Kevin Keasey

Focussing on the relatively few small firms which grew rapidly, this book, originally published in 1993 uses face-to-face interviews as well as published records to identify and analyse the managerial factors most closely associated with successful small firms. The volume concentrates on the following key managerial issues: In what respects do the managerial backgrounds and aspirations of the founders of fast-growth small firms differ from those of non-fast-growth small firms? How is the process of growth managed? What incentives, remuneration packages and communication systems are instituted? How do these characteristics and experiences differ in fast-growth small firms from both the traditional small firm and large-firm sector? To what extent is it possible to explain the relative economic performance of small firms in terms of differences in their ownership, organizational and management structures.

This study, originally published in 1987, addresses the question of small firm performance. Drawing on an extensive database containing financial, employment and ownership data for several thousand small firms, the book examines whether small firms do actually provide jobs, whether they grow and why small firms fail. Guidance is given on how to spot the signs of impending failure in a small business, which is of use to accountants small business PR actioners and government grant providers.

Focussing on the relatively few small firms which grew rapidly, this book, originally published in 1993 uses face-to-face interviews as well as published records to identify and analyse the managerial factors most closely associated with successful small firms. The volume concentrates on the following key managerial issues: In what respects do the managerial backgrounds and aspirations of the founders of fast-growth small firms differ from those of non-fast-growth small firms? How is the process of growth managed? What incentives, remuneration packages and communication systems are instituted? How do these characteristics and experiences differ in fast-growth small firms from both the traditional small firm and large-firm sector? To what extent is it possible to explain the relative economic performance of small firms in terms of differences in their ownership, organizational and management structures.

This study, originally published in 1987, addresses the question of small firm performance. Drawing on an extensive database containing financial, employment and ownership data for several thousand small firms, the book examines whether small firms do actually provide jobs, whether they grow and why small firms fail. Guidance is given on how to spot the signs of impending failure in a small business, which is of use to accountants small business PR actioners and government grant providers.

The financial crisis that erupted in 2007 has brought the issues of the size, risk, and regulation of banks to the attention of a wide audience. It is difficult to open a broadsheet newspaper or a business magazine without being confronted with some aspect of bank behaviour, be it their risk levels, bankers' excessive rewards, the intertwining of bank and sovereign risk, or how they should be regulated to avoid problems in the future. In Europe, the recent and on-going crisis has demonstrated that the European Union (EU) was institutionally ill-prepared to manage a financial crisis, especially one involving large cross-border institutions which are systemically important to a number of countries. This book aims at integrating and synthesizing the various perspectives on the size, risk, and governance of banking as applied to the European markets, providing fresh insights and new analysis of the empirical data. The book is divided into three main sections. The first provides an overview of how the size of banking firms affects stability in the European banking sector, reviewing the quantitative empirical literature and offering new insights as to whether bank size motivates risk-taking where explicit or implicit 'too-big-to fail' policies shield bank creditors from market discipline. The next section discusses the debates relating to each of the different elements of risk in European banking, including new insights from a large dataset of European bank risk in different institutional contexts. The third section focuses on regulation, board monitoring, and opacity in European banking, employing a unique and hand collected dataset on the governance of European banks, as well as data on U. S. banks as a benchmark. The final chapter critically reviews the new insights gained from the chapters above, while offering policy implications as regards the role of size, risk and governance in European banking.

This monograph reports the results of a large scale experimental study into the decision-making process, in particular into how repeated decisions on whether to buy or sell are made when trading stocks. It considers how the resources and the objectives of individuals influence their behaviour, the perception that success is the result of being active and aggressive in the market and how the decision-making process is often minimised by repeating the same basic decision. It also compares the evidence of the actual behaviour of individuals with financial theory.

'The Intelligent Guide to Stock Market Investment is a welcome initiative to help explain the stock market and the important role it can play in people's long term investment plans. This book is particularly valuable at a time when everyone is being encouraged to take more responsibility for their financial future and it is more important than ever to be better informed when making investment decisions.' The London Stock Exchange '. an excellent text . highly interesting and entertaining . subtle, sophisticated and rigorous . In short, even for the successful stock market investor, the percentage returns from buying this book are likely to make it one of the best investments in his/her portfolio!' Professor Robert Watson, Strathclyde Graduate Business School The Intelligent Guide to Stock Market Investment This comprehensive guide to the theory and practice of stock market investment explains in a clear accessible style the techniques, risks and potential rewards of stock market investment. Written by a leading team of financial researchers, it provides the reader with a sophisticated synthesis of current investment knowledge, drawn both from the latest academic research and the professional investment world. Avoiding simplistic and unrealistic formulae to success, this book gives a balanced assessment of the various approaches to investment and thorough understanding of the way in which the stock market works that will enable readers to take control of their own financial future. The International Institute of Banking and Financial Services specialises in world class research and postgraduate education for the whole of the financial services sector.

This unique text focuses upon the inherent difficulties associated with small firm contractual relationships.