ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines six major forces acting upon the global economy, any of which may yet bring about the next world crisis – debt; inflation; inequality; a breakdown in social cohesion; international conflict; and environmental destruction. Some basic economic concepts are introduced – scarcity; opportunity cost; the science of choice; money and trade; economic growth; and the environment – with pointers to the chapters that follow which discuss each of these issues. Different forms of economic organisation – market, command and traditional systems – are briefly mentioned
