Author: European Investment Bank
Publisher: European Investment Bank
ISBN: 9286156499
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Discover key insights from the Investment barriers report 2023, an authoritative assessment by the European Investment Bank Group on investment hurdles in the European Union. The report underscores the pivotal role of investment in the economy while meticulously detailing the constraints that impede investment at the national and EU level. This year's report takes a particular look at the role of commercial power purchase agreements in renewable energy projects, climate resilience investments in transport systems, antimicrobial resistance, the forestry sector, and cross-border infrastructure projects. It is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the investment landscape within the European Union.
Investment barriers in the European Union 2023
Author: European Investment Bank
Publisher: European Investment Bank
ISBN: 9286156499
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Discover key insights from the Investment barriers report 2023, an authoritative assessment by the European Investment Bank Group on investment hurdles in the European Union. The report underscores the pivotal role of investment in the economy while meticulously detailing the constraints that impede investment at the national and EU level. This year's report takes a particular look at the role of commercial power purchase agreements in renewable energy projects, climate resilience investments in transport systems, antimicrobial resistance, the forestry sector, and cross-border infrastructure projects. It is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the investment landscape within the European Union.
Publisher: European Investment Bank
ISBN: 9286156499
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
Discover key insights from the Investment barriers report 2023, an authoritative assessment by the European Investment Bank Group on investment hurdles in the European Union. The report underscores the pivotal role of investment in the economy while meticulously detailing the constraints that impede investment at the national and EU level. This year's report takes a particular look at the role of commercial power purchase agreements in renewable energy projects, climate resilience investments in transport systems, antimicrobial resistance, the forestry sector, and cross-border infrastructure projects. It is an essential read for anyone looking to understand the investment landscape within the European Union.
Falling Long-Term Growth Prospects
Author: M. Ayhan Kose
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464820015
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 703
Book Description
A structural growth slowdown is under way across the world: at current trends, the global rate of potential growth is expected to fall to a three-decade low over the remainder of the 2020s. Nearly all the forces that have powered growth and prosperity since the early 1990s have weakened. In addition, a series of shocks has affected the global economy over the past three years. A persistent and broad-based decline in long-term growth prospects imperils the ability of emerging market and developing economies to combat poverty, tackle climate change, and meet other key development objectives. The challenges presented by this potential inability call for an ambitious policy response at the national and global levels. This book presents the first detailed analysis of the growth slowdown and a rich menu of policy options to deliver better growth outcomes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This book presents a sobering analysis of the secular growth slowdown based on the most comprehensive database of potential growth estimates available to date. With nearly all the forces that have driven growth and prosperity in recent decades now weakened, the book argues that a prolonged period of weakness is under way, with serious implications for emerging market and developing economies. The authors call for bold policy actions at both the national and global levels to lift growth prospects. The book is essential reading for policy makers, economists, and anyone concerned about the future of the global economy. Beatrice Weder di Mauro Professor of International Economics, Geneva Graduate Institute, and President of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) Economic policy making is becoming increasingly complicated in the 2020s. In addition to tackling traditional trade-offs in aggregate demand management and improving efficiency on the supply side, policy makers need to address new priorities and challenges, from addressing climate change and its impacts to improving income distribution, all in the context of lower growth rates, waning productivity growth, and flattening of the globalization process that has brought unprecedented prosperity across the globe and lifted more than a billion people out of poverty. In Falling Long-Term Growth Prospects, the authors do a phenomenal job of assessing these trends at the global and regional levels, identifying and unpacking salient twenty-first-century policy challenges, and providing thoughtful and evidence-based policy prescriptions for leaders in advanced, emerging market, and developing economies. Importantly, the book underscores that these challenges tend to be global and, hence, global cooperation at all levels is necessary to achieve optimal results. Alas, we seem to be going in the opposite direction; this book offers a road map to put us back on the path to creating a more integrated, prosperous, and equitable global community. Michael G. Plummer Director, SAIS Europe and ENI Professor of International Economics, The Johns Hopkins University
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464820015
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 703
Book Description
