Indiana is at an economic crossroads. Its history and culture do not embrace change, yet its economy is heavily tied to manufacturing and exports -  both of which are highly sensitive to the ever-changing global economy. Indiana is at a point in its history when it must make decisions about the directions it will take in the future. Author Mark Akers examines the culture of Hoosiers and what makes them happy, the global economic forces that the state is facing, and describes those actions that state and local governments must implement to compete for economic growth -  world-class infrastructure, the best education system anywhere, highly attractive cities and towns, meaningful incentives, and a stable, predictable, and helpful government. Indiana (In)Decision describes Indiana's dilemma of indecisiveness at a time requiring rapid decision-making about its economic future. The book is meant for everyone, not just economists or academics.

Indiana (IN) Decision: Hoosiers at an Economic Crossroads

Business & Money

Mark Akers

Economics

University of Indianapolis Press

This book examines economies as complex adaptive systems. If business and government must plan for, operate in, and try to affect this complex environment, what should they do? First, the driving force of economic growth is innovation. There is much evidence that new ways of doing things, of thinking, of inventing, and most other human activity occur when people from a variety of circumstances and experiences share in an open environment. Second, complex systems will adapt in the face of shocks. Thus, most economies will have to develop their abilities to bounce back from negative shocks (resilience). Resilience results from what is already in place in the economy—the characteristics of the workforce, the kinds of businesses, the amount of foreign trade the businesses do, wage rates, how much of the economy is based on durable-goods manufacturing, the culture, and more. This book introduces several concepts that will hopefully give the reader a feel for the complexity of economies in the world today.

Real-World Economics: Complex and Messy

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Mark Akers. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Mark Akers

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Mark Akers. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Indiana (IN) Decision: Hoosiers at an Economic Crossroads

Real-World Economics: Complex and Messy