Additional information
by Lars Tvede (Author)
This entertaining book describes the global history of economic fluctuations and business cycle theory over more than 300 years. It explains the core of the problem and shows how cycles can be forecast and how they are managed by central banks. The book concludes with detailed studies of how sub-sectors of stocks, bonds, hedge funds, private equity funds, gold, exchange rates, real estate, commodities, art and collectibles fluctuate over different categories of business cycles.
Front Jacket
During our lifetime we experience any number of business cycle crises which undermine our confidence and lead many to their ruin. We also experience the 'happy days' when our faith in the future becomes almost limitless, and when we forget that tides always turn again. So how can we better understand and predict these cycles?
To answer these questions Lars Tvede takes us through a story that moves back in time to the Scottish gambler and financial genius, John Law, and then on to the distracted Adam Smith, the stockbroker Ricardo, the investment banker Thornton, the extrovert Schumpeter, the speculator Gould and many others to trace the theory and reality of business cycles, as it has evolved over 300 years. Gradually we reach the computer jugglers of the modern day who, with giant networks of equations, try to solve the same questions that have attracted the attention of classical economists throughout the centuries.
Lars Tvede concludes this historical journey with a summary of what the core of the problem is and how modern understanding of business cycles can be used to forecast economic fluctuations.
The final sections of the book provide detailed studies and explanations to of how stocks, bonds, hedge funds, private equity funds, gold, diamonds, exchange rates, real estate, commodities, art and collectibles, and numerous sub-sectors of some of these markets each behave over different categories of business cycles.
Back Jacket
"The Intelligent Investor and The Warren Buffett Way are regarded by many as the two most important books written for equity investors. Lars Tvede's Business Cycles is the best ever written book about business and investment cycles. Reading this book will enhance investors ability to understand price swings in bonds, commodities, equities and real estate."
Jörgen Chidekel, President and founder of ProValue AG
"The title Business Cycles may sound like a scientific lecture on high standing economic topics. In fact, the book addresses a series of economic themes and their historic evolution. Written in a fresh and catching language, the recounts are putting the reader's mind into the settings of the time. This book is definitely a value, great to read - and is fun at the same time, for laymen and experts."
Thomas K. Escher, Vice Chairman Wealth Management, UBS
"As a venture capitalist I often find myself exposed to the fluctuations in the general economy for both the good, and the bad. Lars Tvede's book is the best explanation of these cycles that I have ever read. His approach is clear and entertaining, yet without being simplistic. Its a great read. I strongly recommend this book to anyone relying on business cycles in their daily lives."
Frank Ewald, Partner - IVS A/S Denmark
Acclaim from previous editions of Business Cycles
"Economic theory does unfortunately not always follow a path of continues progress, where the latest theories always are better than the previous. Good theories are often put aside to leave space for some new ones that are vastly inferior. Valuable knowledge was, for instance, thrown overboard with the 'Keynesian revolution'. It is therefore well justified that Lars Tvede has included the history of theories; from the Sun King until present day, and that he emphasizes this in his book. That we are not only given these theories, but that these also are explained through instructive anecdotes about the economists and the environment that influenced them is only enhancing the understanding in an interesting way."
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Prime Minister, Denmark
Author Biography
Lars Tvede, holds a master's degree in Engineering and a Bachelor's degree in international commerce. He spent 11 years as derivatives trader, portfolio manager and investment banker before moving to the telecommunication and software industries in the mid 1990s, where he co-founded and seed-funded a number high-tech companies. He returned to the financial industry at the start of 2005 to become general partner and fund manager in the Swiss hedge fund company ProValue (www.provalue.ch). Lars Tvede has published several books on general economics, marketing, telecommunication and trading, including his best-selling The Psychology of Finance, which has been translated to all major languages. He lives in Zug, Switzerland.
