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Allocative Efficiency, Firm Dynamics, and Productivity in the Baltics: Republic of Estonia
by UgurA report from the International Monetary Fund.
Alltag erzählen: Narrative Dimensionen des Gewöhnlichen
by Christian Klein Antonius Weixler Sabrina Huber Matthias GrüneErzählen ist eine Alltagspraxis und zugleich eine Praxis, in der Alltag (re-)produziert wird. Denn das Erzählen im Alltag hat selten das wirklich Außergewöhnliche und Unerhörte zum Gegenstand. In der Regel dreht es sich um Gewöhnliches, um die banalen Routinen, die sich lediglich in Nuancen von einem Tag zum nächsten unterscheiden. Wir nutzen das Erzählen nicht nur, um neuartige Erfahrungen kognitiv zu verarbeiten; wir brauchen es auch als ein Instrument der Interaktion, als Möglichkeit, den Gegenüber am eigenen Leben teilhaben zu lassen und die Alltagswelt so als eine intersubjektiv geteilte Welt zu konstituieren. Das Erzählte ist dann allein deshalb erzählwürdig, weil wir es erzählen möchten. So großzügig das Kriterium der tellability im alltäglichen Erzählen aus diesem Grund ausgelegt werden kann, so verbindlich scheint es im literarischen und fiktionalen Erzählen. Dort erwarten wir als Rezipient*innen gemeinhin das Nichtalltägliche, wollen durch überraschende Plot-Twists und ungewöhnliche Verwicklungen unterhalten werden. Der Alltag als Gegenstand müsste hier eigentlich die Ausnahme sein, allerdings kommt häufig gerade der Darstellung des Gewöhnlichen im fiktionalen Erzählen eine wichtige Funktion zu, etwa um im Sinne eines Realitätseffekts die Bewohnbarkeit der Erzählwelt oder die ›Authentizität‹ des Erzählten auszuweisen. Ebenso können Erzählungen Rezeptionserwartungen kalkuliert unterlaufen, um die Aufmerksamkeit explizit auf die Strukturen der Alltagswelt zu lenken. Der Sammelband setzt sich das Ziel, das komplexe Verhältnis von Erzählen und Alltag aus unterschiedlichen disziplinären Perspektiven zu erhellen. Er will die narrativen Dimensionen des Gewöhnlichen sowohl in der Praxis der Alltagserzählung als auch im Hinblick auf literarisch-fiktionale Erzähltexte beleuchten. Willkommen sind neben literarhistorischen Fallstudien zur narrativen Dimension des Gewöhnlichen im Hinblick auf Einzeltexte, Autoren, Genres, Epochen etc. insb. Beiträge, die auch systematische oder theoretische Fragen fokussieren.
Allyship as Action: 7 Ways to Advocate for Others (Orca Take Action)
by Tanya BotejuBeing an ally is about learning and action. It's a constant, ongoing willingness to engage in the hard, confronting work of standing alongside those who don't have the same privileges. As a young person, it can be difficult to take a stand for others when the need to fit in is so strong. But everyone can be an ally. Learn to acknowledge the privileges you have based on your identity, the difference between allyship and being a performative ally and how to address mistakes when we make them. In this book, young readers will work through realistic scenarios that show allyship in action and develop tools to become the best allies they can be. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Alma's Great Idea / La gran idea de Alma (Alma's Way)
by Sonia ManzanoThis English-Spanish bilingual picture book is a heartwarming, interactive story from Emmy Award winner and Sesame Street icon Sonia Manzano! Based on Manzano's hit animated show Alma's Way.Alma misses her Granny Isa's warm, mushy hugs! Granny is her favorite person to play her guessing game with, but Granny hasn't arrived yet. Alma knows just what Granny would say if she were here, though: "Don't hang around with nothing to do. Find someone else to play with you!" / "No andes por ahí sin hacer nada. ¡Búscate a alguien con quien jugar!"Alma tries to find another family member to play with, but everyone is busy. Even her friends in the park are busy! But then, Alma has a way, way, way great idea! Will you play with her?Written by Alma's Way creator and Sesame Street star Sonia Manzano, this adorable book is like a playdate with your child's favorite character. Alma's lively story and game help kids remember: "When you don't know what to do or say, think about it -- that's Alma's Way!" / "Cuando no sabes qué hacer o decir, piénsalo: ¡eso hace Alma!"With the text appearing in both English and Spanish on every page, this bilingual story is perfect for bilingual readers as well as Spanish speakers learning English and vice versa.
