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Economics for Dummies
Untangle the jargon and understand how you're involved in everyday economics If you want to get to grips with the basics of economics and understand a subject that affects British citizens on a daily basis, then look no further than Economics For Dummies. This easy to understand guide takes you through the world of economics from understanding micro- and macroeconomics to demystifying complex topics such as capitalism and recession.
This updated edition walks you through the history, principles and theories of economics as well as breaking down all the complicated terminology, leaving you clued up on economics in no time.
Getting to grips - explore the science of economics and how people deal with scarcity
Keeping an eye on it - learn all about macroeconomics and how economists keep track of everything
Watch patterns emerge - understand why monitoring consumer behaviour is vital and all you need to know about microeconomics
Your recession guide - expert advice on recessions and a detailed look at why they occur
Open the book and find:
Why you should care about economics and how it affects you
Tools to help you understand a recession
A guide to seductive economic fallacies
All you need to know on monetary and fiscal policies
How supply and demand can be made easy
Why it's vital to track consumer choices
An in-depth look at a profit-maximising firm and the core of capitalism
Guidance on property rights and wrongs
Learn to:
Look through economic history and spot the trends
Understand micro- and macroeconomics
Get to grips with consumer behaviour and its influence on the economy
Spot the signs of a recession and see how economic decisions affect you
This updated edition walks you through the history, principles and theories of economics as well as breaking down all the complicated terminology, leaving you clued up on economics in no time.
Getting to grips - explore the science of economics and how people deal with scarcity
Keeping an eye on it - learn all about macroeconomics and how economists keep track of everything
Watch patterns emerge - understand why monitoring consumer behaviour is vital and all you need to know about microeconomics
Your recession guide - expert advice on recessions and a detailed look at why they occur
Open the book and find:
Why you should care about economics and how it affects you
Tools to help you understand a recession
A guide to seductive economic fallacies
All you need to know on monetary and fiscal policies
How supply and demand can be made easy
Why it's vital to track consumer choices
An in-depth look at a profit-maximising firm and the core of capitalism
Guidance on property rights and wrongs
Learn to:
Look through economic history and spot the trends
Understand micro- and macroeconomics
Get to grips with consumer behaviour and its influence on the economy
Spot the signs of a recession and see how economic decisions affect you
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
56 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 19, 2021
I listened to the audiobook of the 3rd edition. Very helpful although it would have been better if I had a hardcopy to see the graphs he referenced. The lame jokes throughout were chuckle inducing. Definitely made me more appreciative of the free market system.
January 10, 2018
A well done and light hearted must-read for any one who wants a basic understanding of economics.
September 2, 2013
I read this because I'm about to start my next OU course* - economics. It's a long, long time since I did my A-level and I thought this would be a useful way to ease back into the subject. This was a very interesting read in nice bite-sized chunks. I decided not to get too bogged down with all the details of the graphs, I thought it sufficient to know that I can look them up in the book.
One thing that does stick is the difference between movement along a demand (or supply) curve and a shift in a demand (or supply) curve. So that means the explanations must have been pretty good. In fact there is a wee bit of repetition, which is great because it's not boring and not horribly extensive.
There is a very useful glossary of economic terms at the back as well as very brief summaries of the top 12 (it should be 10 but they squeezed two more in the list) most influential economists. Sadly they're all men so I'll have to work on that. There are further top 10s: one of economic fallacies and one of economic truths. Excellent.
The book, like all Dummies books has handy icons (such as "real world" examples and, my favourite "key concept" there are also plenty of graphs, examples and handy little boxes full of snippets of information.
*I'm studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics. I want to be Prime Minister.
One thing that does stick is the difference between movement along a demand (or supply) curve and a shift in a demand (or supply) curve. So that means the explanations must have been pretty good. In fact there is a wee bit of repetition, which is great because it's not boring and not horribly extensive.
There is a very useful glossary of economic terms at the back as well as very brief summaries of the top 12 (it should be 10 but they squeezed two more in the list) most influential economists. Sadly they're all men so I'll have to work on that. There are further top 10s: one of economic fallacies and one of economic truths. Excellent.