A structural growth slowdown is under way across the world: at current trends, the global rate of potential growth is expected to fall to a three-decade low over the remainder of the 2020s. Nearly all the forces that have powered growth and prosperity since the early 1990s have weakened. In addition, a series of shocks has affected the global economy over the past three years. A persistent and broad-based decline in long-term growth prospects imperils the ability of emerging market and developing economies to combat poverty, tackle climate change, and meet other key development objectives. The challenges presented by this potential inability call for an ambitious policy response at the national and global levels. This book presents the first detailed analysis of the growth slowdown and a rich menu of policy options to deliver better growth outcomes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This book presents a sobering analysis of the secular growth slowdown based on the most comprehensive database of potential growth estimates available to date. With nearly all the forces that have driven growth and prosperity in recent decades now weakened, the book argues that a prolonged period of weakness is under way, with serious implications for emerging market and developing economies. The authors call for bold policy actions at both the national and global levels to lift growth prospects. The book is essential reading for policy makers, economists, and anyone concerned about the future of the global economy. Beatrice Weder di Mauro Professor of International Economics, Geneva Graduate Institute, and President of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) Economic policy making is becoming increasingly complicated in the 2020s. In addition to tackling traditional trade-offs in aggregate demand management and improving efficiency on the supply side, policy makers need to address new priorities and challenges, from addressing climate change and its impacts to improving income distribution, all in the context of lower growth rates, waning productivity growth, and flattening of the globalization process that has brought unprecedented prosperity across the globe and lifted more than a billion people out of poverty. In Falling Long-Term Growth Prospects, the authors do a phenomenal job of assessing these trends at the global and regional levels, identifying and unpacking salient twenty-first-century policy challenges, and providing thoughtful and evidence-based policy prescriptions for leaders in advanced, emerging market, and developing economies. Importantly, the book underscores that these challenges tend to be global and, hence, global cooperation at all levels is necessary to achieve optimal results. Alas, we seem to be going in the opposite direction; this book offers a road map to put us back on the path to creating a more integrated, prosperous, and equitable global community. Michael G. Plummer Director, SAIS Europe and ENI Professor of International Economics, The Johns Hopkins University
European Union Law in Context
Author: Ester Herlin-Karnell
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1509901418
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 283
Book Description
This textbook provides an explanatory and contextual view of EU law and its impact in a simple and easily accessible yet analytical manner. It illustrates the power struggles behind a given EU law act, to allow for full understanding of how it developed. This allows the student to understand EU law as a force in the increasingly globalized world, rather than as technical and doctrinal subject. The textbook begins by setting the scene of EU integration, how we got there and why it is important. Thereafter it explores the constitutional framework for understanding EU law in context and by discussing inter alia, division of competences, accountability, legitimacy, enforcement, human rights, participation rights and so on as well as the general principles of the EU and citizenship rights. Subsequently the textbook explores the essentials of the internal market as well as the principles of competition law. It also discusses free movement rights and links to the growing “Area of Freedom, Security and Justice”. Finally the textbook offers fresh insights on the external dimension of EU law and the role of the EU in the world today before concluding with an outlook on the future of EU law including the consequences of events such as Brexit.
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1509901418
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 283
Book Description
This textbook provides an explanatory and contextual view of EU law and its impact in a simple and easily accessible yet analytical manner. It illustrates the power struggles behind a given EU law act, to allow for full understanding of how it developed. This allows the student to understand EU law as a force in the increasingly globalized world, rather than as technical and doctrinal subject. The textbook begins by setting the scene of EU integration, how we got there and why it is important. Thereafter it explores the constitutional framework for understanding EU law in context and by discussing inter alia, division of competences, accountability, legitimacy, enforcement, human rights, participation rights and so on as well as the general principles of the EU and citizenship rights. Subsequently the textbook explores the essentials of the internal market as well as the principles of competition law. It also discusses free movement rights and links to the growing “Area of Freedom, Security and Justice”. Finally the textbook offers fresh insights on the external dimension of EU law and the role of the EU in the world today before concluding with an outlook on the future of EU law including the consequences of events such as Brexit.
The Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive
Author: Dirk A. Zetzsche
Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.
