The Macroeconomics Anti-Textbook: A Critical Thinker's Guide

Description

Mainstream textbooks present economics as an objective science, free from value judgements. This book demonstrates this to be a myth - one which serves to make such textbooks not only off-puttingly bland, but also dangerously misleading in their justification of the status quo and neglect of alternatives. In this much-needed companion volume to the popular Microeconomics Anti-Textbook, Tony Myatt reveals how the blind spots and methodological problems present in microeconomics continue to exert their influence in mainstream macroeconomics. From a flawed conception of the labour market, to a Pollyana view of the financial sector, macroeconomic principles as they are set out in conventional undergraduate textbooks consistently fail to set out a realistic, useful, or equitable framework for understanding the world. By summarising and then critically evaluating the major topics found in a typical macroeconomics textbook, the Anti-Textbook lays bare their sins of omission and commission, showing where hidden value judgements are made and when contrary evidence and alternative theories are ignored. The Macroeconomics Anti-Textbook is the student's essential guide to decoding mainstream macroeconomic textbooks, and demonstrating how real-world economics are much more interesting than most economists are willing to let on.

Tony Myatt is a Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics at the University of New Brunswick's Fredericton campus, Canada.

If I was still teaching undergraduates, I would definitely use this book! * Roger E. A. Farmer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UCLA, USA, and Professor at the University of Warwick, UK * I have waited nearly a decade for the sequel to one of my favorite academic books and it was worth the wait. Myatt has crafted an easy-to-read book that presents the mainstream view in a clear way on one page and then thoroughly debunks it on the next. His ability to be straightforward and brief is a breath of fresh air in Economics. I used his 'questions for your professor' sections when I was an undergrad and stunned my professors time and time again. I urge you all to do the same. * James Mathew Harris, Educator *