In this book Christopher Belshaw draws on earlier work concerning death, identity, animals, immortality, and extinction, and builds a large-scale argument dealing with questions of both value and meaning. Rejecting suggestions that life is sacred or intrinsically valuable, he argues instead that its value varies, and varies considerably, both within and between different kinds of things. So in some cases we might have reason to improve or save a life, while in others that reason will be lacking. What about starting lives? The book’s central section takes this as its focus, and asks whether we ever have reason to start lives, just for the sake of the one whose life it is. Not only is it denied that there is any such reason, but some sympathy is afforded to the anti-natalist contention that there is always reason against. The final chapters deal with meaning. There is support here for the sober and familiar view that meaning derives from an enthusiasm for, and some success with, the pursuit of worthwhile projects. Now suppose we are immortal. Or suppose, in contrast, that we face imminent extinction. Would either of these threaten meaning? The claim is made that the force of such threats is often exaggerated. The Value and Meaning of Life is essential reading for students and researchers in philosophy, ethics, and religion, and will be of interest to all those concerned with how to live, and how to think about the lives of others.

Market Imperfections and Macroeconomic Dynamics is based upon a collection of papers originally presented at the 5th Theory and Methods in Macroeconomics (T2M) meeting in Paris, France, 2002. The contributions in this volume focus on a central theme: the aggregate dynamic consequences of market imperfections. Such effects are of great interest to researchers in macroeconomics as these imperfections play a primary role in the persistence of aggregate output, the characteristics of the business cycles and the interactions of agents over time. Incorporating up-to-date techniques and methods, these contributions exemplify the remarkable progress made by macroeconomists in tackling these issues. The primary market for Market Imperfections and Macroeconomic Dynamics is academic researchers in economics and graduate students specializing in macroeconomics. Divisions of economic studies in public administration and in financial organizations will also find this book beneficial.

DIVAnalysis of channel models and proof of coding theorems; study of specific coding systems; and study of statistical properties of information sources. Sixty problems, with solutions. Advanced undergraduate to graduate level. /div

When faced with material crises governments do not call upon historians, anthropologists, political scholars, or psychologists. They call on economists. These have developed the most coherent and convincing description of how society organizes itself through a system of accounting amenable to precise analysis. Mastering this analysis is the challenge of the apprentice economist. Learn to become a master from Filip Palda, who earned his Ph.D. in economics at the University of Chicago. Here is what Nobel Prize winners have said about Palda's previous books: "Interesting and well written." Gary S. Becker. Nobel Prize in economics 1992. "Palda offers a novel and interesting perspective." James M. Buchanan. Nobel Prize in economics 1987.

The scientific field of data analysis is constantly expanding due to the rapid growth of the computer industry and the wide applicability of computational and algorithmic techniques, in conjunction with new advances in statistical, stochastic and analytic tools. There is a constant need for new, high-quality publications to cover the recent advances in all fields of science and engineering. This book is a collective work by a number of leading scientists, computer experts, analysts, engineers, mathematicians, probabilists and statisticians who have been working at the forefront of data analysis and related applications. The chapters of this collaborative work represent a cross-section of current concerns, developments and research interests in the above scientific areas. The collected material has been divided into appropriate sections to provide the reader with both theoretical and applied information on data analysis methods, models and techniques, along with related applications.

This book is a collection of the best papers presented at the 2nd International Conference on Informatics in Control, Automation and Robotics (ICINCO). ICINCO brought together researchers, engineers and practitioners interested in the application of informatics to Control, Automation and Robotics. The research papers focused on real world applications, covering three main themes: Intelligent Control Systems, Optimization, Robotics and Automation and Signal Processing, Systems Modeling and Control.

This book is about the establishment of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, in 2016, one of the most important new developments in Indian commercial law. The law has major implications for firms, their creditors, and a variety of the professional services that feed into the decisions of borrowers and lenders including lawyers, accountants and valuers. A new profession of insolvency professionals has come to exist owing to the law. There are several questions about bankruptcy reform in the mind of researchers, policy makers and practitioners. How has the reform progressed? How has it reshaped the incentives of firms? What are the difficulties faced? What are the optimal paths for borrowers and lenders and their advisors under the rubric of the law? How should laws and institutions be modified? The book has a unique set of chapters, by key people who have shaped the field which offer novel insights into these questions. The book has been edited by key people who have worked on bankruptcy reform since 2010. Dr. Sahoo has been the chairperson of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India since the establishment of this regulatory agency. Dr. Thomas was a member of the Bankruptcy Law Reforms Committee which drafted the IBC, and led the internal team of the BLRC which drafted the law. The book is an authentic and credible analysis of the happenings in the Indian insolvency and bankruptcy ecosystem from the start, with interest areas for international and domestic, economics/finance and law, researcher and practitioner communities.

The concept of well-being is one of the oldest and most important topics in philosophy and ethics, going back to ancient Greek philosophy. Following the boom in happiness studies in the last few years it has moved to centre stage, grabbing media headlines and the attention of scientists, psychologists and economists. Yet little is actually known about well-being and it is an idea that is often poorly articulated. The Routledge Handbook of Philosophy of Well-Being provides a comprehensive, outstanding guide and reference source to the key topics and debates in this exciting subject. Comprising over 40 chapters by a team of international contributors, the Handbook is divided into six parts: well-being in the history of philosophy current theories of well-being, including hedonism and perfectionism examples of well-being and its opposites, including friendship and virtue and pain and death theoretical issues, such as well-being and value, harm, identity and well-being and children well-being in moral and political philosophy well-being and related subjects, including law, economics and medicine. Essential reading for students and researchers in ethics and political philosophy, it is also an invaluable resource for those in related disciplines such as psychology, politics and sociology.