ISBN: 9041149953
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 907
Book Description
Apart from MiFID, the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) may be the most important European asset management regulation of the early twenty-first century. In this in-depth analytical and critical discussion of the content and system of the directive, thirty-eight contributing authors – academics, lawyers, consultants, fund supervisors, and fund industry experts – examine the AIFMD from every angle. They cover structure, regulatory history, scope, appointment and authorization of the manager, the requirements for depositaries and prime brokers, rules on delegation, reporting requirements, transitional provisions, and the objectives stipulated in the recitals and other official documents. The challenging implications and contexts they examine include the following: – connection with systemic risk and the financial crisis; - nexus with insurance for negligent conduct; - connection with corporate governance doctrine; - risk management; - transparency; - the cross-border dimension; - liability for lost assets; - impact on alternative investment strategies, and - the nexus with the European Regulation on Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIFR). Nine country reports, representing most of Europe’s financial centres and fund markets add a national perspective to the discussion of the European regulation. These chapters deal with the potential interactions among the AIFMD and the relevant laws and regulations of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, The Netherlands, Malta and the United Kingdom. The second edition of the book continues to deliver not only the much-needed discussion of the inconsistencies and difficulties when applying the directive, but also provides guidance and potential solutions to the problems it raises. The second edition considers all new developments in the field of alternative investment funds, their managers, depositaries, and prime brokers, including, but not limited to, statements by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and national competent authorities on the interpretation of the AIFMD, as well as new European regulation, in particular the PRIIPS Regulation, the ELTIF Regulation, the Regulation on European Venture Capital Funds (EuVeCaR), the Regulation on European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (EUSEFR), MiFID II, and UCITS V. The book will be warmly welcomed by investors and their counsel, fund managers, depositaries, asset managers, administrators, as well as regulators and academics in the field.
Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.
ISBN: 9041149953
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 907
Book Description
Apart from MiFID, the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) may be the most important European asset management regulation of the early twenty-first century. In this in-depth analytical and critical discussion of the content and system of the directive, thirty-eight contributing authors – academics, lawyers, consultants, fund supervisors, and fund industry experts – examine the AIFMD from every angle. They cover structure, regulatory history, scope, appointment and authorization of the manager, the requirements for depositaries and prime brokers, rules on delegation, reporting requirements, transitional provisions, and the objectives stipulated in the recitals and other official documents. The challenging implications and contexts they examine include the following: – connection with systemic risk and the financial crisis; - nexus with insurance for negligent conduct; - connection with corporate governance doctrine; - risk management; - transparency; - the cross-border dimension; - liability for lost assets; - impact on alternative investment strategies, and - the nexus with the European Regulation on Long-Term Investment Funds (ELTIFR). Nine country reports, representing most of Europe’s financial centres and fund markets add a national perspective to the discussion of the European regulation. These chapters deal with the potential interactions among the AIFMD and the relevant laws and regulations of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, The Netherlands, Malta and the United Kingdom. The second edition of the book continues to deliver not only the much-needed discussion of the inconsistencies and difficulties when applying the directive, but also provides guidance and potential solutions to the problems it raises. The second edition considers all new developments in the field of alternative investment funds, their managers, depositaries, and prime brokers, including, but not limited to, statements by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and national competent authorities on the interpretation of the AIFMD, as well as new European regulation, in particular the PRIIPS Regulation, the ELTIF Regulation, the Regulation on European Venture Capital Funds (EuVeCaR), the Regulation on European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (EUSEFR), MiFID II, and UCITS V. The book will be warmly welcomed by investors and their counsel, fund managers, depositaries, asset managers, administrators, as well as regulators and academics in the field.
Impact of U.S. Tax Rules on International Competitiveness
Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Ways and Means
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 224
Book Description
Digest of United States Practice in International Law 2008
Author: Elizabeth Wilcox
Publisher:
ISBN: 0199738556
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 1165
Book Description
Co-published by Oxford University Press and the International Law Institute, and prepared by the Office of the Legal Adviser at the Department of State, the Digest of United States Practice in International Law presents an annual compilation of documents and commentary highlighting significant developments in public and private international law, and is an invaluable resource for practitioners and scholars in the field. Each year's volume compiles excerpts from documents such as treaties, diplomatic notes and correspondence, legal opinion letters, judicial decisions, Senate committee reports and press releases. Each document is selected by members of the Legal Adviser's Office of the U.S. Department of State, based on their judgments about the significance of the issues, their potential relevance to future situations, and their likely interest to scholars and practitioners. In almost every case, the commentary to each excerpt is accompanied by a citation to the full text. Featured in the 2008 Digest are excerpts from and discussion of numerous documents relating to issues of current interest, including the following: * Department of Justice position on trial and conviction within the U.S. of the son of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, for torture (Chapter 3, "International Criminal Law"). * The U.S.-Libya Claims Settlement Agreement, including the Libyan Claims Resolution Act (enacted August 4, 2008) (Chapter 8, "International Claims and State Responsibility"). * Recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign state and establishment of diplomatic relations with Kosovo (Chapter 9, "Diplomatic Relations, Succession, and Continuity of States"). * Decisions in arbitration regarding the softwood lumber dispute with Canada (Chapter 11, "Trade, Commercial Relations, Investment, and Transportation"). * Statements and speeches of U.S. officials on climate change made at international climate change conferences (Chapter 13, "Environment and Other Transnational Scientific Issues"). * Executive Orders imposing sanctions on Burma, Syria, and Zimbabwe (Chapter 16, "Sanctions"). * U.S. positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as peace efforts in Lebanon, Somalia, and Sudan (Chapter 17, "International Conflict Resolution and Avoidance"). * U.S. statements on the Russia-Georgia conflict and other instances of international armed conflict (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * U.S. positions on discussions of a possible Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons relating to cluster munitions, and U.S. opposition to a separate Convention on Cluster Munitions (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * U.S. federal court decisions on current and former Guantanamo detainees (Boumediene v. Bush, Parhat v. Gates, Gates v. Bismullah, Rasul v. Myers, and In re Guantanamo Bay Detainee Litigation (pertaining to enemy combatant status of Uighur detainees)), military commissions (United States v. Hamdan), detainees held in the United States (Al-Marri v. Pucciarelli), and detainees held by the Multinational Force in Iraq (Munaf v. Geren) (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * UN Security Council Resolution and U.S. position on piracy in Somalia (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * U.S. positions on nuclear nonproliferation-related issues, including issues relating to North Korea, Iran, Syria, Russia, and India (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation").