Almanac: A Murmuration (Excelsior Editions)
by Christine GelineauFrom the sanctuary of her one-hundred-and-twenty-acre horse farm in the upper Susquehanna River Valley, essayist and poet Christine Gelineau takes stock of what it means to care for a farm, a nation, a planet—a home—and of how the stories we tell impact our lives.Decades into life on a Morgan horse farm in upstate New York, Almanac author Christine Gelineau focused on the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and one another, about the planet we all share, and on how these narratives shape our own identities, our communities, and our attitudes and actions toward the environment. Framed by the seasons, Gelineau speaks to these vital conversations about what it can mean to be human in ways that are lyrical, practical, spiritual, and life-affirming. Almanac combines observations of iced-in alligators and newborn foals with prose poems evoking the natural world, gardening techniques learned from the Haudenosaunee, personal resilience in the face of long COVID and brain surgery, and urban versus rural perspectives on water rights and wind-turbine siting. It charts one person's journey into the inner and external worlds that will resonate with all readers dealing with these life-changing times.
Almost 30: A Definitive Guide to a Life You Love for the Next Decade and Beyond
by Lindsey Simcik Krista WilliamsTurn your mess into magic. The years leading up to thirty can feel more agonizing than exciting. The pressure to have it all figured out—your job, your relationships, your life—is intense. And as if that’s not enough, bam! Along comes Saturn Return, a cosmic milestone that thrusts you into adulthood … ready or not.Lindsey Simcik and Krista Williams—creators of the #1, critically acclaimed wellness podcast Almost 30 and its global community—help you navigate this season of astronomical (and astrological) transition in your life. Consider them the big sisters of your Saturn Return, here to guide you, hold your hand, and cheer you on as you embark upon this monumental transition that will touch every single part of your life, from your body to your relationships to your spirituality. In addition to looking back at their own alternately hilarious and perceptive stories of being almost thirty, the authors share expert insights, research, practices, and tools they’ve cultivated through nearly a decade of hosting their podcast.Dive into thought exercises, meditations, journaling prompts, and sage advice from expert podcast guests such as Jay Shetty, Gabby Bernstein, Glennon Doyle, Nicole LaPera, and many more. Almost 30 is the go-to book for every woman standing on the cusp of where they’ve been and where they’re going. Because change is imminent, and we’re all almost … something.
Almost Nothing: Reclaiming Edith Farnsworth
by Nora WendlThe iconic Edith Farnsworth House is a singular glass home designed by Mies van der Rohe. But the oft-told history of the house overwrites Farnsworth’s role as Mies’s collaborator and antagonist while falsely portraying her as the architect’s angry ex-lover. Nora Wendl’s audacious work of creative nonfiction explodes the sex-and-real-estate myth surrounding the Edith Farnsworth House and its two central figures. An eminent physician and woman of letters, Farnsworth left a rich trove of correspondence, memoirs, and photographs that Wendl uses to reconstruct her voice. Farnsworth’s memories and experiences alternate with Wendl’s thoughts on topics like misogyny and professional ambition to fashion a lyrical examination of love, loneliness, beauty, and the search for the divine. Eloquent and confessional, Almost Nothing restores Edith Farnsworth to her place in architectural history and the masterpiece that bears her name.
Almost White
by Brewton BerryAlmost White by Brewton Berry is a compelling exploration of the complex identities and lived experiences of racial and ethnic groups that occupy the ambiguous space between traditional categories of "black" and "white" in the United States. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Berry examines communities such as the Melungeons, the Cajuns, and other historically marginalized groups that defy easy classification, shedding light on their struggles, adaptations, and contributions to American society.Berry delves into the historical, social, and cultural forces that have shaped these groups, addressing the tensions of assimilation, discrimination, and self-identification. He vividly portrays their attempts to navigate a society often defined by rigid racial hierarchies, uncovering the resilience and ingenuity of these communities in the face of exclusion and prejudice.With empathy and academic rigor, Almost White challenges readers to rethink the simplistic binaries of race and ethnicity, offering a nuanced perspective on the fluidity and complexity of identity. By weaving historical analysis with personal stories and field observations, Berry not only provides a deeper understanding of these groups but also prompts broader reflection on the intersections of race, culture, and belonging.This groundbreaking work is essential reading for anyone interested in sociology, anthropology, or American history, as well as those seeking to understand the untold stories of communities often left out of mainstream narratives.
