lot of the fad trends. If this book had been published in more recent times, it would be hailed as a refreshing new departure from outmoded and ineffective methods.

Even though this book is quite old, it still applies in the 21st century. Some of the case studies written 30 years ago have played out over time exactly as the author predicted making this a better book than a more recently written one. I highly recommend this as a book that will last longer than the "new economy".

I loved it. The best book on the former Soviet Union that I have read. If you like history this is a must read. Also look for Heinzen on the History channel.

I stumbled across this book in my local book store, bought it here, and proceeded to read it cover to cover in only a few days. It is well written and thouroughly researched. I never really thought Russian history could prove to be a page-turning experience but Heinzen does a masterful job at illustrating the transformation of the Russian state.