In coming to terms with the still smoldering financial crisis, little attention has been paid to the flaws within our monetary system and how these flaws lie at the root of the crisis.This book provides an introduction and critical assessment of the current monetary system. It begins with an up to date account of the workings of today’s system of state-backed ‘bankmoney’, illustrating the various forms and issuers of money, and discussing money theory and fallacy past and present. It also looks at related economic challenges such as inflation and deflation, asset inflation and bubble building that lead to market instability and examines the ineffectual monetary policies and primary credit markets that are failing to reach some sort of self-limiting equilibrium.In order to fix our financial system, we first need to understand its limitations and the flaws in current monetary and regulatory policy and then correct them. The concluding part ofthis book is dedicated to the latter, advocating a move towards the sovereign monetary prerogatives of issuing the entire stock of official money and benefitting from the gain thereof (seigniorage). The author argues that these functions should be made the sole responsibility of independent and impartial central banks with full control over the stock of money (not the uses of money) on the basis of a legal mandate that would be more detailed than is the case today. This includes a thorough separation of monetary and fiscal powers, and of both from banking and wider financing functions.This book provides a welcome addition to the banking literature, guiding readers through the inner workings of our monetary and regulatory environments and proposing a new way forward that will better protect our economy from financial instability and crisis.

In this insightful book, Joseph Huber investigates the life cycle analysis of technological and environmental innovations (TEIs). TEIs are new technologies, products and practices which have benign environmental effects and which can increase eco-efficiency. More importantly, they can also improve 'metabolic consistency', thus laying the foundations for a sustainable industrial ecology. The author studies a large number of TEIs from a variety of diverse fields including energy, agriculture, chemistry, biotechnology, materials re/processing, construction, vehicles and consumer goods. He finds that TEIs can offer real and sustainable solutions to almost all of today's environmental problems. However, for this to happen the author calls for a paradigm shift from 'downstream' to 'upstream' in the manufacturing chain and technologies' life cycles, and a corresponding shift in environmental policy from command-and-control regulation to coordinated innovation.By combining the sustainability approaches of 'sufficiency' and 'eco-efficiency' with the concept of 'metabolic consistency', this book opens up new horizons for ecological modernisation. It will prove valuable reading for academics and students of the social and technical sciences with an interest in environmental technology. Researchers and practitioners of industrial innovation will also gain useful insights, as will policymakers and environmental analysts in government, businesses and NGOs.

The monetary system is at a turning point. The question is no longer if, but how soon countries will roll out a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This book discusses the recomposition of the money supply from the present bank money regime to a monetary system determined by CBDC. As the book sets out, the future of money is going to be digital and sovereign. Nonetheless, the relationship between the various types of money is competitive rather than being the peaceful coexistence that was officially envisaged. CBDC competes with the incumbent bank money as well as with private cryptocurrencies that are challenging both central-bank money as well as bank money. For technological and political reasons, bank money will not be able to emulate the superior properties of sovereign digital tokens. Uncovered and unwarranted cryptocurrencies, too, will not stand the competition in the long run. The shifts in the monetary system are changing the role of central banks in the interplay ofmonetary, fiscal and private-creditary functions and open up improved options for monetary policy. The book will be of interest to academics, researchers, and policymakers in monetary and financial economics, and digital currencies.

The monetary system is at a turning point. The question is no longer if, but how soon countries will roll out a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This book discusses the recomposition of the money supply from the present bank money regime to a monetary system determined by CBDC. As the book sets out, the future of money is going to be digital and sovereign. Nonetheless, the relationship between the various types of money is competitive rather than being the peaceful coexistence that was officially envisaged. CBDC competes with the incumbent bank money as well as with private cryptocurrencies that are challenging both central-bank money as well as bank money. For technological and political reasons, bank money will not be able to emulate the superior properties of sovereign digital tokens. Uncovered and unwarranted cryptocurrencies, too, will not stand the competition in the long run. The shifts in the monetary system are changing the role of central banks in the interplay ofmonetary, fiscal and private-creditary functions and open up improved options for monetary policy. The book will be of interest to academics, researchers, and policymakers in monetary and financial economics, and digital currencies.

The monetary system is at a turning point. The question is no longer if, but how soon countries will roll out a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This book discusses the recomposition of the money supply from the present bank money regime to a monetary system determined by CBDC. As the book sets out, the future of money is going to be digital and sovereign. Nonetheless, the relationship between the various types of money is competitive rather than being the peaceful coexistence that was officially envisaged. CBDC competes with the incumbent bank money as well as with private cryptocurrencies that are challenging both central-bank money as well as bank money. For technological and political reasons, bank money will not be able to emulate the superior properties of sovereign digital tokens. Uncovered and unwarranted cryptocurrencies, too, will not stand the competition in the long run. The shifts in the monetary system are changing the role of central banks in the interplay ofmonetary, fiscal and private-creditary functions and open up improved options for monetary policy. The book will be of interest to academics, researchers, and policymakers in monetary and financial economics, and digital currencies.

In coming to terms with the still smoldering financial crisis, little attention has been paid to the flaws within our monetary system and how these flaws lie at the root of the crisis.This book provides an introduction and critical assessment of the current monetary system. It begins with an up to date account of the workings of today’s system of state-backed ‘bankmoney’, illustrating the various forms and issuers of money, and discussing money theory and fallacy past and present. It also looks at related economic challenges such as inflation and deflation, asset inflation and bubble building that lead to market instability and examines the ineffectual monetary policies and primary credit markets that are failing to reach some sort of self-limiting equilibrium.In order to fix our financial system, we first need to understand its limitations and the flaws in current monetary and regulatory policy and then correct them. The concluding part ofthis book is dedicated to the latter, advocating a move towards the sovereign monetary prerogatives of issuing the entire stock of official money and benefitting from the gain thereof (seigniorage). The author argues that these functions should be made the sole responsibility of independent and impartial central banks with full control over the stock of money (not the uses of money) on the basis of a legal mandate that would be more detailed than is the case today. This includes a thorough separation of monetary and fiscal powers, and of both from banking and wider financing functions.This book provides a welcome addition to the banking literature, guiding readers through the inner workings of our monetary and regulatory environments and proposing a new way forward that will better protect our economy from financial instability and crisis.

Das Werk gibt eine umfassende Einführung in die sozialwissenschaftliche Umweltforschung. Es erörtert grundlegende Kategorien und Modelle umweltsoziologischer Analyse und wendet diese auf einschlägige Themenbereiche an wie Umweltbewusstsein, Umweltdiskurse, Leitbilder und Strategien (Wachstumsdebatte, Risikodiskurs, nachhaltige Entwicklung, ökologische Modernisierung, Umweltinnovationen), Konsum und umweltorientiertes Verbraucherverhalten, ökologische Unternehmensführung und Umweltmanagement, Umweltpolitik und globale Umweltgovernance.

Das Werk gibt eine umfassende Einführung in die sozialwissenschaftliche Umweltforschung. Es erörtert grundlegende Kategorien und Modelle umweltsoziologischer Analyse und wendet diese auf einschlägige Themenbereiche an wie Umweltbewusstsein, Umweltdiskurse, Leitbilder und Strategien (Wachstumsdebatte, Risikodiskurs, nachhaltige Entwicklung, ökologische Modernisierung, Umweltinnovationen), Konsum und umweltorientiertes Verbraucherverhalten, ökologische Unternehmensführung und Umweltmanagement, Umweltpolitik und globale Umweltgovernance.

Joseph Huber analysiert die Euro-Problematik unter geld- und finanzwirtschaftlichen ebenso wie politisch-institutionellen und kulturellen Aspekten. Er geht dabei dem Paradoxon auf den Grund, dass der Euro Katalysator für Stabilitätspolitik und eine 'immer engere Union' unter den Mitgliedstaaten hätte werden sollen, stattdessen aber von schlechten alten Gewohnheiten gekapert wurde und die südlichen und nördlichen Euroländer in einer neonationalistischen Konfrontation entzweit hat. Die Währungsunion steht heute am Scheideweg zwischen einem Niedergang in einer fortgesetzten Schulden- und Haftungsunion oder einem Neustart des Euro, der die Nichtbeistandsregel (No Bailout) wieder in ihr Recht setzt, die nationale Verantwortung für nationale Schulden durchsetzt und das Eurosystem in wichtigen Punkten reformiert.

Joseph Huber analysiert die Euro-Problematik unter geld- und finanzwirtschaftlichen ebenso wie politisch-institutionellen und kulturellen Aspekten. Er geht dabei dem Paradoxon auf den Grund, dass der Euro Katalysator für Stabilitätspolitik und eine ''immer engere Union'' unter den Mitgliedstaaten hätte werden sollen, stattdessen aber von schlechten alten Gewohnheiten gekapert wurde und die südlichen und nördlichen Euroländer in einer neonationalistischen Konfrontation entzweit hat. Die Währungsunion steht heute am Scheideweg zwischen einem Niedergang in einer fortgesetzten Schulden- und Haftungsunion oder einem Neustart des Euro, der die Nichtbeistandsregel (No Bailout) wieder in ihr Recht setzt, die nationale Verantwortung für nationale Schulden durchsetzt und das Eurosystem in wichtigen Punkten reformiert.

