As wellbeing becomes an increasingly explicit policy goal in countries across the world, the demand for evidence upon which to base intervention is growing. Featuring 41 contributing authors from 18 countries, this book surveys and synthesizes recent developments in wellbeing science and policy to highlight key lessons learned and to offer actionable insights for policy-making.

Opening with a foreword by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and an introductory chapter surveying the fundamentals of wellbeing policy, the book reviews the links between wellbeing and various domains, including income, work, health, family, altruism and empathy, ageing, gender, education, housing, environment, crime, democracy, migration, religion, digital technology, and art, culture, and creativity. The book also examines the state of the art on wellbeing policy frameworks in diverse contexts, including developed and developing countries, small and large states, across the world, documenting interventions by governmental, private, or non-governmental organizations. Case studies include Bhutan, New Zealand, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Malta.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in progressing towards a wellbeing economy including policy-makers, academics, and students in economics, public policy, public administration, and behavioural and political science.

The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

This book provides a comparative perspective of various areas of corporate management in two post-socialist regions: China and Eastern Europe.

The book employs original firm-level empirical analyses and meta-analyses of the extant literature to investigate the impacts of corporate ownership on firm performance and organizational behavior; internal organization through the lens of the corporate board; and the interrelationship between firms and gender, labor relations, and society. In comparing China and Eastern Europe, the book addresses whether corporate governance structures have evolved due to global pressures from competition and technological progress or if inter-regional differences reflect how firms were privatized or handed over to managers after the end of central planning.

This book will appeal to researchers and post-graduate students interested in comparative economics, economic system transition, and comparative corporate systems.

Chapter 1, 6 and 10 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.

This book provides a robust argument for an upgrade of the financial system to enable a more sustainable approach. It explores the upcoming debate on a newly modified international financial architecture, facing serial ecological crisis and the advent of new technologies, and which operates in a multipolar world.

Instead of business as usual (BAU) scenarios, it explores new, innovative, out of the box approaches in the following arenas: taxonomy and regulation, including capital flow management measures and taxations schemas; financial engineering such as hedging instruments private public partnerships; and polity frameworks e.g. IMF, World Bank, Multilateral development banks, voting quota. It addresses the new role of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), the current and upcoming campaign on debt restructuring, as well as the role of new technologies - AI and Blockchain - to tackle illicit financial transactions and fraud, including predictive coding and big DATA correlations. The book focuses on the new role of monetary regulators and central bankers in providing conditioned, additional liquidity to finance, hedge and manage our global commons and to mobilize private capital at the same time, meaning that monetary policy will oversteer fiscal and credit policy in a Bretton Woods II process. The author argues that a new green Bretton Woods 2.0 will provide the agenda to transform our economy and our society, and a Green Transition plan is included in the book.

This will serve as a comprehensive reader for students, scholars and activists in the fields of macroeconomics, international development policy, finance and sustainability. It will also appeal to policy makers and executives in the financial sector as well as informed monetary experts.

Artificial Intelligence and SMEs in Developing Economies explores the emergence and application of Artificial Intelligence in developing economies. This is in response to the shift in Artificial Intelligence research towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the environmental problems and methods to solve them.

Written by experts from around the globe from developing countries, the book contains a balance of theoretical and empirical chapters that explore Artificial Intelligence in the context of business. It focuses especially on integrating industry 5.0 where Artificial Intelligence plays a major role. The chapters include knowledge and applications for small businesses, ranging from disruptive Artificial Intelligence technologies to determinants of Artificial Intelligence adoption in SMEs from major developing economies such as Africa, Latin America and Asia. In the latter chapters, the book discusses the application of Artificial Intelligence, such as how to leverage it for sustainable and responsible small businesses, and the importance of appreciating in a business environment. This book is the first substantial study on Artificial Intelligence and the future of sustainable small businesses in emerging economies.

It is a useful resource for academics and university students with interest in Artificial Intelligence and sustainable small businesses, specifically small business development. It is also a valuable read for policy makers and SME stakeholders.

This book discusses the future development trajectories, industry allocation, and investment opportunities of five regions in China: the Great Bay Area, the Yangtze River Delta, the Beijing-Tianjin-Xiongan Triangle, the Central Triangle, and the Western Triangle.

