'Transparency' has become both a catch-word in public debate and also an important research topic. Comprised of authoritative yet accessible contributions, this handbook surveys existing economic research on transparency and provides an up-to-date account of its meaning and significance in...

Introduction -- The Foundations: Human Needs and Cultural Background -- Culture in Economic Thinking -- Cultural Background and Economic System -- The Effect of Cultural Background on Incentives, Growth and Distribution and Vice Versa -- Cultural Background and Rationality -- The Cultural...

The multifaceted concept of transparency / Jens Forssbæck and Lars Oxelheim -- Constitutional transparency / Richard J. Sweeney -- Monetary policy transparency / Petra M. Geraats -- Fiscal policy transparency / Iain Begg -- Transparent and unique sovereign default risk assessment / Edward I....

Die vorliegenden Studien sind von der elementaren Einsicht geprägt, daß in der Herstellung einer gerechten und produktiven Ordnung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft das zentrale und ewig aktuelle Knappheitsproblem der Menschheitsgeschichte zu sehen ist. Was kann die Wissenschaft zur Lösung...

Acknowledgements -- Preface -- List of abbreviations -- Introduction -- Primary institutions : property rights, legal systems, the state - theories and concepts -- Meso-institutions : varieties of capitalism and comparative corporate governance : theories and concepts -- How did Britain's "good"...