Synopses & Reviews
In its fourth edition,
Economics Explained continues its announced purpose to explain that mysterious thing called economics. But there is a new urgency to the book. It is announced in the first sentence of the introduction: Just in case the reader-to-be hasn't noticed, disturbing things are going on in the American economy these days.
This new edition is about these disturbing things: a trend toward inequality of incomes, the appearance of a new globalized capitalism, the specter of inflation. As before, Robert Heilbroner and Lester Thurow treat these problems in language that seeks to make clear their causes and treatments. In this straightforward, highly accessible reference, Heilbroner and Thurow two of America's most respected and articulate economists offer all the economics essential for becoming an effective investor, a savvy business decision maker, or simply an informed member of society.
Review
"This is the book for anyone who has never taken a course in economics. They take the mystery out of the gross national product, exchange rates, inflation, the money supply, and government spending." Library Journal
Review
"An excellent course in the history of capitalism." The Boston Globe Books
Review
"At last, a patient but not condescending, detailed but not recondite, conversational but not glib discussion of the factors and terms that any reader of the daily newspaper needs to understand." Ms.
Synopsis
In its fourth edition,
Economics Explained continues its announced purpose -- to explain that mysterious thing called economics. But there is a new urgency to the book. It is announced in the first sentence of the introduction: "Just in case the reader-to-be hasn't noticed, disturbing things are going on in the American economy these days."
This new edition is about these disturbing things: a trend toward inequality of incomes, the appearance of a new "globalized" capitalism, the "specter" of inflation. As before, Robert Heilbroner and Lester Thurow treat these problems in language that seeks to make clear their causes and treatments. In this straightforward, highly accessible reference, Heilbroner and Thurow -- two of America's most respected and articulate economists -- offer all the economics essential for becoming an effective investor, a savvy business decision maker, or simply an informed member of society.
About the Author
Robert Heilbroner is the Norman Thomas Professor of Economics, Emeritus, at The New School for Social Research. He is the author of over twenty books, among them The Worldly Philosophers. He lives in New York City.
Table of Contents
Introduction I The Economic Background
One Capitalism: Where Do We Come From?
Two Three Great Economists
Three A Bird's-Eye View of the Economy
Four The Trend of Things
II Macroeconomics -- The Analysis of Prosperity and Recession
Five The GDP
Six Saving and Investing
Seven Passive Consumption, Active Investment
Eight The Economics of the Public Sector
Nine The Debate About Government
Ten What Money Is
Eleven How Money Works
III Microeconomics -- The Anatomy of the Market System
Twelve How Markets Work
Thirteen Where Markets Fail
Fourteen The Two Worlds of Business
IV Problems
Fifteen The Specter of Inflation
Sixteen The Inequality Problem
Seventeen Globalization
Eighteen National Policy in a Globalized World
Nineteen The Unfinished Revolution
Index