ABSTRACT

This short book offers a rigorous yet user-friendly introductory guide for students who need to grasp the essential concepts of economics quickly. It provides a serious, clearly understandable and systematic account of the key elements of economics, with a focus on theory and principles.

The Economics You Need provides the ideal introduction for students approaching economics from other academic disciplines, as it uses only a limited amount of economics jargon, and is constructed so that several chapters can be read independently of the others. This book is structured around the premise that a set of theoretical steps are necessary for understanding economics as a way of thinking, rather than as a set of solutions. It also encourages the reader to consider alternatives to common assumptions, to acknowledge the need for value judgements and to foster fresh thinking in an imperfect world.

This engaging primer will be essential reading not only for students of economics, but also for students with a background in disciplines such as politics, international relations and business studies.

chapter

Introduction

chapter 1|17 pages

The economic way of thinking

chapter 2|20 pages

The economics of consumption

chapter 3|17 pages

The economics of production and growth

chapter 4|19 pages

Cost theorising and supply curves

chapter 5|17 pages

Competition and its enemies

chapter 6|18 pages

Taxation and regulation

chapter 7|14 pages

Money and banking

chapter 8|11 pages

International trade

chapter 9|20 pages

Exchange rates

chapter 10|18 pages

On growth, poverty and crises