This book presents the latest perspectives and challenges within the interrelated fields of econophysics and sociophysics, which have emerged from the application of statistical physics to economics and sociology. Economic and financial markets appear to be in a permanent state of flux. Billions of agents interact with each other, giving rise to complex dynamics of economic quantities at the micro and macro levels. With the availability of huge data sets, researchers can address questions at a much more granular level than was previously possible. Fundamental questions regarding the aggregation of actions and information and the coordination, complexity, and evolution of economic and financial networks are currently receiving much attention in the econophysics research agenda. In parallel, the sociophysics literature has focused on large-scale social data and their interrelations. In this book, leading researchers from different communities – economists, sociologists, financial analysts, mathematicians, physicists, statisticians, and others – report on their recent work and their analyses of economic and social behavior.
Iron Ore: Mineralogy, Processing and Environmental Sustainability, Second Edition covers all aspects surrounding the second most important commodity behind oil. As an essential input for the production of crude steel, iron ore feeds the world's largest trillion-dollar-a-year metal market and is the backbone of the global infrastructure. The book explores new ore types and the development of more efficient processes/technologies to minimize environmental footprints. This new edition includes all new case studies and technologies, along with new chapters on the chemical analysis of iron ore, thermal and dry beneficiation of iron ore, and discussions of alternative iron making technologies. In addition, information on recycling solid wastes and P-bearing slag generated in steel mills, sustainable mining, and low emission iron making technologies from regional perspectives, particularly Europe and Japan, are included. This work will be a valuable resource for anyone involved in the iron ore industry. - Provides an overall view of the entire value chain, from iron ore to metal - Includes specific information on process/stage/operation in the value chain - Discusses challenges and developments, along with future trends in the iron ore and steel industries - Incorporates new, sustainable mining techniques
In recent decades, private investment has led to an economic resurgence in India. But this is not the first time the region has witnessed impressive business growth. There have been many similar stories over the past 300 years. India's economic history shows that capital was relatively expensive. How, then, did capitalism flourish in the region? How did companies and entrepreneurs deal with the shortage of key resources? Has there been a common pattern in responses to these issues over the centuries? Through detailed case studies of firms, entrepreneurs, and business commodities, Tirthankar Roy answers these questions. Roy bridges the approaches of business and economic history, illustrating the development of a distinctive regional capitalism. On each occasion of growth, connections with the global economy helped firms and entrepreneurs better manage risks. Making these deep connections between India's economic past and present shows why history matters in its remaking of capitalism today.