Marc Levinson Knihy

The author offers a brief history of globalization through the stories of the people and companies that built global supply chains. The two spheres - the private sector and government - did not go global in tandem, and many developments in one sphere were far more impactful in the other than imagined at the time. The book narrates the development of global supply chains in response to trends in both, telling stories ranging from a Prussian-born trader in New Jersey in the 1760s who dreamed of building a vertically-integrated metals empire, to new megaships too big to call on most of the world's ports leaving half empty, as globalization entered a new stage in its history around 2006. Bringing the story up to the early 2020s, the author illustrates how we're not experiencing the end of globalization, only its transformation. As one type of globalization is declining, a new one is on the rise. --

In April 1956, a refitted oil tanker transported fifty-eight shipping containers from Newark to Houston, marking the inception of container shipping, which would revolutionize global trade. This narrative chronicles the container's creation, the struggles prior to its widespread adoption, and the significant economic impact stemming from reduced transportation costs. Released on the fiftieth anniversary of the first container voyage, this comprehensive history highlights how visionary entrepreneur Malcom McLean transformed containerization from a mere concept into a thriving industry, drastically lowering the cost of global goods transportation. The transition to containerization required substantial investments from private sectors and ports eager to embrace new technology. It also involved complex negotiations with labor leaders Harry Bridges and Teddy Gleason and the establishment of standards for universal container compatibility across transportation modes. McLean's pivotal role in supporting U.S. forces during the Vietnam War ultimately showcased the container's potential. Drawing on overlooked sources, economist Marc Levinson illustrates how containerization reshaped economic geography, leading to the decline of traditional ports like New York and London while propelling the rise of lesser-known ports like Oakland. By making shipping affordable, the container enabled industries to relocate far from consumers, positionin

Extensively revised to reflect the dramatic shifts and consolidation of the financial markets, the seventh edition of this highly regarded book provides a clear and incisive guide to a complex world that even those who work in it often find hard to understand. With chapters on the markets that deal with money, foreign exchange, equities, bonds, commodities, financial futures, options and other derivatives, it looks at why these markets exist, how they work and who trades in them, and it gives a run-down of the factors that affect prices and rates. Business history is littered with disasters that occurred because people involved their firms with financial instruments they didn't properly understand. If they had had this book they might have avoided their mistakes. For anyone wishing to understand financial markets, there is no better guide.