The authors analyze the resource endowment, current industries, strengths, and weaknesses of the above regions, compare them with similar regions in developed countries, and discuss the future development direction, emerging industries, and investment areas in these regions. Finally, they provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of the five city clusters and believe that they will become the five major growth poles leading China's economy in the future.

The title will bring greater attention to the new wave of regional economic integration among the academic circle, markets, and policymakers.

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of China's fiscal policy since 1949. It provides an in-depth understanding of the contextual factors that shape its implementation and examines the transition logic between planned fiscal policy and market-oriented fiscal approaches.

The author introduces fiscal policy focused on national economic recovery (1949-1952), planned fiscal policy (1953-1977), fiscal policy adapted to economic transition (1978-2011), and fiscal policy in the new era (2012-present). With "fiscal balance" as the central theme, he summarizes the fundamental principles and key dynamics underpinning China's fiscal policy and presents a clear framework for understanding the evolution and strategic rationale behind the country's approach to fiscal governance.

The title will appeal to scholars of Chinese economy, comparative economics, public finance, and macroeconomics.

Leadership Development in Saudi Arabia offers a comprehensive examination of the role of leadership development in expanding capabilities for national economic development, accelerating realization of the ambitious goals of Vision 2030, the country's blueprint for socioeconomic transformation.

Based on nine case studies of leading Saudi companies, this book explores how and why firms invest in leadership development and assesses its current state in Saudi Arabia. It provides insights into both organizational talent-building and the country's journey toward economic diversification. The book stands out as one of the first contextually rich in-depth studies of leadership development in a non-Western context, particularly within the ambitious framework of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Through interviews with senior executives and leadership professionals, the book provides actionable recommendations for improving leadership development practices.

Readers will benefit from detailed case studies and empirical data that highlight how leadership programs can drive business growth and national economic progress. It is essential reading for academics, leadership development professionals, policymakers, and business leaders interested in understanding how leadership development supports economic growth in Saudi Arabia and how it might play an even bigger role in the future. It proposes developing fresh approaches to widening the pool of leadership talent, building on the distinctive strengths of Islamic Leadership practices.

Carbon pricing is one of the key policy instruments available to help countries reach the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

This book explores the challenges and opportunities facing emerging economies in the implementation of carbon pricing with a particular focus on the case of Tuerkiye. After introducing the principles and practicalities of carbon pricing mechanisms, the book explores the economic feasibility of Tuerkiye achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and net zero emissions targets. It is argued that its national circumstances hinder Tuerkiye's use of carbon crediting mechanisms, auctions for carbon certificate units, and building bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other countries, leaving the voluntary carbon market as the only option. The book explores the implications of this and also highlights the need for improvements and reform in Tuerkiye's climate laws, public institutions, and international relations to better support carbon pricing. The book also recommends aligning carbon pricing with ongoing energy market reforms, including the replacement of fossil fuel subsidies with more targeted support.

This book will be of significant interest to readers of energy economics, environmental economics, emerging economies, and climate change more broadly.

This book examines the resurgence of debt crises in Africa following the Covid-19 pandemic. It deciphers the debt crisis phenomenon through the discourse of sovereign risk, which has been paid insufficient attention within the African context. It seeks to appreciate facets that continue to lead African states to a debt-default position.

The book focuses on the pre-stages of default and debt default risks. It explores and investigates whether South Africa was and continues to be financially capable of servicing its International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, granted in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. While investigating how and why Ethiopia and Ghana have already defaulted on their post-pandemic loans from the IMF. It examines the idea of sovereign risk in Africa through a qualitative methodology and a case study research design, analyzing three countries borrowed from the IMF in 2020 or later, mainly prompted by the pandemic. The book distinguishes between African states that have not yet defaulted and those that have already defaulted on their debt servicing. Namely, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Ghana, two of which have already defaulted on their loan. The book also notes the resurgence of the IMF within the African continent while assessing the past narrative and impact of the international monetary system and how it has changed in the post-pandemic era. However, economic diversification has been noted as a prominent remedy that holds the potential of strengthening African economies and aiding their eradication of the debt crisis.

