The aim of the Handbooks in Economics series is to produce Handbooks for various
branches of economics, each of which is a definitive source, reference, and teaching
supplement for use by professional researchers and advanced graduate students. Each
Handbook provides self-contained surveys of the current state of a branch of economics
in the form of chapters prepared by leading specialists on various aspects of this
branch of economics. These surveys summarize not only received results but also
newer developments, from recent journal articles and discussion papers. Some original
material is also included, but the main goal is to provide comprehensive and accessible
surveys. The Handbooks are intended to provide not only useful reference volumes for
professional collections but also possible supplementary readings for advanced courses
for graduate students in economics.