Richard Thomas – författare

First published in 1998, this book tells the story, from various viewpoints, of the building of local capacity to carry forward the economic and social transition process which started in the late 1980s. The post-communist government and the Balcerowicz reform could not, by themselves, transform Poland. External know-how was needed to provide expertise and to help develop pathways and partnerships. Management and Organisation Development was a major theme in multilateral and bilateral assistance programmes for Poland throughout the 1990s. Scholarships and direct training were provided by some donors. Most of the help in this sector from the British Know How Fund went into developing regionally-based business schools and management training centres. Part I of this book gives the historical and technical background from both the Polish and donor points of view. Part II looks more closely at some of the technical issues in the process-the development of trainers and training methods and materials, of new and relevant courses, of international partnerships and of local markets. The final part of the book assesses the current context in which Polish management educators and trainers operate and outlines some of the issues (EU accession, the attitudes of managers, the impact of IT, and so on) which will have to be faced by both business schools and practising managers in the next decade.

First published in 1998, this book tells the story, from various viewpoints, of the building of local capacity to carry forward the economic and social transition process which started in the late 1980s. The post-communist government and the Balcerowicz reform could not, by themselves, transform Poland. External know-how was needed to provide expertise and to help develop pathways and partnerships. Management and Organisation Development was a major theme in multilateral and bilateral assistance programmes for Poland throughout the 1990s. Scholarships and direct training were provided by some donors. Most of the help in this sector from the British Know How Fund went into developing regionally-based business schools and management training centres. Part I of this book gives the historical and technical background from both the Polish and donor points of view. Part II looks more closely at some of the technical issues in the process-the development of trainers and training methods and materials, of new and relevant courses, of international partnerships and of local markets. The final part of the book assesses the current context in which Polish management educators and trainers operate and outlines some of the issues (EU accession, the attitudes of managers, the impact of IT, and so on) which will have to be faced by both business schools and practising managers in the next decade.

First published in 1994, The Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia was the first ever book of its type in Australia – a complete guide to locating every resident bird species in Australia, plus supplementary information on where to find rarities, migratory species and logistical information.

This fully revised second edition expands on the best-selling appeal of the first, describing the best-known sites for all of Australia’s endemic birds, plus vagrants and regular migrants such as seabirds and shorebirds. It covers all states and territories, and is the first guide to include all of Australia’s island and external territories. A comprehensive Bird Finder Guide details site information on all Australian bird species, and the authors provide valuable travel advice, including transport, climate and accommodation.

Profusely illustrated with colour photographs of interesting, unique or unusual Australian birds, this book is a must-have for all birdwatchers living in Australia or visiting from overseas.

In the complex world of corporate strategy and market dynamics, very few questions are as fundamental as understanding what drives the value of business assets. This book presents the first comprehensive empirical analysis of the causal relationship between interest rates and asset values in closed markets, using the unique example of the UK retail pharmacy sector, a market closed by regulation for over three decades.

It uncovers a near-perfect inverse relationship between interest rates and asset values that has persisted across multiple economic cycles, pandemics, changes of government and fundamental changes in both healthcare policy and monetary policy and offers robust proof of an economic principle long theorised but never previously demonstrated so clearly in practice. The book bridges macroeconomic theory, Keynes, Monetarism, Fisher Effect, business strategy and applied policy and offers insights relevant to economists, policymakers, business professionals and anyone interested in asset valuation in regulated markets. Original contributions include the empirical proof of the interest rate – asset value link in a genuinely closed market and the introduction of the concept of “quasi-real assets”, a term that has rarely been used. This book turns it into a term which can be more usefully, and regularly, applied in economic debate.

While the book presents a UK case study, the principles and findings are applicable to any regulated or closed market worldwide and are particularly relevant to sectors like taxis, medical practices, broadcasting, etc. The book will appeal to researchers, scholars and advanced students in economics, business, finance and public policy, as well as policymakers, regulators, professional valuers and consultants.

In the complex world of corporate strategy and market dynamics, very few questions are as fundamental as understanding what drives the value of business assets. This book presents the first comprehensive empirical analysis of the causal relationship between interest rates and asset values in closed markets, using the unique example of the UK retail pharmacy sector, a market closed by regulation for over three decades.

It uncovers a near-perfect inverse relationship between interest rates and asset values that has persisted across multiple economic cycles, pandemics, changes of government and fundamental changes in both healthcare policy and monetary policy and offers robust proof of an economic principle long theorised but never previously demonstrated so clearly in practice. The book bridges macroeconomic theory, Keynes, Monetarism, Fisher Effect, business strategy and applied policy and offers insights relevant to economists, policymakers, business professionals and anyone interested in asset valuation in regulated markets. Original contributions include the empirical proof of the interest rate – asset value link in a genuinely closed market and the introduction of the concept of “quasi-real assets”, a term that has rarely been used. This book turns it into a term which can be more usefully, and regularly, applied in economic debate.

While the book presents a UK case study, the principles and findings are applicable to any regulated or closed market worldwide and are particularly relevant to sectors like taxis, medical practices, broadcasting, etc. The book will appeal to researchers, scholars and advanced students in economics, business, finance and public policy, as well as policymakers, regulators, professional valuers and consultants.