Publisher:
ISBN: 0199738556
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 1165
Book Description
Co-published by Oxford University Press and the International Law Institute, and prepared by the Office of the Legal Adviser at the Department of State, the Digest of United States Practice in International Law presents an annual compilation of documents and commentary highlighting significant developments in public and private international law, and is an invaluable resource for practitioners and scholars in the field. Each year's volume compiles excerpts from documents such as treaties, diplomatic notes and correspondence, legal opinion letters, judicial decisions, Senate committee reports and press releases. Each document is selected by members of the Legal Adviser's Office of the U.S. Department of State, based on their judgments about the significance of the issues, their potential relevance to future situations, and their likely interest to scholars and practitioners. In almost every case, the commentary to each excerpt is accompanied by a citation to the full text. Featured in the 2008 Digest are excerpts from and discussion of numerous documents relating to issues of current interest, including the following: * Department of Justice position on trial and conviction within the U.S. of the son of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, for torture (Chapter 3, "International Criminal Law"). * The U.S.-Libya Claims Settlement Agreement, including the Libyan Claims Resolution Act (enacted August 4, 2008) (Chapter 8, "International Claims and State Responsibility"). * Recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign state and establishment of diplomatic relations with Kosovo (Chapter 9, "Diplomatic Relations, Succession, and Continuity of States"). * Decisions in arbitration regarding the softwood lumber dispute with Canada (Chapter 11, "Trade, Commercial Relations, Investment, and Transportation"). * Statements and speeches of U.S. officials on climate change made at international climate change conferences (Chapter 13, "Environment and Other Transnational Scientific Issues"). * Executive Orders imposing sanctions on Burma, Syria, and Zimbabwe (Chapter 16, "Sanctions"). * U.S. positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as peace efforts in Lebanon, Somalia, and Sudan (Chapter 17, "International Conflict Resolution and Avoidance"). * U.S. statements on the Russia-Georgia conflict and other instances of international armed conflict (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * U.S. positions on discussions of a possible Protocol to the Convention on Conventional Weapons relating to cluster munitions, and U.S. opposition to a separate Convention on Cluster Munitions (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * U.S. federal court decisions on current and former Guantanamo detainees (Boumediene v. Bush, Parhat v. Gates, Gates v. Bismullah, Rasul v. Myers, and In re Guantanamo Bay Detainee Litigation (pertaining to enemy combatant status of Uighur detainees)), military commissions (United States v. Hamdan), detainees held in the United States (Al-Marri v. Pucciarelli), and detainees held by the Multinational Force in Iraq (Munaf v. Geren) (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * UN Security Council Resolution and U.S. position on piracy in Somalia (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation"). * U.S. positions on nuclear nonproliferation-related issues, including issues relating to North Korea, Iran, Syria, Russia, and India (Chapter 18, "Use of Force, Arms Control and Disarmament, and Nonproliferation").
