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Energy: We want it affordable, we want it available in ample quantities and from reliable sources, and we want it to be produced and used in ways that are safe and environmentally benign. In other words, we want plenty of energy too cheap to meter and with no impact on the environment. Ha! With a refreshing lack of bias, this book dissects all major sources of energy, from oil and coal to renewables like solar and wind power. In an easy, understandable style, energy expert Joseph Dukert explains how each fits into the overall global energy mix that powers everything from automobiles and appliances to assembly lines and space stations.As Dukert details, all energy sources have pluses and minuses. Those who champion any single energy source (or even energy efficiency by itself) as the sole answer to our energy problems are off track, he argues, as are the cynics who condemn one source or another or pooh-pooh the threat of global warming. In short, we need every significant source of energy we have today, while also making greater efforts to improve the efficiency of energy production and energy consumption. Dukert also explores the choices made by individuals, businesses, and society as each group juggles conflicting, interconnected factors: affordability, reliability, adequacy of supply, environmental concerns, and time. In explaining why there's no magic bullet solution to the energy crisis, the author blends simple technical descriptions, economics, and real-world politics. Besides providing a cogent overview of a huge-and hugely important-industry, this short, comprehensive volume helps readers decide for themselves which choices are in their best interest. As Dukert suggests, energy independence is probably not a realistic goal for any country, but the search for a dynamic, practical energy balance can nonetheless result in a wiser national energy policy.

Immigration is a comprehensive examination of U.S. immigration policies and their impact on the nation, combining a historical overview and a guide to how immigration works in practice. In this one-volume compendium on the history, politics, culture, and contributions of immigrants to the United States, the author uses his experience in key immigration policy posts to provide an insider's perspective on a broad array of immigration-related issues.Offering a detached, unbiased analysis of the economic, fiscal, and other impacts of current immigration policies, he recommends reforms and policy solutions for the thorniest immigration issues, such as illegal immigration. But the book does not ignore the fact that immigration has always enriched and strengthened our nation. Along with policy considerations, it also encompasses enlightening profiles detailing the many contributions of individual immigrants in such diverse areas as science, sports, the military, and business.

Demographics, as Peter Drucker famously pointed out, is one of the seven sources of entrepreneurial opportunity. Why are demographics so important? Consider the quality and quantity of the U.S. labor force. Birth rates largely determine the size of the future workforce, and the numbers of younger and older people affect public spending on education. What's more, patterns in marriage and child-bearing affect the labor force, and migration and immigration alter the mix of job skills, languages, and cultures in the U.S. workforce. While business and government must react to these trends, they can also shape them. Immigration, education, welfare, and tax policies influence births, family composition, and the locations of people and businesses. In private markets, demography interacts with income levels to affect the mix of goods purchased, the types of workers in demand, and the range of new business opportunities available. Demography is a key item in every business or policy planner's toolbox. Demography, Education, and the Workforce shows how to use its principles to advantage.

The contemporary era of globalization demonstrates that the local and global aspects of business and government are increasingly intertwined. This volume defines and makes sense of the workings of the global economy-and how it influences businesses and individuals. Each chapter identifies common questions and issues that have gained exposure in the popular media-such as outsourcing, the high cost of international travel, and the impact of a fast-growing China-to illustrate underlying drivers and mechanisms at work. Covering international trade, national wealth disparities (the haves vs. the have-nots), foreign investment, and geographical and cultural issues, and supported with illustrations, maps, charts, a glossary and timeline of key events,Globalization illuminates the dynamics of the global economy and informs readers of its profound impact on our daily lives.

From the earliest bartering systems to today's sophisticated electronic transfers of billions of dollars in a split second, systems of exchange have conferred value upon goods and services and created the economic glue that binds individuals, businesses, communities, and nations together.

Understanding how economic forces work is becoming an imperative for every citizen. Designed to improve business and economic literacy, this book deals with stock market. It features glossary of key terms; charts, graphs, and illustrations; and references and related resources and Index.

From spiraling gas prices to jobs being exported overseas to real estate booms and busts, economic forces affect our daily lives in many profound ways. This work aims to improve business and economic literacy by demystifying these topics. It is useful for students, researchers, educators, and general readers.

Why some people are rich and others poor can be explained in a number of ways. Featuring graphs and charts, a glossary of key terms, and a listing of references and resources, Income and Wealth explains the intricate, and often controversial, effects of economic policies on individuals, families, and communities.

Provides readers with a basic understanding of how a corporation works. This book addresses the importance of the corporation - how and why it developed historically, how it became the dominant business form, and its role in the economy, including its contributions to Gross Domestic Product and employment.

From the impact of rising gas prices to debates over free trade agreements, the workings of the economy remain a mystery to most, even as the demands on our economic resources increase.