Banking on Words: The Failure of Language in the Age of Derivative Finance
Arjun Appadurai
Sold by Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd, New Delhi, India
AbeBooks Seller since January 30, 2009
New - Hardcover
Condition: New
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketSold by Vedams eBooks (P) Ltd, New Delhi, India
AbeBooks Seller since January 30, 2009
Condition: New
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketContents: Preface. 1. The logic of promissory finance. 2. The entrepreneurial ethic and the spirit of financialism. 3. The ghost in the financial machine. 4. The sacred market. 5. Sociality, uncertainty and ritual. 6. The charismatic derivative. 7. The wealth of individuals. 8. The global ambitions of finance. 9. The end of the contractual promise. Notes. References. Index. Renowned scholar Arjun Appadurai argues that the economic collapse of 2008, while indeed spurred on by greed, ignorance, weak regulation, and irresponsible risk-taking, was ultimately a failure of language. To prove this point, he takes us into the world of derivative finance, which is now the core of contemporary trading and the primary target of blame for the collapse. Through his incisive analysis, Appadurai draws on thinkers such as J. L. Austin, Marcel Mauss, and Max Weber as theoretical guides to showcase the ways language-and particular failures in it-paved the way for ruin. He also highlights the importance of derivatives in contemporary finance, isolating them as the core technical innovation that markets have produced. shows that derivatives are essentially written contracts about the future prices of assets-they are, crucially, a promise. pinpoints one crucial feature of derivatives (seen especially in the housing market)-that they function as complicated promises that are used to speculate on the probability of others not keeping their promises-and details how this feature spread like a contagion through the market. With his characteristic clarity, Appadurai explains one of the most complicated aspects of our modern economy, and makes the critical link between the numerical force of money and the linguistic force of what we say we will do with it. Banking on Words will be of considerable interest to scholars and students of cultural and social anthropology, economics, and language and linguistics.
Seller Inventory # 117138
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
We check every book for page mistake before they are shipped out. We take a lot of pain in our packing so that the books reach their destination in mint condition.
Name of the Company : Vedams eBooks [P] Ltd
Business Address: Vardhaman Charve Plaza IV, Bldg. 10, 2nd Floor, KP Block Commercial Centre, Pitampura, New Delhi 110034, India
e-mail address: vedams@vedamsbooks.com
Telephone Numbers: 00-91-11-27310611; 00-91-11-27310612
Fax: 00-91-27310613
Office Working Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM - Monday to F...
Shipping costs includes insurance. Books lost in transit will be replaced immediately. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know if extra shipping is required.
| Order quantity | 20 to 24 business days | 4 to 7 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 20.20 | US$ 36.94 |
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.