The International Business Environment
Author: Warnock Davies
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1040082114
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
Managers and executives who work in international trade and foreign direct investment are acutely aware of the importance of the governmental, intergovernmental, and systemic factors that regulate, facilitate, and/or complicate the conduct of international business (IB). But most managers and executives have limited or no expertise in these factors
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1040082114
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
Managers and executives who work in international trade and foreign direct investment are acutely aware of the importance of the governmental, intergovernmental, and systemic factors that regulate, facilitate, and/or complicate the conduct of international business (IB). But most managers and executives have limited or no expertise in these factors
Corporate Income Taxes under Pressure
Author: Ruud A. de Mooij
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513511777
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
The book describes the difficulties of the current international corporate income tax system. It starts by describing its origins and how changes, such as the development of multinational enterprises and digitalization have created fundamental problems, not foreseen at its inception. These include tax competition—as governments try to attract tax bases through low tax rates or incentives, and profit shifting, as companies avoid tax by reporting profits in jurisdictions with lower tax rates. The book then discusses solutions, including both evolutionary changes to the current system and fundamental reform options. It covers both reform efforts already under way, for example under the Inclusive Framework at the OECD, and potential radical reform ideas developed by academics.
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513511777
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
The book describes the difficulties of the current international corporate income tax system. It starts by describing its origins and how changes, such as the development of multinational enterprises and digitalization have created fundamental problems, not foreseen at its inception. These include tax competition—as governments try to attract tax bases through low tax rates or incentives, and profit shifting, as companies avoid tax by reporting profits in jurisdictions with lower tax rates. The book then discusses solutions, including both evolutionary changes to the current system and fundamental reform options. It covers both reform efforts already under way, for example under the Inclusive Framework at the OECD, and potential radical reform ideas developed by academics.
The Three Laws of International Investment
Author: Jeswald W. Salacuse
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191665290
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 467
Book Description
International investments are governed by three different legal frameworks: 1) national laws of both the host country and the investor's home country; 2) contracts, whether between the investor and the host country or among investors and their associates; and 3) international law, consisting of applicable treaties, customs, and general principles of law. Together, these three frameworks profoundly influence the organization, operation, and protection of foreign investments. Investors, government officials, and their legal counsel must therefore understand the complex interaction among these frameworks and how best to employ them to advance their interests. This book examines the content of each of these three legal frameworks for international investment and explores how they influence the foreign investment process and the nature of investment transactions, projects, and enterprises. The book is divided into five parts. Part I, after explaining the contemporary nature and significance of international investment, examines the theoretical and practical links between law and the investment process. Part II explores the nature of national laws regulating foreign investment. Part III considers of the various contractual frameworks for international investments, looking at their negotiation, content, and stability. Part IV sets out the international legal framework governing foreign investment, focusing on the content and nature of investment treaties and on general principles. Finally, Part V discusses how the three legal frameworks interact with each other. By comprehensively examining each of the applicable legal frameworks, this book provides a vital overview of the laws, rules, and regulations governing foreign investment for lawyers, scholars, students, and government officials.
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191665290
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 467
Book Description
International investments are governed by three different legal frameworks: 1) national laws of both the host country and the investor's home country; 2) contracts, whether between the investor and the host country or among investors and their associates; and 3) international law, consisting of applicable treaties, customs, and general principles of law. Together, these three frameworks profoundly influence the organization, operation, and protection of foreign investments. Investors, government officials, and their legal counsel must therefore understand the complex interaction among these frameworks and how best to employ them to advance their interests. This book examines the content of each of these three legal frameworks for international investment and explores how they influence the foreign investment process and the nature of investment transactions, projects, and enterprises. The book is divided into five parts. Part I, after explaining the contemporary nature and significance of international investment, examines the theoretical and practical links between law and the investment process. Part II explores the nature of national laws regulating foreign investment. Part III considers of the various contractual frameworks for international investments, looking at their negotiation, content, and stability. Part IV sets out the international legal framework governing foreign investment, focusing on the content and nature of investment treaties and on general principles. Finally, Part V discusses how the three legal frameworks interact with each other. By comprehensively examining each of the applicable legal frameworks, this book provides a vital overview of the laws, rules, and regulations governing foreign investment for lawyers, scholars, students, and government officials.
China's Future
Author: Cato Institute
Publisher: Cato Institute
ISBN: 9781882577873
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 402
Book Description
"This book is the outgrowth of a September 1999 Cato Institute conference 'Whither China? The PRC at 50'"--p. ix. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Publisher: Cato Institute
ISBN: 9781882577873
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 402
Book Description
"This book is the outgrowth of a September 1999 Cato Institute conference 'Whither China? The PRC at 50'"--p. ix. Includes bibliographical references and index.