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Economics: The Economist Guide
From its humble beginnings in Ancient Greece to today's mammoth global system, economics is all around us.
Getting to grips with what it means is crucial to understanding how the world it's never been more important to know your macro from your micro and your fiscal from your monetary policy.
In this invaluable guide, Philip Coggan lifts the veil with an entertaining, no-nonsense overview of the development and scope of the field, and breaks down the jargon with an all-new A-Z of key economics concepts and terms.
Crisp, sophisticated and often surprising, this is the complete companion to what economics is - and why it matters.
Getting to grips with what it means is crucial to understanding how the world it's never been more important to know your macro from your micro and your fiscal from your monetary policy.
In this invaluable guide, Philip Coggan lifts the veil with an entertaining, no-nonsense overview of the development and scope of the field, and breaks down the jargon with an all-new A-Z of key economics concepts and terms.
Crisp, sophisticated and often surprising, this is the complete companion to what economics is - and why it matters.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2025
About the author
Philip Coggan
19 books29 followersPhilip Coggan is a British columnist and author of books on economics. He currently writes for The Economist. Previously, he worked for the Financial Times for 20 years.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 3, 2025
I was really excited about this as I had positive experiences with The Economist’s prior publications, such as the Guide to Financial Markets and Guide to Financial Management. I work in the insurance sector, so I was mildly taken aback and disappointed by Coggan’s poor and brief explanations of insurance. Unfortunately.
In one of his misleading explanations about insurance, he writes, “in the modern era, insurance is widely used to protect or hedge against risks such as changes in market prices or interest rates. Sometimes the other side of the risk is assumed by speculators hoping to make a profit.” Who is he describing? Insurers, or speculative investors? I’m quite sure this would be a lot more fitting for the latter.
A prudent and discerning underwriter will not write a policy covering losses as a result of market fluctuations. Even an aggressive top-line underwriter would not be stupid enough to undertake such risks. It's common sense, tbh. Anyone who works in Finance knows that the market changes daily. Coggan’s inaccurate representation of the insurance business gives the public a false idea of what insurers really do. Well, unlike underperforming fund managers who still have a seat at the table despite a crappy portfolio, underwriters who write guaranteed losses would lose their underwriting pens.
To add, the explanation for the Nash Equilibrium was rather flaky, thin, and non-substantial too.
I’d say you’re much better off with an Internet connection and a Google search bar next to you if you really have to give this book a shot. Not sure if I am being too critical. It’s a good starter into Econs without the pressure of understanding charts, graphs and equations, nonetheless.
I would have enjoyed the A-Z glossary more if the writer were more strategic around the choice of words, phrasing, and language to explain key terms in the quickest and most concise possible way.
In one of his misleading explanations about insurance, he writes, “in the modern era, insurance is widely used to protect or hedge against risks such as changes in market prices or interest rates. Sometimes the other side of the risk is assumed by speculators hoping to make a profit.” Who is he describing? Insurers, or speculative investors? I’m quite sure this would be a lot more fitting for the latter.
A prudent and discerning underwriter will not write a policy covering losses as a result of market fluctuations. Even an aggressive top-line underwriter would not be stupid enough to undertake such risks. It's common sense, tbh. Anyone who works in Finance knows that the market changes daily. Coggan’s inaccurate representation of the insurance business gives the public a false idea of what insurers really do. Well, unlike underperforming fund managers who still have a seat at the table despite a crappy portfolio, underwriters who write guaranteed losses would lose their underwriting pens.
To add, the explanation for the Nash Equilibrium was rather flaky, thin, and non-substantial too.
I’d say you’re much better off with an Internet connection and a Google search bar next to you if you really have to give this book a shot. Not sure if I am being too critical. It’s a good starter into Econs without the pressure of understanding charts, graphs and equations, nonetheless.
I would have enjoyed the A-Z glossary more if the writer were more strategic around the choice of words, phrasing, and language to explain key terms in the quickest and most concise possible way.
November 10, 2025
A great intro into economics!
November 11, 2026
This was a good book covering the fundamentals of economics, but i was mislead on it being a large part a dictionary on economics terms. I did enjoy how this book walked me through different events in history where the economics applied and gave for or against arguments and it didn’t feel to biased, even if biases cant be avoided.
overall solid book.
overall solid book.
June 3, 2026
Good fundamentals and explanation on different aspects of macro and microeconomics. Definetly changed my perspective on specific aspects of the future of our economy, where we are headed with an aging population and the AI revolution ahead.
October 1, 2026
A decent introduction, although more elaboration is needed between different ideas. The jumps in logic disrupt the flow if I have to look things up every 3 sentences. The dictionary is useful however.
December 27, 2025
Really, really short but essential. The dictionary was nice to go through and discover something new.
January 29, 2026
Includes an A to Z index of economic terms. A comprehensive and mus-thave guide to how the American economy works for the general reader.
Read
May 16, 2026توقعته بيكون ثقيل ومصطلحاته صعبة، بس على العكس تماما كان سهل بالنسبة لشخص ماله خبرة في الاقتصاد واستوعبت شرحه والنظريات اللي طرحها في الاقتصاد.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews