New Books in Economics

Meg Rithmire, a Harvard Business School professor and expert on business-state relations in authoritarian regimes, dives into the complex dynamics of economic growth and political power in Asia. She discusses crony capitalism and its pitfalls, illustrating how these relationships can lead to crises or stagnation. Rithmire shares gripping case studies from Indonesia, Malaysia, and China, revealing how financial liberalization and political ties shape economic outcomes. The conversation highlights the challenges business leaders face in navigating these precarious ties.

Thomas White, an expert in China and Sustainable Development, discusses the intricate bond between livestock, particularly the Bactrian camel, and national identity in modern China. He explores how state-led environmental policies impact pastoral communities, especially in Inner Mongolia, revealing cultural resistance to these changes. Topics include the role of camel husbandry in preserving heritage, the effects of urbanization on traditional lifestyles, and the ongoing negotiation between modernization and the preservation of pastoral practices.

Behavioral scientist Alison Fragale offers powerful new insights and a practical playbook for women to advance in any workplace, full of tips, tricks, and strategies to help secure that elusive corner office.Over decades of research, speaking engagements, and mentorship, psychologist and professor Alison Fragale encountered recurring questions from high powered and early career women alike: How do women thread the needle of kindness and competence in the workplace? How can women earn credit for their accomplishments, negotiate better, and navigate complex office politics without losing the goodwill of their peers?Fragale investigated and determined that many women's workplace issues boil down to what psychologists call status: the perception of them by others. No amount of power-- no degree, title, or paycheck-- will raise a woman's workplace stature unless it also affects how others see her. Acknowledging this roadblock, Fragale pulls back the curtain on how we can change how others see us by developing our standing as a "likeable badass." By cultivating perceptions of warmth and assertiveness, women can achieve the kind of reputation that leads to a seat at the table and a fulfilling career path.Likeable Badass: The New Science of Successful Women (Doubleday Books, 2024) is equal parts behavioral science and life hacks, weaving together rigorous research with actionable advice and impactful stories from a diverse array of women. This is a warm, heartening book written for women, their allies, and anyone who struggles to rise, and wants evidence-based, practical strategies for success, served with a side of inspiration and humor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

David Lay Williams, a political theorist specializing in economic inequality, delves into the impacts of this issue on Western political thought in his latest work. He discusses how thinkers like Plato, Hobbes, and Marx each grappled with the concentration of wealth and its political ramifications. Williams highlights the necessity of integrating economic discussions into political discourse, urging for a cultural shift that emphasizes compassion between socioeconomic classes. The rich tradition of thought is explored, making the case for understanding economic inequality's profound effects today.

In Unexpected Revolutionaries: How Central Banks Made and Unmade Economic Orthodoxy (Cornell University Press, 2024), Dr. Manuela Moschella investigates the institutional transformation of central banks from the 1970s to the present.Central banks are typically regarded as conservative, politically neutral institutions that uphold conventional macroeconomic wisdom. Yet in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, central banks have upended observer expectations by implementing largely unknown and unconventional monetary policies. Far from abiding by well-established policy playbooks, central banks now engage in practices such as providing liquidity support for a wide range of financial institutions and quantitative easing. They have even stretched the remit of monetary policy into issues such as inequality and climate change.Dr. Moschella argues that the political nature of central banks lies at the heart of these transformations. While formally independent, central banks need political support to justify their policies and powers, and to obtain it, they carefully manage their reputation among their audience selected officials, market actors, and citizens. Challenged by reputational threats brought about by twenty-first-century recessionary and deflationary forces, central banks such as the Federal Reserve System and the European Central Bank strategically deviated from orthodox monetary policies to preempt or manage political backlash and to regain public trust. Central banks thus evolved into a new role only in coordination with fiscal authorities and on the back of public contestation.Eye-opening and insightful, Unexpected Revolutionaries is necessary reading for discussions on the future of the neoliberal macroeconomic regime, the democratic oversight of monetary policymaking, and the role that central banks canor cannotplay in our domestic economies.This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

Jay Richards, author of 'The Human Advantage,' explores the vital role of human creativity and ethics in the face of advancing technology. He argues that uniquely human traits cannot be replicated by machines, stressing the importance of entrepreneurship and moral judgment. The discussion touches on the evolving job landscape influenced by AI, the gig economy's implications for meaningful work, and the ethical challenges posed by new technologies. Richards urges listeners to harness their innate strengths to thrive in an increasingly automated world.

Robert Vitalis, an expert on U.S. energy policy and author of 'America's Kingdom,' explores the misconceptions surrounding oil in his latest work. He challenges the myths of scarcity and the perceived necessity of U.S.-Saudi relations, emphasizing that oil operates like any commodity, subject to market forces. Vitalis unpacks the historical influences on U.S. foreign policy related to oil, revealing how longstanding narratives on oil security are often misleading. His insights prompt a critical reassessment of energy policy and its implications for race and imperialism.

Eyck Freymann, a DPhil Candidate in China Studies at the University of Oxford, delves into China’s One Belt One Road initiative, the largest infrastructure program in history. He reveals the strategic and political significance behind OBOR, emphasizing that it transcends mere infrastructure, aiming to enhance China’s global influence. Freymann debunks myths regarding debt traps and highlights the complexities of local perceptions in participating countries. Ultimately, he argues that OBOR reflects Xi Jinping’s desire to restore China's status on the world stage.

Robert McCorquodale, an expert in Business and Human Rights Law, discusses the evolving responsibilities of businesses towards human rights. He highlights the shift from state obligations to corporate accountability, citing significant cases like the Bhopal disaster. The impact of globalization on corporate accountability is examined, alongside the importance of the UN Guiding Principles. McCorquodale also delves into the complexities of state responsibility, the vital role of remedies for victims, and how the financial sector can influence ethical practices in business.

The Power to Persuade: Strategic Arguing at the World Trade Organization (University of Toronto Press, 2024) by Dr. Angela Geck provides an innovative and eye-opening analysis of strategic arguing as a means of power in global politics. Based on an empirical case study of arguing processes in the World Trade Organization (WTO), the book shows how discursive contexts, institutional norms and procedures, and unequal human resources condition who has the power to persuade.While accounts of arguing in international relations are typically based on a notion of arguing as a power-free mode of interaction oriented towards understanding, Dr. Geck shows how such an approach precludes the question of persuasive power. Drawing on in-depth interviews with Geneva diplomats and a document-based analysis of the negotiations on two Doha Round issues, the book examines the practices governing strategic arguing in the WTO and uncovers two sources of persuasive power: firstly, prevalent discourses and connected regime norms empower some actors over others; secondly, their ability to debate is conditioned by exclusionary procedures and unequal human resources.Offering a grounded theory of strategic arguing in trade politics, The Power to Persuade presents a novel analysis of the relationship between arguing and power.This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics