Infrastructures--from public transport systems to waste disposal--are an integral element of modern human society. This volume examines how infrastructures can adapt to rapidly changing environments through the use of game-simulation methods. This book investigates the use of those methods to help infrastructure research, and it also features essays on various other issues concerning infrastructures. It will be a valuable resource for researchers ...

Behind the stories of war, plagues, and natural disasters are the unsung heroes. "Becoming "Human tells the compelling story of one such group: the Society of Medical Mission Sisters. Godelieve Prove, a Flemish doctor and longtime sister of the Society, chronicles how the Sisters overcame the barriers within the patriarchal Roman Catholic Church to establish themselves as an organization of medical professionals committed to bringing relief to ...

In the far northwestern corner of Russia lies the Barents Sea: a rich region of natural resources that has yet to be fully exploited. Future actions taken in Barents will create major environmental, political, and economic ripples around the globe. "Big Oil Playground, Russian Bear Preserve or European Periphery?" explores three plausible and thought-provoking scenarios for the region's future over the next two decades. The volume considers ...

Many coastal states actively cultivate their fisheries to sustain their citizens and national economies. "Fisheries Development" presents the synthesis of a long-term research project on fisheries in struggling countries. The volume explains the evolution of fishery development strategies and highlights the role of the state and the community in resource management. "Fisheries Development" is a valuable resource that examines the modern economics ...

"Trust and Power on the Shop Floor" examines the shop floor processes of modern factories through two case studies. Maarten Verkerk draws on ethnography, organizational theory, and philosophy to offer an insightful analysis of how high-trust and high-power relations between management and labor are the keys to successful organizations. Verkerk ultimately offers a masterful study of the dynamics of the modern industrial organization. ...

Financial institutions are often the crucial factor in a society's progress toward sustainable development. Yet financial workers and public policy researchers are largely unaware of this role. "Sustainability in Finance" seeks to bridge this gap as it posits a theoretical foundation for a finance-policy partnership. The volume presents an innovative analysis of current practices at both global financial institutions and banks in developing ...

"The Political Economy of Rural Development" argues for a new analysis of rural economic growth patterns, based on research the author conducted in Scandinavia. Ottar Brox reverses a long-standing conviction in urban planning theory by asserting that improving the economic opportunities for individuals in rural areas is an indirect investment in urban hubs. Peasant resistance, he reveals, is the logical result of urban neglect of local interests. ...

The Internet and digital technology have transformed the publishing industry, making speed a requirement in production and service. Paul Evans here explores how publishing must develop to meet these new demands of the digital age and proposes ways that the industry can fully utilize the Internet to better serve customers. This volume is a valuable resource for publishers and for anyone with an interest in businesses using digital technology. ...

<div>This book looks at the development of local government on a global scale: its history, practice, and future. Leon van den Dool explores local government from a practical standpoint, including human resource policy and financial management, offers a concise summary of modern public management theories, and links this theory with practice, providing case studies from countries at different stages of development. A valuable tool ...

These days we hear a great deal about child development and child rearing, but it almost exclusively focuses on the child's remembered experiences and actions. "A Serious Case of Neglect seeks to redress this one-sided perspective with a carefully considered theory of parenting and an in-depth analysis of the parenting role. Drawing on over thirty years of experience as a family counselor and therapist, Alice van der Pas illustrates her theory ...