The book is designed to appeal to numerous reading communities, namely scholars, researchers, advanced students and policymakers.

Since the inception of Bitcoin in 2009, cryptoassets and decentralised finance (DeFi) have become a multi-trillion-dollar industry, with a growing number of users, entrepreneurs, investment funds and institutional investors all over the world. This has led to understandably high levels of attention from scholars, the media, and policymakers, but much of the writing on decentralised finance is polarised or polemical.

In contrast, this book provides a balanced, scholarly and sober assessment of broad questions about the very existence and purposes of decentralised finance. Drawing largely on the Austrian school of economics, particularly the ideas of Hayek and Lachmann, the book explores the stated aims of proponents of decentralised finance, particularly the goals of having decentralised governance and financial inclusion in an anonymous environment with low entry and exit barriers. Prioritising the theoretical and political aspects of decentralised finance over the financial or technological, the book considers whether these aims are realistic and whether decentralised finance can complement or substitute traditional financial mechanisms ('TradFi').

This book will be of valuable reading for economists, political scientists and policymakers, who are engaging with these key issues around cryptocurrencies and decentralised finance.

Presenting a rich collection of insights into investment by foreign corporations into different types of cities around the world, Foreign Direct Investment and Cities uses original and revelatory case studies to help readers to turn theory into practice.

The book offers a structured set of case study chapters, with a diversity of location, setting, and industry, focus on macro-, meso-, and micro-level factors, and outcomes in economic and non-economic terms. The chapters are authored by a diverse collection of international experts. The text is also supported by digital learning resources, including PowerPoint slides and video clips.

Foreign Direct Investment and Cities will be relevant to courses in international business and economic geography and will be key reading for academic researchers in business schools and wider social sciences, as well as the global practitioner community in investment promotion.

This book addresses how water supply systems can be planned, designed, and managed for sustainability by presenting unique approaches and methodologies in rural drinking water supply schemes. It synthesizes the outcomes and findings of research studies undertaken by the Institute for Resource Analysis and Policy (IRAP) and pilot projects undertaken by RCUES (Regional Centre for Urban Environmental Studies) of AIILSG, Mumbai in collaboration with government of Maharashtra, with technical support from other development partners on climate-resilient water and energy systems.

Backed by empirical research, this volume aims to build the conceptual foundations of the subject, additionally bringing in results of pilot projects that apply some of the models in water conservation, clean energy production, and environmental management. Towards building a climate-resilient society, it also discusses the feasibility of reducing carbon emissions in rural water supply, to make it more energy efficient.

The book will be useful to students, researchers, and teachers working on Water Resources, Water Supply, Renewable Energy systems, Management of Climate-Induced Disasters, Water-Energy-Climate Policy, and Development Studies. This will also be an invaluable companion to policy makers, general administrators, civil society organizations, media persons, and bilateral agencies like WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, UNEP, World Bank, and the Gates Foundation.

Drawing on over thirty years of research, this book investigates the intermingling of land and water in the Sahel, analysing landscapes defined by the ebb and flow of rainfall, flooding and population movements, as well as environmental, political and social crises.

Exploring both the seasonal flooding of rivers around the Nile, Chari-Logone, Niger and Senegal, as well as agricultural irrigation projects such as dams, canals and pumping stations, the book examines the different narratives related to water and land in the Sahel. It combines fieldwork research with remote sensing, big data and GIS mapping to outline the ever-changing interplay between land and water in the region. Beyond this, the book also reinterprets the colonial and post-colonial legacies of large-scale irrigation projects and the geopolitical interests which defined them.

Supported by an Open Access website with a WebGIS and further maps and analysis, this book is an essential read for policy makers and development practitioners in the region, as well as for researchers and scholars across the fields of geography, history, political science, sustainable development and African studies.

The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives (CC-BY-ND) 4.0 license.

This reference text addresses the importance of smart crop management for increasing yield and presents a framework for smart monitoring and regulation of crop observation. Further, it comprehensively covers important topics such as spatial decision support systems for precision farming, swarm intelligence in the optimal management of aquaculture farms, and intelligent harvesting algorithms for improving productivity.

This book:

* Presents meta-heuristic algorithms for optimization, economic crop planning, and use of effective water resource management.

* Discusses spatial decision support systems for crop productivity management, watershed management, and precision farming.

* Illustrates swarm intelligence-based optimization techniques, data mining, and machine learning methods for aquaculture operations.

* Highlights artificial intelligence and machine learning-based harvesting algorithms for improving productivity.

* Explains the use of green Internet of Things security solutions for agriculture, plant condition management, and greenhouse simulation.

It is primarily written for graduate students and academic researchers in the fields of electrical engineering, electronics and communication engineering, computer science and engineering, agricultural science, and information technology.

The explosion of generative AI has sparked a wave of case studies showing how quickly and profoundly it is transforming businesses. Yet most of these use cases still apply the technology to enhancing existing systems. This book makes the case for why business leaders must revisit the fundamentals of generative AI and look beyond short-term, tactical gains. Tools like ChatGPT mark just the beginning of Context Aware AI-systems that grasp both the content and intent of unstructured human input. Drawing on real-world examples and academic research, we demonstrate how Context Aware AI can enhance organizational interactions, unlock new forms of collaboration, and usher in the era of the AI-Centered Enterprise. By augmenting baseline Large Language Models (LLMs) with techniques like prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge graphs, and notably agentic systems, organizations can build customized tools that adapt to individual users' thinking patterns and the collaborative workflows they are a part of. We present a practical framework-the 3Cs: Calibrate, Clarify, Channelize, to help leaders navigate this radical shift across multiple levels of organizations.

Winner of the Silver Medal in the AI Category at the Axiom Book Awards (https://axiomawards.com/).

This book provides detailed case studies exploring how industry-leading organizations are integrating corporate innovation and sustainability initiatives.

The book first introduces the difficulties and importance of managing innovation within established organizations. It identifies five themes key for organizations seeking to future-proof their business: external drivers in the business environment, structures for corporate entrepreneurship, modes of collaboration, sustainability as a lever for innovation, and performance management. It then provides detailed case studies of how companies across diverse sectors, such as banking, shipping, and real estate, made the choice between short-term profit and future-proofing their business. Cases are written such that they can be used independently, and a storytelling approach is used so that readers may apply the conceptual frameworks and see how theories are translated into practice. Detailed teaching notes are available for instructors, each containing a sample lesson plan, six discussion questions, suggested answers, and further readings.

A useful teaching resource for instructors and students in corporate entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, and strategic foresight.

Trust, Sustainability, and Resilience: Management and Consumer Perspectives offers a comprehensive exploration of the key concepts shaping today's world. This book examines the complex relationship between trust, sustainability, and resilience across various domains, providing insights into their significant implications for both organizations and consumers. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of the theoretical foundations and practical applications of these concepts from both management and consumer perspectives. Structured into two parts: the first part explores management perspectives, highlighting key issues and strategies, while the second part delves into consumer perspectives, examining the role of trust, sustainability, and resilience in shaping consumer behavior and preferences. This book is essential reading for academics, researchers, and practitioners interested in the intersection of trust, sustainability, and resilience. It provides valuable guidance for business leaders and policymakers seeking to integrate these principles into organizational strategies. Consumers and individuals interested in sustainable practices and responsible consumption will also find this book insightful. Whether studying management, environmental stewardship, or social sciences, this book offers a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and implementing trust, sustainability, and resilience principles for a better tomorrow.

This book is for anyone who wants to lead change. It explains change methods through real-life experiences of frontline workers. Just as history has primarily been written by the victors, leadership and management theory have been written from the top. An exception is Kurt Lewin, whose action-research established that people on the frontlines are best positioned to create and sustain change. This book's authors have practiced that approach over two generations for the past 70 years. They were deeply influenced by the blue-collar wisdom of the author's grandfather, an hourly worker in the railyards of Pittsburgh.

Leadership and the Frontline Workforce teaches via interviews of those who were present both before and after Lewin-style change, telling the stories of the workers who have experienced the good, bad, and the ugly of being targets of change at the bottom of systems.

