The Icarus Curse: How Western Democracies Derailed and How to Get Back on Track

Business & Money

Van Overtveldt, Johan

Economics

Agate B2

When Richard Nixon said âWe are all Keynesians nowâ in 1971, few could have predicted that the next three decades would result in a complete transformation of the global economic landscape. The transformation was led by a small, relatively obscure group within the University of Chicagoâs business school and its departments of economics and political science. These thinkers â including Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, George Stigler, Robert Lucas, and others â revolutionized economic orthodoxy in the second half of the 20th century, dominated the Nobel Prizes awarded in economics, and changed how business is done around the world. Written by a leading European economic thinker, The Chicago School is the first in-depth look at how this remarkable group came together. Exhaustively detailed, it provides a close recounting of the decade-by-decade progress of the Chicago School's evolution. As such, it's an essential contribution to the intellectual history of our time.

The Chicago School: How the University of Chicago Assembled the Thinkers Who Revolutionized Economics and Business

Job Hunting & Careers

When Richard Nixon said We are all Keynesians now” in 1971, few could have predicted that the next three decades would result in a complete transformation of the global economic landscape. The transformation was led by a small, relatively obscure group within the University of Chicago’s business school and its departments of economics and political science. These thinkers including Milton Friedman, Gary Becker, George Stigler, Robert Lucas, and others revolutionized economic orthodoxy in the second half of the 20th century, dominated the Nobel Prizes awarded in economics, and changed how business is done around the world. Written by a leading European economic thinker, The Chicago School is the first in-depth look at how this remarkable group came together. Exhaustively detailed, it provides a close recounting of the decade-by-decade progress of the Chicago School's evolution. As such, it's an essential contribution to the intellectual history of our time.

The consensus on Alan Greenspan's performance as Fed chair used to be extremely positive, but more and more it's been called into question. Now, 2008 has seen Ben Bernanke in the eye of a storm that was created largely during Greenspan's tenure. His management of the bubble of all bubbles will be a decisive factor in whether this crisis will be limited in its impact on the real economy or whether it directly leads to a major recession. This is Bernanke's Test. In examining the challenges facing Bernanke, author Johan Van Overtveldt reviews Greenspan's long record as Fed chair, as well as Ben Bernanke's career as an economist prior to replacing Greenspan. The book offers much-needed historical context by exploring the role and reach of the central banker, and how former Fed chairmen — Benjamin Strong, William McChesney Martin, Arthur Burns, and especially Paul Volcker — dealt with the same complex issues Bernanke faces today.

Bernanke's Test: Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, and the Drama of the Central Banker

Agate Books

The succession of crises facing the U.S. economy in 2008 and 2009 have thrown a bright spotlight on Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke. Each of his moves to address the disastrous economic conditions are reported and analyzed at length in the press as he works to mitigate the effects of the sub-prime lending debacle and resulting credit crisis. Bernanke is undergoing a stern test as America's central banker a test created for him, in large part, by his predecessor, Alan Greenspan. This new paperback edition of Bernanke’s Test is completely updated with events through the end of 2009. As such, it's among the most valuable and up-to-the-minute works on Bernanke's career as Fed chair published to date, making it an essential look at the central figure shaping the recovery of the U.S. and world economies.

The End of the Euro begins with an overview of the birth of the euro itself. Understanding this history is essential to understand the anomalies built into the project from the beginning. These anomalies form the subject of chapter two, along with how they led to the situation that turned Greece, Portugal, and Spain into euro-destroying economic disaster areas. Chapter three shows how this was not an unforeseeable situation, as Europe’s history is filled with earlier failed attempts to build monetary unions. Chapter four is focused on Germany, by far the most important country within EMU, and why the chances of Germany leaving the union are much higher than is generally assumed. The book concludes with an analysis of what lies in wait for the remains of the monetary union and for a deeply divided and troubled continent in general. Either the EMU transforms itself fundamentally or it disintegrates.

The End of the Euro: The Uneasy Future of the European Union

The End of the Euro begins with an overview of the birth of the euro itself. Understanding this history is essential to understand the anomalies built into the project from the beginning. These anomalies form the subject of chapter two, along with how they led to the situation that turned Greece, Portugal, and Spain into euro-destroying economic disaster areas. Chapter three shows how this was not an unforeseeable situation, as Europe’s history is filled with earlier failed attempts to build monetary unions. Chapter four is focused on Germany, by far the most important country within EMU, and why the chances of Germany leaving the union are much higher than is generally assumed. The book concludes with an analysis of what lies in wait for the remains of the monetary union  and for a deeply divided and troubled continent in general. Either the EMU transforms itself fundamentally or it disintegrates.

The world is in turmoil. Whether one looks at Europe, Asia, North America, the Middle East, Africa, or Latin America, uncertainty and upheaval seem to be the order of the day. Nevertheless, there seems to be an odd certainty in the minds of many pundits, writers, and citizens in this highly volatile world of geopolitics: the days of the United States as the world's sole superpower are over. The consensus tells us that the United States will not be able to keep a status as a major power among China, the European community, and a resurgent Russia. How realistic is this perspective, though? Is the "air of inevitability" concerning America's demise merely a passing breeze? How solid is the "unstoppable rise" of the Chinese? How likely is it for Europe to right its ship? A Giant Reborn, from critically acclaimed author and leading economic journalist Johan Van Overtveldt, dispels many of these ingrained assumptions and argues that the 21st century will be defined by the country currently best set up to succeed: the United States of America. In the current chaotic political climate it seems risky to say any country will be able to maintain its current status. But Van Overtveldt provides a measured, insightful, and thoroughly engaging examination of the evidence. In his richly detailed style and straightforward explanations, he masterfully lays out a case for why America, against many pundits' best predictions, is set up to continue its 20th-century success into this millennium. A Giant Reborn shows readers that the reports of America's death, to paraphrase the father of American literature, have been greatly exaggerated.

A Giant Reborn: Why the US Will Dominate the 21st Century

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

Books by Van Overtveldt, Johan

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

The Icarus Curse: How Western Democracies Derailed and How to Get Back on Track

The Chicago School: How the University of Chicago Assembled the Thinkers Who Revolutionized Economics and Business

The Chicago School: How the University of Chicago Assembled the Thinkers Who Revolutionized Economics and Business

Bernanke's Test: Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, and the Drama of the Central Banker

Bernanke's Test: Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, and the Drama of the Central Banker

The End of the Euro: The Uneasy Future of the European Union

The End of the Euro: The Uneasy Future of the European Union

A Giant Reborn: Why the US Will Dominate the 21st Century