Can't We Just Print More Money?: Economics in Ten Simple Questions

Description

An accessible guide to how economics defines all of our lives - the first ever book from the Bank of England. Why are all my clothes made in Asia? How come I'm so much richer than my great-great-grandma? And what even is money? Whether you're buying lunch, looking for a job, or applying for a mortgage, the thing we call 'the economy' is going to set the terms. A pity, then, that many of us have no idea how the economy actually works. That's where this book comes in. The Bank of England is Britain's most important financial institution, responsible for printing money, regulating banks and keeping the economy running smoothly. Now, the Bank's team take you inside their hallowed halls to explain what economics can - and can't - teach us about the world. Along the way, they offer intriguing examples of econ in action- in financial crises and Freddo prices, growth stages and workers' wages. Accessible, authoritative and surprisingly witty, this is a crash course in economics and why it matters.

Rupal Patel and Jack Meaning are economists at the Bank of England, the UK's central bank. Founded in 1694, the Bank of England was created to 'promote the public good and benefit of the people'. How it does so has changed a bit since then, but the Bank still plays a crucial role in the economy - printing money, setting interest rates and regulating the financial sector. Since 2017, the Bank's staff have been on a mission to get outside the City of London and promote economic literacy across the UK- whether by delivering talks in schools, running Citizens' Panels on people's economic experiences, or, now, publishing this nifty primer on economics.

If you feel you should understand how economists think but have no idea where to start, this book is the answer . . . The Bank should be congratulated on this effort at education. Buy this book for the inquiring person, young, old or in between. -- Martin Wolf, Summer Books * Financial Times * A well-written treat . . . Using examples including the Bank of England canteen, The Simpsons and Beanie Babies, the authors encourage us all to understand, and even challenge, what economists do. -- Professor David Spiegelhalter, author of THE ART OF STATISTICS An enjoyable introduction to the so-called dismal science . . . Patel and Meaning have done an admirable job in simplifying and popularising some of the key elements of their subject. * The Times * A great place to start your economic journey. With the Bank of England as your guide, this accessible book shows how economics affects so many aspects of our daily lives. -- Dr Linda Yueh, author of THE GREAT ECONOMISTS A well-timed attempt to show the public what goes on inside the Bank of England - and familiarise them with some basic economic concepts . . . Punctuated with jaunty anecdotes and neat examples. * Guardian * A good introduction to concepts such as inflation, quantitative easing, supply and globalisation. * New Statesman * A very readable guide to economics . . . contains some great facts . . . Entertaining. * Daily Mail * Economics affects every aspect of our lives, but it can often seem like an inaccessible, off-puttingly jargon-laden subject. This is the guide you need! An entertaining and essential read at a time when understanding how our money, governments and banks interact has never felt more important. -- Laura Whateley, author of MONEY: A USER'S GUIDE The authors want to inspire a new generation of economists, both at school level and among older students . . . If Patel and Meaning could help turn that tide, they will have performed a great public service. -- Alex Brummer * Daily Mail * [One of] a range of accessible introductory books that can give people a basic understanding of the subject that may even prompt them to dig deeper . . . A great primer. * City A.M. *