Paying with Plastic, second edition
Paying with Plastic, second edition

Author: David S. Evans

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2004-12-17

Total Pages: 388

ISBN-13: 9780262550581

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The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.

Paying with Plastic
Paying with Plastic

Author: David S. Evans

Publisher: Mit Press

Published: 1999

Total Pages: 373

ISBN-13: 9780262550376

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Since Diners Club issued its first charge cards in 1950, payment cards—credit, debit, and charge cards—have revolutionized how and whenwe pay for goods and services. In Paying with Plastic, David Evans and Richard Schmalensee provide a nontechnical distillation of their years of research on the economic, technological, and institutional forces that have shaped the payment card industry. They show how competition works in an industry that does not neatly fit any of the standard economic models. They describe how the payment card companies such as MasterCard and Visa have developed complex systems for coordinating transactions among their thousands of bank members and millions of cardholders and accepting merchants. Evans and Schmalensee also describe recent developments in the industry and consider its likely evolution.

Plastic Money
Plastic Money

Author: Alya Guseva

Publisher: Stanford University Press

Published: 2014-02-26

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 0804789592

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In the United States, we now take our ability to pay with plastic for granted. In other parts of the world, however, the establishment of a "credit-card economy" has not been easy. In countries without a history of economic stability, how can banks decide who should be given a credit card? How do markets convince people to use cards, make their transactions visible to authorities, assume the potential risk of fraud, and pay to use their own money? Why should merchants agree to pay extra if customers use cards instead of cash? In Plastic Money, Akos Rona-Tas and Alya Guseva tell the story of how banks overcame these and other quandaries as they constructed markets for credit cards in eight postcommunist countries. We know how markets work once they are built, but this book develops a unique framework for understanding how markets are engineered from the ground up—by selecting key players, ensuring cooperation, and providing conditions for the valuation of a product. Drawing on extensive interviews and fieldwork, the authors chronicle how banks overcame these hurdles and generated a desire for their new product in the midst of a transition from communism to capitalism.

Thermoforming
Thermoforming

Author: Geza Gruenwald

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 1998-05-08

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 9781566766258

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FROM THE FOREWORD Dr. Gruenwald has indicated the desirable properties of polymerics for differing applications; thus, his text is especially useful for polymer chemists who must "tailor" plastic materials for specific groups of applications. Engineers in extruding and calendering film and sheet will benefit from the intimate relationships elucidated between processing parameters imposed upon stocks employed in thermoforming and the products thereof. Mold designers are provided with a complete guide that will enable them to avoid the less obvious pitfalls and wasted effort so often experienced in the evolution of molds for (especially) complex parts.. Quite likely, Dr. Gruenwald's suggestions willl lead to considerable benefits to those who read and practice by this remarkable exposition of thermoforming technology. Robert K. Jordan Director-Metalliding Institute, Director-Engineering Research Institute, Scientist in Residence, Gannon University

Plastic-Free
Plastic-Free

Author: Beth Terry

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2015-04-21

Total Pages: 668

ISBN-13: 1634500350

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“Guides readers toward the road less consumptive, offering practical advice and moral support while making a convincing case that individual actions . . . do matter.” —Elizabeth Royte, author, Garbage Land and Bottlemania Like many people, Beth Terry didn’t think an individual could have much impact on the environment. But while laid up after surgery, she read an article about the staggering amount of plastic polluting the oceans, and decided then and there to kick her plastic habit. In Plastic-Free, she shows you how you can too, providing personal anecdotes, stats about the environmental and health problems related to plastic, and individual solutions and tips on how to limit your plastic footprint. Presenting both beginner and advanced steps, Terry includes handy checklists and tables for easy reference, ways to get involved in larger community actions, and profiles of individuals—Plastic-Free Heroes—who have gone beyond personal solutions to create change on a larger scale. Fully updated for the paperback edition, Plastic-Free also includes sections on letting go of eco-guilt, strategies for coping with overwhelming problems, and ways to relate to other people who aren’t as far along on the plastic-free path. Both a practical guide and the story of a personal journey from helplessness to empowerment, Plastic-Free is a must-read for those concerned about the ongoing health and happiness of themselves, their children, and the planet.

Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook
Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook

Author: Myer Kutz

Publisher: William Andrew

Published: 2016-09-15

Total Pages: 786

ISBN-13: 0323390412

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Applied Plastics Engineering Handbook: Processing, Materials, and Applications, Second Edition, covers both the polymer basics that are helpful to bring readers quickly up-to-speed if they are not familiar with a particular area of plastics processing and the recent developments that enable practitioners to discover which options best fit their requirements. New chapters added specifically cover polyamides, polyimides, and polyesters. Hot topics such as 3-D printing and smart plastics are also included, giving plastics engineers the information they need to take these embryonic technologies and deploy them in their own work. With the increasing demands for lightness and fuel economy in the automotive industry (not least due to CAFÉ standards), plastics will soon be used even further in vehicles. A new chapter has been added to cover the technology trends in this area, and the book has been substantially updated to reflect advancements in technology, regulations, and the commercialization of plastics in various areas. Recycling of plastics has been thoroughly revised to reflect ongoing developments in sustainability of plastics. Extrusion processing is constantly progressing, as have the elastomeric materials, fillers, and additives which are available. Throughout the book, the focus is on the engineering aspects of producing and using plastics. The properties of plastics are explained, along with techniques for testing, measuring, enhancing, and analyzing them. Practical introductions to both core topics and new developments make this work equally valuable for newly qualified plastics engineers seeking the practical rules-of-thumb they don't teach you in school and experienced practitioners evaluating new technologies or getting up-to-speed in a new field. Presents an authoritative source of practical advice for engineers, providing guidance from experts that will lead to cost savings and process improvements Ideal introduction for both new engineers and experienced practitioners entering a new field or evaluating a new technology Updated to include the latest technology, including 3D Printing, smart polymers, and thorough coverage of biopolymers and biodegradable plastics

Handbook of Optical Fibers and Cables, Second Edition
Handbook of Optical Fibers and Cables, Second Edition

Author: Murata

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 1996-06-25

Total Pages: 560

ISBN-13: 9780824797195

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This work covers the history of optical communications, fibres and fiber cables, and compares optical fibres with other transmission media. It also discusses optical fibre materials, reliability and manufacture, illustrates the design, construction and properties of recent cables used for optical fibre, describes fibre splicing and presents automated fibre splicing machines, and more.

Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic
Saving the Planet with Pesticides and Plastic

Author: Dennis T. Avery

Publisher:

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 504

ISBN-13:

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The second edition of Dennis Averys 1995 seminal work, Saving the Planet Through Pesticides and Plastics provides the flip side to environmentalist cries of spiraling cancer rates, rising global temperatures and decreasing rainforest acreage. Thoroughly updated and re-written with new information and data, Averys controversial book shows how agricultural technology can save the planet for both people and wildlife.

Essentials of Plastic Surgery
Essentials of Plastic Surgery

Author: Alex P. Jones

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2015-08-21

Total Pages: 906

ISBN-13: 1482237059

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Essentials of Plastic Surgery: Q&A Companion is the companion to Essentials of Plastic Surgery, Second Edition, which covers a wide variety of topics in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. As such, it is designed to test your knowledge of the source book, which may be helpful in the clinical setting and beyond. It presents both multiple choice questions and extended matching questions in single best answer format. The 1200 questions are carefully constructed to be practical and thorough, and are accompanied by detailed answers that help enhance understanding of both the right and wrong answers. Compact enough to fit in a lab coat pocket, its design and organization allow for quick and easy reading. The print book is accompanied by a complimentary eBook that can be accessed on smartphones and tablets. It is the go-to resource for all students of plastic surgery, whether residents in training or experienced practitioners.