springer berlin heidelberg nov 2010 (Oltre 1.600 risultati)

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -This is an excellent introduction for graduate students and nonspecialists to the field of mathematical and computational neurosciences. The book approaches the subject via pulsed-coupled neural networks, which have at their core the lighthouse and integrate-and-fire models. These allow for highly flexible modeling of realistic synaptic activity, synchronization and spatio-temporal pattern formation. The more advanced pulse-averaged equations are discussed. 348 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Companies' decision-making and planning systems find themselves in a constant tug of war between strategic and financial considerations. The authors analyze these two opposing currents in business thinking, dissecting their differences and identifying their best practices. They also develop an approach that reconciles the two conflicting schools of thought ¿ without watering down their differences. Schwenker und Spremann argue that both strategic and financial perspectives can serve as a compass in management's decision-making processes: Which perspective to choose depends on the phase of business. The authors distinguish four phases in the company lifecycle ¿ phases in which the business must find the proper position, develop, grow and, ultimately, earn. In the first two phases, strategic considerations should take priority; in the latter two phases, financial considerations rule the day.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware -Companies' decision-making and planning systems find themselves in a constant tug of war between strategic and financial considerations. The authors analyze these two opposing currents in business thinking, dissecting their differences and identifying their best practices. They also develop an approach that reconciles the two conflicting schools of thought ¿ without watering down their differences. Schwenker und Spremann argue that both strategic and financial perspectives can serve as a compass in management's decision-making processes: Which perspective to choose depends on the phase of business. The authors distinguish four phases in the company lifecycle ¿ phases in which the business must find the proper position, develop, grow and, ultimately, earn. In the first two phases, strategic considerations should take priority; in the latter two phases, financial considerations rule the day.Springer Verlag GmbH, Tiergartenstr. 17, 69121 Heidelberg 340 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware - Companies' decision-making and planning systems find themselves in a constant tug of war between strategic and financial considerations. The authors analyze these two opposing currents in business thinking, dissecting their differences and identifying their best practices. They also develop an approach that reconciles the two conflicting schools of thought - without watering down their differences. Schwenker und Spremann argue that both strategic and financial perspectives can serve as a compass in management's decision-making processes: Which perspective to choose depends on the phase of business. The authors distinguish four phases in the company lifecycle - phases in which the business must find the proper position, develop, grow and, ultimately, earn. In the first two phases, strategic considerations should take priority; in the latter two phases, financial considerations rule the day.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. Neuware - Dieses praxisorientierte Buch beschreibt die Technologie der Pelletierung aus nachwachsenden Rohstoffen und die Nutzung von Pellets. Der Autor geht darauf ein, welche Biomassen sich außer Holz für die Pelletierung eignen, wie sie hergestellt werden und wie sie in Form von Pellets energetisch genutzt werden. Angefangen bei den Grundlagen des Verbrennungs-, Vergasungs- und Pelletierprozesses werden die verschiedenen Technologien beschrieben. Die Planung, Realisierung und Wirtschaftlichkeit der Anlagen zur Pelletproduktion wird erläutert. Ein Anhang gibt wertvolle Hinweise über Anlagenkonzepte, Beispielrechnungen, Adressenlisten, Umrechnungstabellen, Berechnungsformeln.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Ever since its infancy, humankind has been seeking answers to some very basic and profound questions. Did the Universe begin If it did, how old is it, and where did it come from What is its shape What is it made of Fascinating myths and brilliant in- itions attempting to solve such enigmas can be found all through the history of human thought. Every culture has its own legends, itsownworldcreationtales,itsphilosophicalspeculations,itsre- gious beliefs. Modern science, however, cannot content itself with fanciful explanations, no matter how suggestive they are. No- days, our theories about the Universe, built upon rational ded- tion, have to survive the hard test of experiment and observation. Cosmology, the science which studies the origin and evo- tion of the Universe, had to overcome enormous dif culties before it could achieve the same level of dignity as other physical dis- plines. At rst, it had no serious physical model and mathematical tools that could be used to address the complexity of the problems it had to face. Then, it suffered from a chronic lack of experim- tal data, which made it almost impossible to test the theoretical speculations. Given this situation, answering rigorously the many questions on the nature of the Universe seemed nothing more than a delusion. Today, however, things have changed. We live in the golden age of cosmology: an exciting moment, when, for the rst time, we are able to scienti cally understand our Universe. 176 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Terms such as 'expanding Universe', 'big bang', and 'initial singularity', are nowadays part of our common language. The idea that the Universe we observe today originated from an enormous explosion (big bang) is now well known and widely accepted, at all levels, in modern popular culture. But what happens to the Universe before the big bang And would it make any sense at all to ask such a question In fact, recent progress in theoretical physics, and in particular in String Theory, suggests answers to the above questions, providing us with mathematical tools able in principle to reconstruct the history of the Universe even for times before the big bang.In the emerging cosmological scenario the Universe, at the epoch of the big bang, instead of being a 'new born baby' was actually a rather 'aged' creature in the middle of its possibly infinitely enduring evolution. The aim of this book is to convey this picture in non-technical language accessibile also to non-specialists. The author, himself a leading cosmologist, draws attention to ongoing and future observations that might reveal relics of an era before the big bang. 220 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume is an introductory textbook to K-theory, both algebraic and topological, and to various current research topics withinthe field, including Kasparov's bivariant K-theory, the Baum-Connes conjecture, the comparison between algebraic and topological K-theory of topological algebras, the K-theory of schemes, and the theory of dg-categories. 308 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -It is now possible to gain competitive advantages based on consolidated R/3 system implementations. One of the most important optimisation aspects is a more consistent process integration in order to bring about fast, secure and cost effective business processes. This approach inevitably leads to Workflow Management and for SAP users to SAP® WebFlow®. This book introduces the topic of Workflow Management, gives an overview of the technical possibilities of SAP® WebFlow® and allows the reader to assess SAP workflow project risks and costs/benefits based on real life examples. Check lists and technical hints not only aid the reader in evaluating potential projects but also in the management of real life workflow project engineering. 272 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Data warehouses have captured the attention of practitioners and researchers alike. But the design and optimization of data warehouses remains an art rather than a science. This book presents the first comparative review of the state of the art and best current practice of data warehouses. It covers source and data integration, multidimensional aggregation, query optimization, update propagation, metadata management, quality assessment, and design optimization. Furthermore, it presents a conceptual framework by which the architecture and quality of data warehouse efforts can be assessed and improved using enriched metadata management combined with advanced techniques from databases, business modeling, and artificial intelligence. For researchers and database professionals in academia and industry, the book offers an excellent introduction to the issues of quality and metadata usage in the context of data warehouses. In the second edition, the significant advances of the state of the practice in the last three years are discussed and the conceptual framework is extended to a full methodology for data warehouse design, illustrated by several industrial case studies. 236 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume brings together leading quantum physicists to expound on the meaning and future directions of quantum mechanics. It offers new insights from different vantage points to tackle essential questions in quantum mechanics and its interpretation. All the authors have written for a broad readership, and the resulting volume will appeal to everyone wishing to keep abreast of new developments in quantum mechanics, as well as its history and philosophy. 260 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -In the light of upcoming global issues, concerning population, energy, the environment, and food, information and communication technologies are required to overcome difficulties in communication among cultures. In this context, the First International Conference on Culture and Computing, which was held in Kyoto, Japan, in February 2010, was conceived as a collection of symposia, panels, workshops, exhibitions, and guided tours intended to share issues, activities, and research results regarding culture and computing. This volume includes 17 invited and selected papers dealing with state-of-the-art topics in culturally situated agents, intercultural collaboration and support systems, culture and computing for art and heritage, as well as culture and computing within regional communities. 240 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The application to Biology of the methodologies developed in Physics is attracting an increasing interest from the scientific community. It has led to the emergence of a new interdisciplinary field, called Physical Biology, with the aim of reaching a better understanding of the biological mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels. Statistical Mechanics in particular plays an important role in the development of this new field.For this reason, the XXth session of the famous Sitges Conference on Statistical Physics was dedicated to 'Physical Biology: from Molecular Interactions to Cellular Behavior'. As is by now tradition, a number of lectures were subsequently selected, expanded and updated for publication as lecture notes, so as to provide both a state-of-the-art introduction and overview to a number of subjects of broader interest and to favor the interchange and cross-fertilization of ideas between biologists and physicists. The present volume focuses on three main subtopics (biological water, protein solutions as well as transport and replication), presenting for each of them the on-going debates on recent results. The role of water in biological processes, the mechanisms of protein folding, the phases and cooperative effects in biological solutions, the thermodynamic description of replication, transport and neural activity, all are subjects that are revised in this volume, based on new experiments and new theoretical interpretations. 244 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This volume contains the edited lectures of the fourth Mittelwihr school on 'Magnetismand Synchrotron Radiation'. This series of events introduces graduate students andnonspecialists from related disciplines to the field of magnetism and magnetic materialswith emphasis on synchrotron radiation as an experimental tool of investigation. These lecture notes present in particular the state of the art regarding the analysis of magnetic properties of new materials. 484 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Reinvigorated by advances and insights the quantum theory of irreversible processes has recently attracted growing attention. This volume introduces the very basic concepts of semigroup dynamics of open quantum systems and reviews a variety of modern applications. Originally published as Volume 286 (1987) in Lecture in Physics, this volume has been newly typeset, revised and corrected and also expanded to include a review on recent developments. 144 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -In the context of polymer crystallization there are several still open and often controversially debated questions. The present volume addresses issues such as novel general views and concepts. It presents new ideas in a connected and accessible way. The intention is thus not only to provide a summary of the present state-of-the-art to all active works but to provide an entry point to newcomer and graduate students entering the field. 