Trade-Offs: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning

by Harold Winter

The highly engaging introduction to thinking like an economist, updated for a new generation of readers.

When economists wrestle with any social issue—be it unemployment, inflation, healthcare, or crime and punishment—they do so impersonally. The big question for them what are the costs and benefits, or trade-offs, of the solutions to such matters? These trade-offs constitute the core of how economists see the world—and make the policies that govern it.

Trade-Offs is an introduction to the economic approach of analyzing controversial policy issues. A useful introduction to the various factors that inform public opinion and policymaking, Trade-Offs is composed of case studies on topics drawn from across contemporary law and society.

Intellectually stimulating yet accessible and entertaining, Trade-Offs will be appreciated by students of economics, public policy, health administration, political science, and law, as well as by anyone following current social policy debates.

205 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2024

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Updated book from Winter - appreciate the inclusion of new references e.g. South Park though it may be time to retire Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man as I am not sure if those are still in our students' collective memories still.

I used the previous version in a couple of my budgeting courses - it is good for both budgeting and policy courses. Students are often horrified at the thought process of economists -just doing my part to spread the love for economists.

[Alina Kapinos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I’ve read on economics thus far. Winters makes topics that have had decades of research and scrutiny to form seem hardly novel, in the best way. Complexities of the economy for dummies