In coming to terms with the still smoldering financial crisis, little attention has been paid to the flaws within our monetary system and how these flaws lie at the root of the crisis.This book provides an introduction and critical assessment of the current monetary system. It begins with an up to date account of the workings of today’s system of state-backed ‘bankmoney’, illustrating the various forms and issuers of money, and discussing money theory and fallacy past and present. It also looks at related economic challenges such as inflation and deflation, asset inflation and bubble building that lead to market instability and examines the ineffectual monetary policies and primary credit markets that are failing to reach some sort of self-limiting equilibrium.In order to fix our financial system, we first need to understand its limitations and the flaws in current monetary and regulatory policy and then correct them. The concluding part ofthis book is dedicated to the latter, advocating a move towards the sovereign monetary prerogatives of issuing the entire stock of official money and benefitting from the gain thereof (seigniorage). The author argues that these functions should be made the sole responsibility of independent and impartial central banks with full control over the stock of money (not the uses of money) on the basis of a legal mandate that would be more detailed than is the case today. This includes a thorough separation of monetary and fiscal powers, and of both from banking and wider financing functions.This book provides a welcome addition to the banking literature, guiding readers through the inner workings of our monetary and regulatory environments and proposing a new way forward that will better protect our economy from financial instability and crisis.

In this insightful book, Joseph Huber investigates the life cycle analysis of technological and environmental innovations (TEIs). TEIs are new technologies, products and practices which have benign environmental effects and which can increase eco-efficiency. More importantly, they can also improve 'metabolic consistency', thus laying the foundations for a sustainable industrial ecology. The author studies a large number of TEIs from a variety of diverse fields including energy, agriculture, chemistry, biotechnology, materials re/processing, construction, vehicles and consumer goods. He finds that TEIs can offer real and sustainable solutions to almost all of today's environmental problems. However, for this to happen the author calls for a paradigm shift from 'downstream' to 'upstream' in the manufacturing chain and technologies' life cycles, and a corresponding shift in environmental policy from command-and-control regulation to coordinated innovation.By combining the sustainability approaches of 'sufficiency' and 'eco-efficiency' with the concept of 'metabolic consistency', this book opens up new horizons for ecological modernisation. It will prove valuable reading for academics and students of the social and technical sciences with an interest in environmental technology. Researchers and practitioners of industrial innovation will also gain useful insights, as will policymakers and environmental analysts in government, businesses and NGOs.

The monetary system is at a turning point. The question is no longer if, but how soon countries will roll out a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This book discusses the recomposition of the money supply from the present bank money regime to a monetary system determined by CBDC. As the book sets out, the future of money is going to be digital and sovereign. Nonetheless, the relationship between the various types of money is competitive rather than being the peaceful coexistence that was officially envisaged. CBDC competes with the incumbent bank money as well as with private cryptocurrencies that are challenging both central-bank money as well as bank money. For technological and political reasons, bank money will not be able to emulate the superior properties of sovereign digital tokens. Uncovered and unwarranted cryptocurrencies, too, will not stand the competition in the long run. The shifts in the monetary system are changing the role of central banks in the interplay ofmonetary, fiscal and private-creditary functions and open up improved options for monetary policy. The book will be of interest to academics, researchers, and policymakers in monetary and financial economics, and digital currencies.

The monetary system is at a turning point. The question is no longer if, but how soon countries will roll out a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This book discusses the recomposition of the money supply from the present bank money regime to a monetary system determined by CBDC. As the book sets out, the future of money is going to be digital and sovereign. Nonetheless, the relationship between the various types of money is competitive rather than being the peaceful coexistence that was officially envisaged. CBDC competes with the incumbent bank money as well as with private cryptocurrencies that are challenging both central-bank money as well as bank money. For technological and political reasons, bank money will not be able to emulate the superior properties of sovereign digital tokens. Uncovered and unwarranted cryptocurrencies, too, will not stand the competition in the long run. The shifts in the monetary system are changing the role of central banks in the interplay ofmonetary, fiscal and private-creditary functions and open up improved options for monetary policy. The book will be of interest to academics, researchers, and policymakers in monetary and financial economics, and digital currencies.

The monetary system is at a turning point. The question is no longer if, but how soon countries will roll out a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This book discusses the recomposition of the money supply from the present bank money regime to a monetary system determined by CBDC. As the book sets out, the future of money is going to be digital and sovereign. Nonetheless, the relationship between the various types of money is competitive rather than being the peaceful coexistence that was officially envisaged. CBDC competes with the incumbent bank money as well as with private cryptocurrencies that are challenging both central-bank money as well as bank money. For technological and political reasons, bank money will not be able to emulate the superior properties of sovereign digital tokens. Uncovered and unwarranted cryptocurrencies, too, will not stand the competition in the long run. The shifts in the monetary system are changing the role of central banks in the interplay ofmonetary, fiscal and private-creditary functions and open up improved options for monetary policy. The book will be of interest to academics, researchers, and policymakers in monetary and financial economics, and digital currencies.

