In recent decades the American economy has experienced the worst peace-time inflation in its history and the highest unemployment rate since the Great Depression. These circumstances have prompted renewed interest in the concept of business cycles, which Joseph Schumpeter suggested are "like the beat of the heart, of the essence of the organism that displays them." In The American Business Cycle, some of the most prominent macroeconomics in the United States focuses on the questions, To what extent are business cycles propelled by external shocks? How have post-1946 cycles differed from earlier cycles? And, what are the major factors that contribute to business cycles? They extend their investigation in some areas as far back as 1875 to afford a deeper understanding of both economic history and the most recent economic fluctuations. Seven papers address specific aspects of economic activity: consumption, investment, inventory change, fiscal policy, monetary behavior, open economy, and the labor market. Five papers focus on aggregate economic activity. In a number of cases, the papers present findings that challenge widely accepted models and assumptions. In addition to its substantive findings, The American Business Cycle includes an appendix containing both the first published history of the NBER business-cycle dating chronology and many previously unpublished historical data series.

This study falls into two parts. Part I contains a theoretical analysis of the relation of inventories and inventory fluctuations to the business cycle. It begins with a brief survey of the treatment of inventories in the literature of business cycles. Then a theoretical model of the economic system is developed as a basis for judging the nature and importance of inventory fluctuations in the economy. Part II is a study of inventory fluctuations in Canada over the period from 1918 to 1950 and provides some inductive verification of the preceding theoretical argument. The behaviour of inventories in ten important manufacturing industries is analysed in detail. This part also contains analysis of the movement of total inventories and of the behaviour of inventories in the main industrial subdivisions of the economy. Finally a brief chapter relates these findings to the theoretical analysis of Part I. Canadian Studies in Economics, No. 10.

Why do we experience business cycles? What creates them? Is it mass psychology, or phenomena in the management of business? Are the banks to blame or should we be looking to the unions and the politicians? Lars Tvede's story moves back in time to the Scottish gambler and financial genius, John Law, and then on to the distracted Adam Smith, the stockbroker Ricardo, the investment banker Thornton, the extrovert Schumpeter, the speculator Jay Gould and many others. The computer jugglers of the modern day, with giant networks of equations, try to solve the same questions that have attracted the attention of classical economists throughout the centuries. Throughout this volume, business cycle theories are used to explain actual events. Theoretical thinking has reflected the economist's own experiences of hyper-inflations, depressions, speculation orgies and liquidity squeezes. The reader can follow the narrative to discover how economists often thought that problems had been solved until new data changed the economic picture once again.

Praise for INVENTORY RECORD ACCURACY "This updated version of Inventory Record Accuracy preserves its humorous and easy-to-read style. Supply chain practitioners, in traditional or lean manufacturing, will find it a helpful guide. Cleverly outlined, the rigorous yet simple process for both on-hand and on-order inventory provides accuracy levels required for real-time data systems." -Maria Teodorovic, Quality Systems Manager Weyerhaeuser Corporation "Inventory Record Accuracy is truly a practitioner's guide. The book's collection of anecdotes provides real-life insight into the potential challenges of achieving IRA, and the combination of an easy-to-read text and simple drawings makes this book an easy road map to follow on the proven path to higher inventory record accuracy." -John Dietz, Director, Manufacturing Resource Planning Lockheed Martin Space Systems "Brooks and Wilson are the experts on inventory record accuracy. Inventory Record Accuracy goes right to the core of the issues without a lot of soft-soaping. Every materials manager, stockroom manager, and cycle counting supervisor should have a copy within arm's reach." -Adrian R. Barrett, 6 Sigma Master Black Belt Caterpillar, Inc. "Excellent coverage of a fundamentally important topic. By far, the best book on the subject I've ever read. The three-phase approach to inventory record accuracy should be required reading for all manufacturing managers." -Edward W. Davis, Professor of Business AdministrationThe Darden School, University of Virginia

This volume presents the most complete collection available of the work of Victor Zarnowitz, a leader in the study of business cycles, growth, inflation, and forecasting.. With characteristic insight, Zarnowitz examines theories of the business cycle, including Keynesian and monetary theories and more recent rational expectation and real business cycle theories. He also measures trends and cycles in economic activity; evaluates the performance of leading indicators and their composite measures; surveys forecasting tools and performance of business and academic economists; discusses historical changes in the nature and sources of business cycles; and analyzes how successfully forecasting firms and economists predict such key economic variables as interest rates and inflation.