A colleague of the author, Cotton Mears (1956-2019), intended to write this book but only got as far as a title, "View from a target." He was a pot room tender in Alcoa's Warrick aluminum smelter-one of the toughest jobs in the plant-when Robert P. Crosby arrived on the scene. Their relationship launched Cotton's own organization development career. Following Cotton's untimely death in 2019, Robert's son, Gilmore Crosby, felt inspired to bring this book to life.

Among the most important questions that businesses ask are some very simple ones: If I decide to do something, will it work? And if so, how large are the effects? To answer these predictive questions, and later base decisions on them, we need to establish causal relationships.

Establishing and measuring causality can be difficult. This book explains the most useful techniques for discerning causality and illustrates the principles with numerous examples from business. It discusses randomized experiments (aka A/B testing) and techniques such as propensity score matching, synthetic controls, double differences, and instrumental variables. There is a chapter on the powerful AI approach of Directed Acyclic Graphs (aka Bayesian Networks), another on structural equation models, and one on time-series techniques, including Granger causality.

At the heart of the book are four chapters on uplift modeling, where the goal is to help firms determine how best to deploy their resources for marketing or other interventions. We start by modeling uplift, discuss the test-and-learn process, and provide an overview of the prescriptive analytics of uplift.

The book is written in an accessible style and will be of interest to data analysts and strategists in business, to students and instructors of business and analytics who have a solid foundation in statistics, and to data scientists who recognize the need to take seriously the need for causality as an essential input into effective decision-making.

Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Contemporary Business highlights the symbiotic relationship between human-centric approaches and organizational success in 21st century business and corporate culture. It delivers a comprehensive exploration of how integrating human factors and ergonomics strategically can fuel innovation, enhance performance, and deliver a competitive advantage.

By promoting employee wellbeing to implementing ergonomic interventions for heightened productivity, the chapters offer invaluable insights into the role of human factors across differing business sectors. Edited and authored by distinguished experts in the field, this handbook presents theoretical frameworks, empirical evidence, and real-world case studies. Across these chapters split into various sections on perspectives, digitalization and wellbeing, it provides interdisciplinary perspectives and practical applications to equip readers with the tools needed to encourage thriving workplace environments, nurture employee welfare, and foster innovation and creativity. International case studies from diverse businesses and topics on Industry 5.0, logistics, strategy, UX, productivity, green issues and much more result in a thorough overview of the topic. It will help any reader optimize organizational performance and understand the key connections between human factors and business success.

This title is an essential read for researchers and professionals in ergonomics and human factors, business and management, leadership, engineering design and human resources.

This book is a novel exploration of the complex interplay between modern work structures, artificial intelligence (AI), and economic sustainability.

Through meticulously researched insights and real-world examples, this book unravels the intricate dynamics shaping the sharing and gig economies, offering a comprehensive analysis of their implications for the future of work. Key features of this book include a deep dive into the theoretical foundations of AI, the sharing economy, and gig economy, complemented by practical case studies illustrating their real-world applications. Readers will gain valuable insights into how these economic models influence labour markets, technological advancements, governance frameworks, and societal well-being. By examining the opportunities and challenges presented by the sharing and gig economies, this book equips readers with the knowledge to navigate and shape the evolving landscape of work.

This edited collection caters to a diverse audience, including academics, technologists, policymakers, students across various disciplines, and professionals interested in the future of work and economic development. Its interdisciplinary approach makes it an invaluable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding AI, the sharing economy, and the gig economy. Whether you're a researcher, entrepreneur, or policymaker, this book provides essential insights into the transformative forces shaping the global economy.

Cyber Insecurity: Examining the Past, Defining the Future deals with the multifaceted world of cybersecurity, starting with the premise that while perfection in cybersecurity may be unattainable, significant improvements can be made through understanding history and fostering innovation. Vladas Leonas shares his journey from Moscow to Australia, highlighting his academic and professional milestones.

This book covers the evolution of cybersecurity from the late 1960s to the present, detailing significant events and technological advancements. The author emphasises the importance of simplicity in technology projects, citing complexity as a major hindrance to success. The book also discusses the impact of the digital revolution, using the example of a global IT outage caused by a faulty software update.