Alone in the Wild
by Jarred LujánA cyclist wanders away from his bike in Australia’s Great Sandy Desert. A fisherman loses his way in the Sierra Nevada mountains. A camper falls off a cliff in Mount Hood National Forest. These remarkable true tales could have ended in tragedy—but they didn’t! What happened to three people who found themselves stuck in the wilderness? And how did they survive to tell their tales? Young readers will find out in this easy-to-read hi-lo graphic novel that will keep them on the edge of their seats!
Alone in the Wild (True Survival Graphics)
by Jarred LujánA cyclist wanders away from his bike in Australia&’s Great Sandy Desert. A fisherman loses his way in the Sierra Nevada mountains. A camper falls off a cliff in Mount Hood National Forest. These remarkable true tales could have ended in tragedy—but they didn&’t! What happened to three people who found themselves stuck in the wilderness? And how did they survive to tell their tales? Young readers will find out in this easy-to-read hi-lo graphic novel that will keep them on the edge of their seats!
Alone in the Wild (True Survival Graphics)
by Jarred LujánA cyclist wanders away from his bike in Australia&’s Great Sandy Desert. A fisherman loses his way in the Sierra Nevada mountains. A camper falls off a cliff in Mount Hood National Forest. These remarkable true tales could have ended in tragedy—but they didn&’t! What happened to three people who found themselves stuck in the wilderness? And how did they survive to tell their tales? Young readers will find out in this easy-to-read hi-lo graphic novel that will keep them on the edge of their seats!
Along Came Amor: A Novel (Primas of Power #3)
by Alexis Daria"[A]n emotional roller coaster of a finale that will leave readers exhilarated." —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)A MOST ANTICIPATED READ BY PASTE • THE NERD DAILY • BOOKBUB • TODAY.COM • & MORE! From the international bestselling author of You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós, the exciting third and final book in Alexis Daria's bestselling Primas of Power seriesNo stringsAfter Ava Rodriguez’s now-ex-husband declares he wants to “follow his dreams”—which no longer include her—she’s left questioning everything she thought she wanted. So when a handsome hotelier flirts with her, Ava vows to stop overthinking and embrace the opportunity for an epic one-night-stand.No feelings Roman Vázquez’s sole focus is the empire he built from the ground up. He lives and dies by his schedule, but the gorgeous stranger grimacing into her cocktail inspires him to change his plans for the evening. At first, it’s easy for Roman to agree to Ava’s rules: no strings, no feelings. But one night isn’t enough, and the more they meet, the more he wants.No falling in loveRoman is the perfect fling, until Ava sees him at her cousin’s engagement party—as the groom’s best man, no less! Maintaining her boundaries becomes a lot more complicated as she tries to hide their relationship from her family, but Roman isn’t content being her dirty little secret. With her future uncertain and her family pressuring her from all sides, Ava will have to decide if love is worth the risk—again.“This ultra-steamy, feel-good, and funny romance is filled with a large and lovable cast of characters and emotional family dynamics and is lovingly rooted in Latine culture... [A] sensational final installment” —LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)
Along Lake Michigan: Shipwreck Stories of Life and Loss
by Michael SchumacherNotable shipwrecks of Lake Michigan throughout a century of enterprise, industry, heroism, and disaster on the Great Lakes The Great Lakes are graveyards of a vast number of shipwrecks (30,000 by some estimates), and Lake Michigan has more than the other four lakes combined. The stories of those wrecks tell the history of that mighty lake in its endless, mercurial challenge to human endeavor. Surveying the wreckage throughout the decades, from the fiery end of the twin propeller–driven Phoenix in 1847 to the failure of the Anna Minch to outrun the infamous 1940 Armistice Day storm, Michael Schumacher charts the course of shipping disasters great and small on Lake Michigan. He illuminates the details of maritime weather and shipcraft, the lives devoted to and lost on the water, and the mistakes and monumental failures that led to these ships&’ watery ends. Schumacher&’s deft storytelling, drawing from deep research and comprehensive knowledge, brings forth the vivid details of the last minutes of these doomed ships, along with the circumstances surrounding their voyages. Here are tragic tales like that of the Eastland, the deadliest shipwreck in Great Lakes history, lost while docked in the Chicago River; the Rouse Simmons, a wooden schooner loaded with Christmas trees; the train ferry Milwaukee and the Wisconsin, a package freighter, gone within one week of each other in October 1929; and the passenger vessel the Lady Elgin, a devastating loss met with incredible heroism. Liberally illustrated with historical photographs, the stories of these shipwrecks, spanning a full century of commercial traffic on Lake Michigan, document the myriad forms of bravery and misfortune that mark our encounters with the Great Lakes.
