Book Bits: 27 July 2024

● The Fragility of China: Breaking Points of an Invincible Regime
Dennis Unkovic
Summary via publisher (Encounter Books)
Chinese President Xi Jinping believes his country is destined to displace the United States as the world’s top military and economic power. Every policy that Xi has put forth since assuming power in 2013 has been carefully crafted with this end goal in mind. Nearly four decades of meteoric economic growth have convinced many in the West that modern China is indeed an invincible regime and Xi’s grand plan will come to fruition. Closer examination reveals that China is not invulnerable, but in fact is far more fragile than it outwardly appears. In this book, Dennis Unkovic coins the term MaxTrends® to identify critical factors and developments that have the potential to derail Xi’s aggressive ambitions for China. These MaxTrends® include alarming demographic shifts, cracks in the global supply chain, an accelerating global arms race, and the Taiwan conundrum, all of which indicate that China’s strength may be more illusion than reality.

● Mathematics for Economics and Finance: Methods and Modelling (2nd ed.)
Martin Anthony and Norman Biggs
Summary via publisher (Cambridge U. Press)
Accessible, concise, and interactive, this book introduces the mathematical methods that are indispensable in economics and finance. Fully updated to be as student friendly as possible, this edition contains extensive problems, worked examples and exercises (with full solutions at the end of the book). Two brand new chapters cover coupled systems of recurrence/differential equations, and matrix diagonalisation. All topics are motivated by problems from economics and finance, demonstrating to students how they can apply the mathematical techniques covered. For undergraduate students of economics, mathematics, or both, this book will be welcomed for its clarity and breadth and the many opportunities it provides for readers to practise and test their understanding.

Please note that the links to books above are affiliate links with Amazon.com and James Picerno (a.k.a. The Capital Spectator) earns money if you buy one of the titles listed. Also note that you will not pay extra for a book even though it generates revenue for The Capital Spectator. By purchasing books through this site, you provide support for The Capital Spectator’s free content. Thank you!