Project management methodologies are explored, tracing their origins from ancient civilisations to modern techniques such as CPM and PERT. The concept of cloud computing is examined, highlighting its benefits and potential security issues. The evolution and advantages of SaaS solutions are also discussed, noting their increased adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The author then addresses supply chain challenges, using real-world examples to illustrate vulnerabilities. He traces the history of communication methods leading up to TCP/IP and discusses the development and importance of DNS. The differences between compliance and conformance in cybersecurity are clarified, emphasising that compliance does not equate to security.

Key cybersecurity standards such as the NIST CSF and ISO/IEC 27000 series are examined. The book also covers the Essential 8, a set of cybersecurity controls developed by the Australian Signals Directorate. The convergence of OT and IoT is discussed, highlighting the cybersecurity risks associated with this integration.

Emerging threats from AI and quantum computing are explored, noting their potential to both advance and threaten cybersecurity. The evolving legal landscape of cybersecurity is also covered, emphasising the need for international cooperation and innovative legal solutions.

In conclusion, the book stresses the importance of critical thinking and a holistic approach to cybersecurity, advocating for simplicity and foundational practices to enhance security.

This book examines the transformative power of grassroots social innovations within dynamic urban landscapes. From addressing access to healthy food to navigating regulatory challenges, urban citizens are taking charge of their environments through collective action. This ethnographic exploration explores the everyday workings of three grassroots initiatives, highlighting the practices driving social change.

Readers will discover practical models for collective organizing within social innovation communities, offering insights for both activists and policymakers eager to effect change in urban life. By emphasizing collaboration as a cornerstone of social innovation, this book illuminates how deep engagement fosters reflectivity, empathy, and sustainability within communities. Drawing on multidimensional collaboration models, readers gain practical tools for creating lasting social impact.

Moreover, the book places these insights within a broader European context and references Elinor Ostrom's theory of the common good, appealing to readers worldwide interested in community-driven solutions. With qualitative research conducted in Poland, this book offers a rich tapestry of insights into the global phenomenon of grassroots social innovation, encouraging reflection and action among urban communities worldwide.

This book chronicles how four resort cities (Asheville, Aspen, Key West and Laguna Beach) addressed failing economic situations to reinvent themselves and prosper. The author explores bottom-up reinventions of local community value propositions, often driven by economic forces that require reinvention due to declining or disappearing traditional economic opportunities.

The author foregoes broad national policies and focuses on a wide range of citizen groups, local institutions and businesses that coalesce to understand what is happening or has happened to their community. These cities then formulate future aspirations with new value propositions and experiment to determine what works. The investment becomes focused on emergent successes.

The book addresses four community ecosystems and a spectrum of contexts-For example, mountains vs. oceans and venues for entertainment vs. thought leadership. These four ecosystems were reinvented creatively to enable great economic and societal successes. In particular, the energy provided by bottom-up innovation was crucial.

The information presented in this book is drawn from two sources-First, historical accounts of such initiatives are leveraged. Second, and more substantial are findings synthesized from extensive interviews in Asheville, NC.

Paradoxical tensions are persistently inevitable in today's complex organizational world. Therefore, managers should perceive them as a lens through which they see organizations and work through them. Reconciling paradoxes requires understanding their nature and appraising them. It also involves novelty and creativity in implemented tactics. Thus, to help managers navigate dualities and contradictions in their organizations, Management, Organizations, and Paradoxes presents a comprehensive overview of implementing the paradox theory from a distinct organizational standpoint in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) context. Beyond theoretical foundations, it integrates recent research findings and practical insights, providing rich knowledge for managing conflicting demands across diverse organizational dimensions. In addition, it unlocks new insights that can enrich academic discourse and guide practitioners in embracing a paradox mindset. It develops less-explored areas, such as paradox regarding sustainability in clusters, or digital and energy transition. It also explores paradox in human resource management, workplace learning, diversity, equity, and inclusion policy. It tests whether paradoxes have regional variation and provides insight from managerial practices in CEE. The authors prove that organizations embracing paradox can expand the scope of their opportunities and thrive.

