Economics: The User's Guide: A Pelican Introduction

Description

A Pelican introduction to economics that shows why we need not - indeed should not - leave it to the experts alone What is economics? How does the global economy work? What do different economic theories tell us about the world? In Economics- The User's Guide, bestselling author Ha-Joon Chang explains how the global economy works, and why anyone can understand the dismal science. Unlike many economists who claim there is only one way of 'doing economics', he introduces readers to a wide range of economic theories, from classical to Keynesian, revealing how they all have their strengths, weaknesses and blind spots. By ignoring the received wisdom, and exposing the myriad forces that shape our financial fate, Chang provides the tools that every responsible citizen needs to understand - and address - our current economic woes.

Ha-Joon Chang teaches economics at Cambridge University. His book 23 Things They Don't Tell You About Capitalism was a no.1 bestseller and was called by the Observer 'a witty and timely debunking of some of the biggest myths surrounding the global economy.' He is a popular columnist at the Guardian, and a vocal critic of the failures of our economic system.

Page turning... A fascinating, hurtling explanation of everything... You could use it as a primer, a reference book, a brief history; it is all these things... It reflects the urgent generosity of a thinker whose depth of understanding is matched by a desire to see us all understand... Ha-Joon Chang's wealth is in his knowledge, perceptiveness, insight and vision. And he can't give it away fast enough. It flies off him like the seeds of a dandelion -- Zoe Williams * The Guardian * Brilliant... Chang's lightness of touch makes often dry subject matter very readable... The first section is a page-turning history, the second a call to arms about how to apply economics in the real world using simple, everyday examples * Financial Times *