Along the Hudson: Walking Manhattan’s Western Waterfront (Excelsior Editions)
by William J. HennesseyTakes you on eight fascinating walks along Manhattan's Hudson waterfront, with stops along the way to explore its architecture, infrastructure, and history.Through eight structured walks from Battery Park to Spuyten Duyvil, Along the Hudson tells the story of the rise, decline, and rebirth of Manhattan's Hudson waterfront from the seventeenth century to the present day. It traces the ongoing evolution of the Hudson shoreline from a gritty line of working docks into a desirable residential enclave and a chain of inviting parks. Along the way special attention is paid to notable buildings both historical and contemporary, to key transportation infrastructure, and to seminal historic events and personalities that shaped New York's dynamic relationship with the river that is its reason for being. Some of the many sites readers will explore include:At the foot of Pearl Street, the Wireless Operators Memorial (1915) honors radio operators who died at sea. Jack Phillips, radio man on the Titanic, is the first name listed.Westbeth, a five-building complex filling the entire square block along West Street between Bank and Bethune Streets. Once home to Bell Labs, the site was converted to provide housing and workspace for artists, writers, and performers.Anna Hyatt Huntington's statue of Joan of Arc at 96th Street honors the French saint. Its gothic pedestal contains stones from the jail cell where Joan was imprisoned. Depicting a female hero sculpted by a female artist, this monument inspired many copies erected across the country.Next to the George Washington Bridge, at 178th Street, stands Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse, which inspired a children's book entitled The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge.
AlphaGo Simplified: Rule-Based AI and Deep Learning in Everyday Games
by Mark LiuMay 11, 1997, was a watershed moment in the history of artificial intelligence (AI): the IBM supercomputer chess engine, Deep Blue, beat the world Chess champion, Garry Kasparov. It was the first time a machine had triumphed over a human player in a Chess tournament. Fast forward 19 years to May 9, 2016, DeepMind’s AlphaGo beat the world Go champion Lee Sedol. AI again stole the spotlight and generated a media frenzy. This time, a new type of AI algorithm, namely machine learning (ML) was the driving force behind the game strategies.What exactly is ML? How is it related to AI? Why is deep learning (DL) so popular these days? This book explains how traditional rule-based AI and ML work and how they can be implemented in everyday games such as Last Coin Standing, Tic Tac Toe, or Connect Four. Game rules in these three games are easy to implement. As a result, readers will learn rule-based AI, deep reinforcement learning, and more importantly, how to combine the two to create powerful game strategies (the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts) without getting bogged down in complicated game rules.Implementing rule-based AI and ML in these straightforward games is quick and not computationally intensive. Consequently, game strategies can be trained in mere minutes or hours without requiring GPU training or supercomputing facilities, showcasing AI's ability to achieve superhuman performance in these games. More importantly, readers will gain a thorough understanding of the principles behind rule-based AI, such as the MiniMax algorithm, alpha-beta pruning, and Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS), and how to integrate them with cutting-edge ML techniques like convolutional neural networks and deep reinforcement learning to apply them in their own business fields and tackle real-world challenges.Written with clarity from the ground up, this book appeals to both general readers and industry professionals who seek to learn about rule-based AI and deep reinforcement learning, as well as students and educators in computer science and programming courses.
Alphabet Soup: A Memoir in Letters
by A. Gregory Frankson“At once experimental literature and alchemical apparatus — designed to take all the flavours of one man’s life experiences and transform them into something that nourishes.” — ANDREA THOMPSON, author of A Selected History of Soul SpeakA tasty yet experimental recipe of creative memoir in poetic prose cooked up for your consumption — one letter at a time.Alphabet Soup is a poetic exploration of the deeper meaning discovered by stirring up the depths of one’s most personal lived experiences. Twenty-six letters, one missive addressed to each letter of the alphabet, dive into the scalding heat of memory through themes that recall and reframe love, death, joy, sorrow, victory, devastation, and more.Using prose that is by turns startling, revelatory, humorous, sorrowful, and triumphant, these introspections on the nature of living engage the mind and heart in the difficult, unending work of grappling with one’s past in the present, with the hope it can help create a more satisfying future.
Alpin- und Höhenmedizin
by Franz Berghold Hermann Brugger Martin Burtscher Rainald Fischer Peter Paal Wolfgang Schobersberger Günther Sumann Marc Moritz BergerNamhafte Alpin- und Höhenmedizinexperten aus dem deutschen Sprachraum und darüber hinaus geben mit diesem Fachbuch einen umfassenden Überblick über die Sport- und Unfallmedizin im Gebirge sowie zur Höhenmedizin. Das Buch deckt dabei alle Inhalte zum „International Diploma in Mountain Medicine“ (DIMM) des Weltverbandes der alpinen Vereine (UIAA), der Internationalen Kommission für Alpine Rettung (ICAR) und der Internationalen Gesellschaft für Bergmedizin (ISMM) ab und wird von der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Alpin- und Höhenmedizin (ÖGAHM), sowie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Berg- und Expeditionsmedizin (BExMed) empfohlen. Die dritte Auflage wurde ausführlich aktualisiert: Neu dazugekommen sind Kapitel zur Pulsoxymetrie in der Höhe, zu neurologischen und psychiatrischen Notfällen im Gebirge, zum alpinen Polytrauma und zum Hängesyndrom. Zahlreiche andere Kapitel wurden aktualisiert und eingehend überarbeitet. Das Buch wendet sich an Alpinärzte, Sportmediziner, Reisemediziner, Ärzte in der alpinen Rettung und alle an der Alpin- und Höhenmedizin interessierten Ärzte und Berufsgruppen.
Als gäbe es keine Schwerkraft: Leadership durch die Augen eines Tänzers
by Bernd PreuschoffDieses Buch ist nicht nur eine Hommage an das Tanzen, sondern vor allem auch an das wertschätzende Führen von Menschen. Denn je mehr es, gerade in modernen digitalen Zeiten, um das Erreichen von kreativen und innovativen Spitzenleistungen geht, desto offensichtlicher werden die Parallelen zwischen Kunst als Leistungssport und Performance im Management. Ein erfolgreiches Agieren in einer sich permanent verändernden Welt stellt neue Anforderungen an Führungskräfte und fordert sie mehr als je zuvor als Mensch und Persönlichkeit – warum also nicht von denjenigen lernen, für die wahre Emotionen, erfolgreiche Führung und leicht anmutende Bewegung elementare Bestandteile der eigenen Darbietung sind? Erzählt von einem versierten Kenner beider Welten, ist das Buch die Einladung an jeden Entscheider in Unternehmen, die eigene Verantwortung und vor allem die eigenen Handlungsmöglichkeiten aus einem neuen Blickwinkel zu sehen – nämlich durch die Augen eines Tänzers. Mit zwei neuen Kapiteln für die zweite Auflage: Über mentale Stärke und ihre Rolle bei erfolgreicher Führung, sowie über "Unmöglich-Mythen" und wie man sie entzaubert.
Also a History of Philosophy, Volume 3: Rational Freedom. Traces of the Discourse on Faith and Knowledge
by Jürgen HabermasIn the final volume of his history of philosophy, Jürgen Habermas offers a series of brilliant interpretations of the thinkers who set the agenda for contemporary philosophy. Beginning with masterful readings of Hume and Kant, he traces the genealogy of their postmetaphysical thinking through the main currents of historicism and German Idealism, and the multifarious reactions to Hegel’s influential system, culminating in nuanced readings of Marx, Kierkegaard and Peirce. Through his analysis of their work, Habermas demonstrates the interpretive fecundity of the central themes of his philosophical enterprise – his pragmatist theory of meaning, his communicative theories of subjectivity and sociality, and his discursive theory of normativity in its moral, juridical and political manifestations. In contrast to the bland compendia of thinkers and positions generally presented in surveys of the history of philosophy, Habermas’s thematically focused interpretations are destined to provoke controversy and stimulate dialogue. With this work one of the indisputably great thinkers of our time presents a powerful vindication of his conception of philosophy as an inherently discursive – and not merely analytical or speculative – enterprise.
Alternating Current (AC) Heating for Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles: Heating Principles, Modeling, and Implementation
by Jiangong Zhu Ranjun Huang Haifeng DaiThis book provides a comprehensive and innovative exploration of low-temperature AC heating techniques for lithium-ion batteries, addressing a critical challenge in electric vehicle (EV) performance. By integrating theoretical insights, experimental validations, and advanced modeling approaches, it offers a systematic framework to understand and optimize battery heating under cold conditions. The book introduces novel methodologies, such as square wave AC heating and impedance-based thermal analysis, which significantly enhance heating efficiency while mitigating degradation risks like lithium plating. With a focus on practical implementation, it also presents cutting-edge solutions for AC heating system design, including integrated charger and self-heating battery pack configurations.The intended readership includes researchers, engineers, and industry professionals in the fields of battery technology, electric vehicles, and thermal management systems. Written at an advanced level, the book bridges the gap between academic research and industrial applications, making it a valuable resource for both theoretical understanding and practical innovation.
Alternating Current Field Measurement Technique for Detection and Measurement of Cracks in Structures
by Wei Li Xiao Li Xin'an Yuan Jianming Zhao Xiaokang YinThis open access book serves as a comprehensive exploration of Alternating Current Field Measurement (ACFM), encompassing the foundational theory crucial for subsequent chapters, as well as the design and testing of ACFM probes, instruments, and software. Providing guidance and serving as a reference for ACFM instrument development, the text delves into visualization research in ACFM, offering valuable insights for technical engineering applications. Nondestructive testing (NDT) emerges as a pivotal method for detecting and assessing defects, offering support for safety pre-warning and maintenance decisions in industrial structures. Originating from the 1980s, the demand for an NDT technique arose to inspect fatigue cracks at welded intersections in offshore underwater structures in the North Sea. Conventional NDT methods proved impractical in this distinct underwater environment with quantitative evaluation requirements, prompting the development of the ACFM technique by researchers in the mechanical engineering department at University College London. Over the past four decades, ACFM's theory model, inspection methods, and equipment have undergone rapid advancements, gaining widespread utilization in ocean engineering, the power industry, rail traffic, and special equipment fields. This book encompasses diverse facets, including the global development history of alternating current field measurement technology, core basic theory, signal processing methods, probe instrument development, standardization construction, and engineering applications. Serving as a valuable learning reference for students and offering fundamental theoretical guidance for scientific researchers, it also provides case introductions for engineering applications. The book aims to propel both theoretical research and practical applications of alternating current field measurement technology, contributing significantly to its popularization and widespread application.
Alternative Currencies: A Critical Approach (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy)
by Louis LarueA wide variety of new forms of money have been developed in recent decades as a challenge or complement to the official, dominant currencies. LETS, local currencies, carbon currencies, and Bitcoins are all examples of this new trend. These currencies are at the heart of a larger movement that questions the present state of money and argues that new currencies might help to build resilient economies and “warmer” social relations.This book focuses on radical alternative proposals as well as on small-scale experiments, and makes use of the analytical tools of philosophy and of economics, with one main question in mind: can alternative currencies constitute desirable alternatives to the present monetary system? Overall, the book will raise serious doubts regarding the capacity of such currencies to deliver on their promises. In part, it will show that several arguments in favour of alternative currencies are lacking in consistency and clarity, and are thus in need of thorough revision. More fundamentally, it will argue that these currencies rarely succeed in fulfilling their objectives and that their fulfilment would entail significant conflicts with justice and economic efficiency.This book is addressed to researchers in economics, politics, and philosophy of money, especially those working on alternative monetary systems.
Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Western Balkans: Trends and Challenges (European Union and its Neighbours in a Globalized World #20)
by Marc Bungenberg Mareike Fröhlich Goran Koevski Bianca Böhme Ljuben Kocev Neda ZdravevaAlternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is increasingly recognized as an attractive alternative to national court proceedings, especially in international business relations. This open access book focuses on ADR mechanisms in one specific geographical region: the Western Balkans. This region comprises Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Serbia. Although these countries generally have legal frameworks for ADR mechanisms in place, they remain largely underutilised in practice. Promoting ADR mechanisms in the countries of the Western Balkans could make them more attractive to foreign investors, thereby fostering economic growth. Additionally, the effective implementation of ADR mechanisms could have spill-over effects on national judiciaries, thereby increasing domestic rule of law standards. This would be highly beneficial for the Western Balkan countries, most of which are still aspiring to become Member States of the European Union (EU). To achieve this, they are required to promote the use of ADR mechanisms and align their legal frameworks with EU standards. Against this background, this book aims to explore the trends and challenges of ADR in the Western Balkans. The different chapters primarily focus on international commercial arbitration, investment treaty arbitration, and mediation. Some chapters address systemic challenges, such as capacity building and dispute prevention, which extend to the entire region. Others offer country-specific analyses of particular national framework. While some chapters adopt the perspective of international or EU law, others remain at the national level. Collectively, the wide diversity in topics and perspectives provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and challenges of ADR mechanisms in the Western Balkan.
Alternative Economies of Heritage: Sustainable, Anti-Colonial and Creative Approaches to Cultural Inheritance (Routledge Studies in Heritage)
by Denise Thwaites, Bethaney Turner and Tracy IrelandAlternative Economies of Heritage is a groundbreaking edited volume that critically evaluates how the ‘work’ of heritage can be reimagined, as a multifarious field of thought and action, to resist the reductive economies of colonial capitalism.In a global context of cultural financialisation and ecological crisis, where sustainable, anti-colonial and creative approaches are required to solve urgent problems, this volume provides readers with an enriched understanding of heritage as a transforming and multidisciplinary domain, which continues to question what is valued, discarded or shared with future generations. Bringing together researchers from the academy and industry, and from varied international contexts, this volume asks how does ‘heritage’ – as a complex intersection of contemporary practices with their own diverse histories – recognise and circulate cultural value between generations and communities? This volume brings together critical and creative perspectives from 29 authors, showcasing diverse, coexisting heritage economies across six continents that offer new horizons for cultural inheritance. It also platforms perspectives from professional and grassroots community-based heritage practitioners, which may be of interest to non-academic readers from not-for-profit and public sectors.Readers of Alternative Economies of Heritage may include students and scholars of heritage and museum studies, contemporary art, urbanism, environmental humanities, archaeology, anthropology, digital humanities and Indigenous studies, among other disciplines.
Alternative Finance: A Framework for Innovative and Sustainable Business Models (Routledge International Studies in Money and Banking)
by Mina Fanea-Ivanovici Hasnan BaberThe alternative financing space has grown exponentially in the last few decades, namely as a consequence of the financial crisis, technological advancement, niche customer segments, and more recently the pandemic. Now, with the inclusion of Fintech, online lenders, crowdfunding, accelerators, venture capitalists, or angel investors, this funding channel is no longer seen as a substitute for formal financing, but rather a core one. This book is a comprehensive guide to alternative financing methods, offering insights into emerging trends, the role of FinTech, and the intersection of finance with sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship.It fills a knowledge gap by exploring innovative financing channels such as fintech, green finance, and venture capital as well as other non-traditional ways of raising funds, which have become crucial for startups and businesses. It discusses the impact of financial technology (FinTech) on these methods and their function in supporting entrepreneurship and sustainable business, while also examining the implications of these technological advancements in the wider financial sector. It addresses challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs and explores how alternative financing options can support growth and innovation, particularly in the context of environmentally and socially focused ventures, including how to integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations. The emphasis on sustainability and green finance aligns with the growing global concern for responsible business practices and the Sustainable Development Goals.While the primary audience for the book is scholars, researchers, and students, the inclusion of case studies, and the exploration of various financing options, extends practical cues for policymakers and practitioners and contributes to the understanding of how finance, entrepreneurship, and sustainability intersect in real-world business scenarios.