This monograph can serve as a scholarly guide for managers, academics, and Ph.D students, encouraging them to analyze and manage organizations from a paradox angle.

Green computing is a revolutionary technique that addresses environmental sustainability. It uses an eco-friendly approach to the design, manufacture, and use of computing resources. This is achieved by cutting down on electronic waste, using renewable energy sources, and consuming less energy. Recyclable materials with minimal environmental impact, software engineering techniques that are optimized, and energy-efficient hardware are examples of many approaches. Advanced technologies such as low-power processors, smart grids, and virtualized computing environments contribute to energy efficiency and waste reduction. Furthermore, integrating green computing with renewable energy sources amplifies its positive impact on the environment. The adoption of green computing practices promotes a circular economy, encourages resource conservation, and supports climate action.

Green Computing for Sustainable Development features chapters that explore issues that are concerned with furthering sustainability and green computing. Highlights include the following:

• Neuro-symbolic green computing combining neural networks' learning abilities with symbolic AI's logical reasoning while promoting environmentally friendly practices
• Energy-efficient data management, resource provisioning, and the importance of monitoring carbon footprints
• The intersection of green computing and wildlife conservation, highlighting how energy-efficient technologies can revolutionize conservation efforts
• The integration of geospatial information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) as innovative solutions for sustainable development
• The role of information and communication technology (ICT) in promoting health and well-being
• The importance of green computing due to growing environmental concerns related to information technology
• The integration of AI in sustainable farming practices
• The synergy between green computing practices and economic growth in achieving sustainable development
• The integration of green computing with e-waste management to tackle environmental challenges in the IT sector
• How the "green Internet of Things" (IoT) is transforming smart city development by integrating ecological awareness and sustainability into urban planning

This book covers the wide range of principles essential for achieving long-term sustainability. It is a step toward fostering a balanced relationship between technological advancement and environmental stewardship.

This book expands understandings of how skills are defined, acquired, and utilized in Global South contexts. 'Skills' and 'skill development' are increasingly prominent focal points for governments in the Global South and international development bodies. Yet, policymakers and practitioners promoting skill development often overlook the everyday realities of how skills are learned and acquired, and how they are deployed and valued by individuals and communities. Frequently, they ignore the social and institutional barriers that prevent people from using their skills in meaningful or remunerative ways.

By focusing on the 'the social life of skills', the chapters in this volume invite a broader conceptualization of skills, their development, and their application in Global South contexts. They explore four main areas of theorization and practice:

1. The social and political processes by which certain types of work - and people - are labeled as 'skilled' or 'unskilled.'

2. The different ways people acquire skills: formal, informal, and nonformal.

3. The political economy of skills and skill development and their imbrication in forms of exploitation and intersecting inequalities.

4. The role of skills in the expression of aspirations, identities, and agency.

This book will appeal to students and researchers in the fields of development studies, sociology, anthropology, education, and labor studies, particularly those focusing on the Global South. It will also appeal to policymakers, practitioners, and development organizations working on skill development and vocational training.

The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Third World Quarterly.

The U.S. health care system is dominated by private and public (governmental) insurance which makes it difficult for many Americans to imagine access to health care without it. The health care system in the USA is sometimes mistakenly referred to as market-based, partly because of the previous lack of compulsory insurance.

As this book shows, however, even before ObamaCare it was a system heavily influenced by the government. This short and accessible book demonstrates that governmental long-term interventionism in the American health insurance market has led to many contemporary serious problems, such as significant and uncontrolled increases in health care costs, rising health insurance prices, marginalization of direct payments, limited competition, and problems with uninsured Americans. Many observers wrongly blame the market for this state of affairs and demand more regulation, which further deteriorates the situation. The study is divided into two parts: an analysis of the history of interventions (and their effects) in the private health insurance market, and an analysis of the genesis and evolution of governmental Medicare and Medicaid insurance. Thus, the book constitutes a unique synthesis of Austrian theory of interventionism and the history of health insurance in the USA.

This book is vital reading for health economists, managers, and policymakers, as well as those interested in the Austrian approach to economics.