In coming to terms with the still smoldering financial crisis, little attention has been paid to the flaws within our monetary system and how these flaws lie at the root of the crisis.This book provides an introduction and critical assessment of the current monetary system. It begins with an up to date account of the workings of today’s system of state-backed ‘bankmoney’, illustrating the various forms and issuers of money, and discussing money theory and fallacy past and present. It also looks at related economic challenges such as inflation and deflation, asset inflation and bubble building that lead to market instability and examines the ineffectual monetary policies and primary credit markets that are failing to reach some sort of self-limiting equilibrium.In order to fix our financial system, we first need to understand its limitations and the flaws in current monetary and regulatory policy and then correct them. The concluding part ofthis book is dedicated to the latter, advocating a move towards the sovereign monetary prerogatives of issuing the entire stock of official money and benefitting from the gain thereof (seigniorage). The author argues that these functions should be made the sole responsibility of independent and impartial central banks with full control over the stock of money (not the uses of money) on the basis of a legal mandate that would be more detailed than is the case today. This includes a thorough separation of monetary and fiscal powers, and of both from banking and wider financing functions.This book provides a welcome addition to the banking literature, guiding readers through the inner workings of our monetary and regulatory environments and proposing a new way forward that will better protect our economy from financial instability and crisis.

Das Werk gibt eine umfassende Einführung in die sozialwissenschaftliche Umweltforschung. Es erörtert grundlegende Kategorien und Modelle umweltsoziologischer Analyse und wendet diese auf einschlägige Themenbereiche an wie Umweltbewusstsein, Umweltdiskurse, Leitbilder und Strategien (Wachstumsdebatte, Risikodiskurs, nachhaltige Entwicklung, ökologische Modernisierung, Umweltinnovationen), Konsum und umweltorientiertes Verbraucherverhalten, ökologische Unternehmensführung und Umweltmanagement, Umweltpolitik und globale Umweltgovernance.

Das Werk gibt eine umfassende Einführung in die sozialwissenschaftliche Umweltforschung. Es erörtert grundlegende Kategorien und Modelle umweltsoziologischer Analyse und wendet diese auf einschlägige Themenbereiche an wie Umweltbewusstsein, Umweltdiskurse, Leitbilder und Strategien (Wachstumsdebatte, Risikodiskurs, nachhaltige Entwicklung, ökologische Modernisierung, Umweltinnovationen), Konsum und umweltorientiertes Verbraucherverhalten, ökologische Unternehmensführung und Umweltmanagement, Umweltpolitik und globale Umweltgovernance.

Joseph Huber analysiert die Euro-Problematik unter geld- und finanzwirtschaftlichen ebenso wie politisch-institutionellen und kulturellen Aspekten. Er geht dabei dem Paradoxon auf den Grund, dass der Euro Katalysator für Stabilitätspolitik und eine 'immer engere Union' unter den Mitgliedstaaten hätte werden sollen, stattdessen aber von schlechten alten Gewohnheiten gekapert wurde und die südlichen und nördlichen Euroländer in einer neonationalistischen Konfrontation entzweit hat. Die Währungsunion steht heute am Scheideweg zwischen einem Niedergang in einer fortgesetzten Schulden- und Haftungsunion oder einem Neustart des Euro, der die Nichtbeistandsregel (No Bailout) wieder in ihr Recht setzt, die nationale Verantwortung für nationale Schulden durchsetzt und das Eurosystem in wichtigen Punkten reformiert.

Joseph Huber analysiert die Euro-Problematik unter geld- und finanzwirtschaftlichen ebenso wie politisch-institutionellen und kulturellen Aspekten. Er geht dabei dem Paradoxon auf den Grund, dass der Euro Katalysator für Stabilitätspolitik und eine ''immer engere Union'' unter den Mitgliedstaaten hätte werden sollen, stattdessen aber von schlechten alten Gewohnheiten gekapert wurde und die südlichen und nördlichen Euroländer in einer neonationalistischen Konfrontation entzweit hat. Die Währungsunion steht heute am Scheideweg zwischen einem Niedergang in einer fortgesetzten Schulden- und Haftungsunion oder einem Neustart des Euro, der die Nichtbeistandsregel (No Bailout) wieder in ihr Recht setzt, die nationale Verantwortung für nationale Schulden durchsetzt und das Eurosystem in wichtigen Punkten reformiert.