Donald Rutherford Knihy

This comprehensive interpretation of the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) reveals the systematic unity of Leibniz's thought, in which theodicy, ethics, metaphysics, and natural philosophy contribute to a single vision of the best of all possible worlds. The key idea underlying the system is the conception of nature as a harmonious order designed by God to maximize opportunities for the exercise of reason. From this emerges an ethical ideal in which the virtue and happiness of human beings are promoted through the gradual extension of intellectual enlightenment

The author, an experienced economics professor at Edinburgh University, specializes in the history of economic thought and has contributed to the field through dictionaries and scholarly works. In addition to his academic pursuits, he has a talent for storytelling, having penned numerous short stories, showcasing his diverse literary skills and deep understanding of economics.

Compiled to meet the needs of students and professionals in economics, finance, accountancy and business, this wide-ranging, international Dictionary is for everyone who wants an up-to-date resource to the world of economics. Key Features over 4200 comprehensive A to Z entries, from after-hours to z-score, provide clear, definitive explanations of the key terms, issues, theories and concepts in economics today - as well as describing the contributions of key figures in the field each entry is headed by a short definition for quick reference, and where relevant, followed by an annotated bibliography to lead the reader to further sources cross-referenced for ease of access the full range of subjects is covered, from classical economics and the study of value and growth, to contemporary concerns such as European Union and Green conditionality detailed coverage of vital econometric terms and statistics including entries such as eigenprices and M0 includes specialised commercial and financial jargon illustrated with 94 line diagrams unique subject index for ease of access

In this work, Rutherford reviews why Adam Smith, Hayek, Mises and others praised economic markets, with a view to understanding, in contrast, historical attacks on markets dating as far back as Aristotle. The market has long been criticized as an inappropriate method of allocation, encouraging market participants to misbehave for the sake of personal gain, and creating an impersonal new market culture. This book traces how such attacks have become more vociferous in recent centuries, especially with the rise of socialism. Most recently the critique has broadened to include toxic markets and the excessive marketization of activities hitherto external to the market. Analysing these major criticisms, as well as the value of regulation, utopias and virtue ethics as a means of avoiding future suspicions of markets, the author lays the groundwork for the reader’s own assessment of the arguments, and concludes by posing suggestions of how best we might cope with flawed markets in the future.

An A-Z of contemporary economics in all its forms, the Key Concepts is an affordable, accessible reference for students, lecturers and economists at every level. The key topics explored Fully cross-referenced with extensive guides to further reading, this is the essential comprehensive pocket reference to the ideas, issues and practice of economics in the twenty-first century.