528 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Since their first appearance in 1974, subdivision algorithms for generating surfaces of arbitrary topology have gained widespread popularity in computer graphics and are being evaluated in engineering applications. This development was complemented by ongoing efforts to develop appropriate mathematical tools for a thorough analysis, and today, many of the fascinating properties of subdivision are well understood. This book summarizes the current knowledge on the subject. It contains both meanwhile classical results as well as brand-new, unpublished material, such as a new framework for constructing C^2-algorithms. The focus of the book is on the development of a comprehensive mathematical theory, and less on algorithmic aspects. It is intended to serve researchers and engineers - both new to the beauty of the subject - as well as experts, academic teachers and graduate students or, in short, anybody who is interested in the foundations of this flourishing branch of applied geometry. 220 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book delivers a thorough derivation of nonrelativistic interaction models of electromagnetic field theories with thermoelastic solids and viscous fluids, the intention being to derive unique representations for the observable field quantities. This volume is intended for and will be useful to students and researchers working on all aspects of electromagneto-mechanical interactions in the materials sciences of complex solids and fluids. 428 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -The field of molecular electronics and organic photovoltaics is steadily growing. One of the major themes in molecular electronics is the construction, measurement, and understanding of the current-voltage response of an electronic circuit, in which molecules may act as conducting elements. The investigated molecular structures in this thesis have been shown to be suitable for distance-independent charge transport. More precisely, the systems investigated were of particular interest due to their ability to provide efficient electronic coupling between electroactive units, and display wire-like behavior in terms of transferring charges from donors to acceptors. Besides impacting on the field of molecular electronics, the results of this research also has applications in the design and development of light harvesting, photoconversion and catalytic modules. This work is a great asset to the field of charge transport through organic pi-conjugated molecules. 196 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Chaos theory plays an important role in modern physics and related sciences, but -, the most important results so far have been obtained in the study of gravitational systems applied to celestial mechanics. The present set of lectures introduces the mathematical methods used in the theory of singularities in gravitational systems, reviews modeling techniques for the simulation of close encounters and presents the state of the art about the study of diffusion of comets, wandering asteroids, meteors and planetary ring particles. The book will be of use to researchers and graduate students alike. 228 pp. Englisch.

Buch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -After an introduction to basic concepts of mechanics more advanced topics build the major part of this book. Interspersed is a discussion of selected problems of motion. This is followed by a concise treatment of the Lagrangian and the Hamiltonian formulation of mechanics, as well as a brief excursion on chaotic motion. The last chapter deals with applications of the Lagrangian formulation to specific systems (coupled oscillators, rotating coordinate systems, rigid bodies). The level of this textbook is advanced undergraduate. The authors combine teaching experience of more than 40 years in all fields of Theoretical Physics and related mathematical disciplines and thorough knowledge in creating advanced eLearning content.The text is accompanied by an extensive collection of online material, in which the possibilities of the electronic medium are fully exploited, e.g. in the form of applets, 2D- and 3D-animations.- A collection of 74 problems with detailed step-by-step guidance towards the solutions. - A collection of comments and additional mathematical details in support of the main text.- A complete presentation of all the mathematical tools needed. 402 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Nowadays experimental nuclear physics pushes itslimits towards highly unstable nuclei. Thetheoretical description of proton-rich and neutronrichnuclei or superheavy elements has become animportant part of the modern nuclear physics.The main tool to investigate such unstable nucleiconcerns radioactive decays, from proton emission tofission processes. We review the main theoreticalmethods describing decay processes induced by thestrong interaction, like Coupled channels method forGamow resonances, R-matrix theory, Distorted waveapproach, Semiclassical approach, Multi step and Twocenter shell model. Thus, most of the book isaddressed to a broad audience within the nuclearphysics community. Secondly, this book is an attemptto clarify some fundamental aspects connected withthe fine structure or anisotropy in alpha decay andternary cold fission. Finally, the self consistentmicroscopic theory of the alpha decay is analyzed. 306 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Arithmetic Geometry can be defined as the part of Algebraic Geometry connected with the study of algebraic varieties through arbitrary rings, in particular through non-algebraically closed fields. It lies at the intersection between classical algebraic geometry and number theory. A C.I.M.E. Summer School devoted to arithmetic geometry was held in Cetraro, Italy in September 2007, and presented some of the most interesting new developments in arithmetic geometry. This book collects the lecture notes which were written up by the speakers. The main topics concern diophantine equations, local-global principles, diophantine approximation and its relations to Nevanlinna theory, and rationally connected varieties. The book is divided into three parts, corresponding to the courses given by J-L Colliot-Thelene, Peter Swinnerton Dyer and Paul Vojta. 