The Soulful Science: What Economists Really Do and Why It Matters - Revised Edition

Description

For many, Thomas Carlyle's put-down of economics as "the dismal science" rings true--especially in the aftermath of the crash of 2008. But Diane Coyle argues that economics today is more soulful than dismal, a more practical and human science than ever before. The Soulful Science describes the remarkable creative renaissance in economics, how economic thinking is being applied to the paradoxes of everyday life. This revised edition incorporates the latest developments in the field, including the rise of behavioral finance, the failure of carbon trading, and the growing trend of government bailouts. She also discusses such major debates as the relationship between economic statistics and presidential elections, the boundary between private choice and public action, and who is to blame for today's banking crisis.

Diane Coyle is a writer and Harvard economics PhD. A member of the BBC Trust and the UK Competition Commission, and a visiting professor at the University of Manchester, she also runs an economic consulting firm, Enlightenment Economics.

Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "Coyle's style is very accessible, and this book is an excellent survey of the frontiers of economics for the general reader... The Soulful Science can be recommended highly."--Paul Ormerod, Times Higher Education Supplement Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "The simple aim of The Soulful Science is to describe what economists do, how the field has changed in the past 10 years or so, and why you should care. It succeeds admirably."--Financial Times Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "This is an astonishing book: beautifully written."--Andrew Hilton, Financial World Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "Fluently written with the balance of a good novel, the result is a tour de force."--Donald Anderson, Business Economist Praise for Princeton's previous editions: "The Soulful Science is ... a grand whirlwind tour of modern economics, with fascinating vignettes of individual economists. It's a trip worth taking."--David Colander, American Scientist "Coyle is a talented writer and her book shows that good communication skills, to and with readers, assure wide appeal to almost the entire spectrum of economic thinkers."--Liviu Drugus, European Legacy