Business is one of the most potent cultural forces today, profoundly affecting every facet of our lives whether we are working in a corporate environment or not. This book surveys some of the most controversial issues and topics central to the contemporary business world. Included are more than 70 alphabetically arranged entries written by expert contributors. Each entry explores a topic's relevance and influence, highlights opposing viewpoints, provides sidebars of interesting information, and lists resources for further research. For students and general readers, this book is an engaging, accessible, and essential resource on the role of business in society.

Globalization. Outsourcing. Downsizing. These are some of the economic issues at the center of today's society. Time after time, we see that business is one of the most powerful forces in the modern world, profoundly affecting every facet of our lives whether we work in a corporate environment or not. Because in one way or another the world is all about economics, students need to understand and appreciate the role of business in their lives. This book overviews the most important topics and issues characterizing the role of business in today's society.

Included are alphabetically arranged entries on more than 70 critical issues or topics central to the role of business in our lives. Each is written by an expert contributor and provides a summary of the topic's relevance and influence, a consideration of opposing viewpoints, and a list of resources for further research. For students and general readers, this book is an engaging, accessible, and essential resource on the role of business in everyday life.

Michael Walden is Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural Resource Economics at North Carolina State University. His previous books include Smart Economics (Praeger, 2005), Everyday Economics (2004), Economics and Consumer Decisions (2001), and Economic Issues: Rhetoric and Reality (1995).

Peg Thoms is Professor of Management and Director of the MBA Program at Penn State Behrend. She is the author of Finding the Best and the Brightest (Praeger, 2005), and Driven by Time (Praeger, 2003), and coauthor of Project Leadership from Theory to Practice (1998).