232 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -1. Objectives and Plan of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. Literature Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 3. Structure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Part I. Multilateral Debt Relief for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 A. The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 1. Concessional Assistance to Low-Income Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 2. The HIPC Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 2. 1. The Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative of 1996 . . . . . . . . 33 2. 2. The Cologne G-8 Summit of 1999 and HIPC II. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 2. 3. Eligibility and Implementation under the Enhanced HIPC Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 3. What kind of debt is addressed by HIPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 4. HIPC Funding and Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 4. 1. The PRGF-HIPC Trust of the IMF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 4. 2. The World Bank HIPC Trust Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 4. 3. The IDA Debt Reduction Facility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 4. 4. HIPC Financing through Multilateral Creditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 4. 5. Conclusion: Trust Fund Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 5. HIPC Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 B. Debt Relief under the G-8: The Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 1. MDRI as Operational Successor of HIPC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 2. Subsequent Changes in Lending Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 C. Case Study: The Contemporary History of Debt Relief in Ghana. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 1. Ghana's History with Economic Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 2. Ghana's Reform Process under HIPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 X Table of Content 2. 1. Implementation of the HIPC Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 2. 1. 1. Preliminary Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 2. 1. 2. Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 2. 1. 3. Decision Point Document . . . . . . . . . 376 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Highly esteemed authorTopics covered are relevantand timely 156 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Driven by rapidly changing business environments and increasingly demanding consumers, many organizations are searching for new ways to achieve and retain a competitive advantage via customer intimacy and CRM. This book presents a new strategic framework that has been tested successfully with various global companies. New management concepts such as Collaborative Forecasting and Replenishment, CRM, Category Management, and Mass Customization are integrated into one holistic approach. Experts from companies like McKinsey and Procter&Gamble, as well as authors from renowned academic institutions, offer valuable insights on how to redesign organizations for the future. 288 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -What does 'excellent manufacturing management' mean Management texts to date have emphasized that it is, above methods such as SPC or TQM, a matter of 'intangibles' and 'culture'. This book takes the myth out of management excellence; it can be learned and practiced. First, manage the three core processes, strategy deployment, product and process development, and the supply chain. And secondly, pay attention to the dimension of management quality, direction setting, integration and delegation, communication, participation, measurement, and employee development. This book explains management quality and demonstrates how it is implemented, with ten plant tours through world-class factories from different industries. 272 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -Improved understanding of the key role of financial aspects in the growth and development ofeconomic systems is an important aspect of economic analysis. This first textbook on development finance provides a comprehensive coverage of this new area of economics. The book integrates relevant theoretical approaches and their policy applications. A unique perspective combines transaction cost economics and neoclassical economics. The author also treats important policy issues of national and international relevance. 232 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -This book addresses the challenges facing information management (IM) and presents practical solution propositions. The first section describes six current trends and challenges to IM. The second section introduces a comprehensive model of integrated information management (IIM). The third section, using six practical examples, describes how selected concepts of IIM can be implemented. This book is built upon the fundamental premise of transferring successful management concepts from industrial production to IT management. 168 pp. Englisch.

Taschenbuch. Condizione: Neu. This item is printed on demand - it takes 3-4 days longer - Neuware -'Enabling Social Europe' examines how the paradigm of the 'enabling welfare state' might offer a new perspective for European social policy in the decades to come. The 'enabling' concept is perceived as going beyond that of mere 'activation', thus also embracing policies aimed at increasing personal autonomy, individual responsibility and social inclusion by endowing individuals with the resources and capabilities needed to manage and balance their life courses in a better way.The study is distinguished by a unique collaboration of social and economic policy experts coming from a wide range of disciplines: economics, law, sociology, political science, and philosophy. The authors seek to shed new light on whether European social policy ought to play a role in the future and, if so, what sort of role that could be. They convincingly argue that despite an implicit normative consensus on the 'European social model', there is still room for a multifaceted world in which welfare regimes can maintain their own path-dependent ways of achieving a fair and just society with a high level of welfare for all.The empirical part of the book contains an appraisal of policies and reforms with a view to the 'enabling welfare state' approach in four important policy areas: health care, old-age security, family policy, and poverty prevention. Within each sector, the authors compare the policies and practices of two countries attributable to different regime types: Germany and the United Kingdom, Poland and Germany, Finland and Estonia, and Belgium and Denmark.This book is highly recommendable not only for scholars and policymakers active in this field, but also for students of welfare and labour economics, sociology, social policy, political science and law. 412 pp. Englisch.