The book, like all Dummies books has handy icons (such as "real world" examples and, my favourite "key concept" there are also plenty of graphs, examples and handy little boxes full of snippets of information.
*I'm studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics. I want to be Prime Minister.
June 20, 2018
While technically being quite ok, the reading between the lines says that all the bad for markets and thus for people comes from government intervention.
Hard to believe this book was written in third millennium, some of the ideas conveyed seem to come straight from the fifties: the dismissal of world overpopulation as a self-correcting issue is overwhelming. Better read something more humanity oriented.
Hard to believe this book was written in third millennium, some of the ideas conveyed seem to come straight from the fifties: the dismissal of world overpopulation as a self-correcting issue is overwhelming. Better read something more humanity oriented.
October 16, 2023
Surprisingly easy to understand as an audiobook but I did have another source for some of the types of charts referenced. Also, it helps to learn if you try to draw the chart the narrator is describing and then check it against what it is supposed to look like. I read this book to supplement an online MBA course I am taking in economics. It's a good overview. There were a couple of times I thought the author's peculiar biases showed, which was odd, but overall they stuck to the facts. Economics is so much more a behavioral science than I realized.
May 19, 2023
Ik heb dit boek voor school gelezen. Was erg duidelijk verwoord, al moet ik eerlijk toegeven dat ik niet altijd netjes alle wiskundige stappen heb nagevolgd... moet hem waarsch nog een keer lezen om alles echt helemaal te snappen, maar dat ligt dus aan mij en niet aan het boek.
December 28, 2022
We live in a society
October 8, 2023
Sterile and void of reality
Remember those economic classes in school? Yes, the one you slept through has no relationship to reality. Well, even if you had one eye open then here, they are again.
This is a great book to learn terms, graphs, and formulas. It does not touch on any real-world changes like 9-11. Well, maybe hindsight on the theories of the great depression. O.K. not even that.
Here is a good example of the 362 pages you are about to read:
“You may be wondering if there's any way to know exactly how much inflation you can expect from printing any given amount of extra money. You're in luck! The ‘quantity theory of money’ states that the overall level of prices in the economy is proportional to the quantity of money circulating in the economy. Proportional just means that things go up by equal amounts so the quantity theory can also be stated this way: if you double the money supply you double the prices.”
Remember those economic classes in school? Yes, the one you slept through has no relationship to reality. Well, even if you had one eye open then here, they are again.
This is a great book to learn terms, graphs, and formulas. It does not touch on any real-world changes like 9-11. Well, maybe hindsight on the theories of the great depression. O.K. not even that.
Here is a good example of the 362 pages you are about to read:
“You may be wondering if there's any way to know exactly how much inflation you can expect from printing any given amount of extra money. You're in luck! The ‘quantity theory of money’ states that the overall level of prices in the economy is proportional to the quantity of money circulating in the economy. Proportional just means that things go up by equal amounts so the quantity theory can also be stated this way: if you double the money supply you double the prices.”
June 3, 2016
I found this book very good at giving me an understanding of the basic theories of both micro and macro economics especially regarding the formulas as I don't have a strong maths background.
I know that it's probably a little petty of me however I was a little irked at the statement that Karl Marx's theories regarding capitalism relating to the exploitation of workers and free market monopolies were disproved as I would consider the need for antitrust legislation and the fact that the earnings of the bottom 50% of Americans have either stagnated or decreased in real terms over the last 30 years since the U.S. relaxed wage control legislation as evidence that there is at least some basis to his thinking. Please note that I'm not a communist/Marxist just that it seemed like a bold statement to make off hand without presenting a case to support your statement.
Other than that one point which considering how little of the book it relates to I would have to say that it greatly increased my knowledge of the topics it covered and I felt fairly confident applying the formulas after they were explained.
I know that it's probably a little petty of me however I was a little irked at the statement that Karl Marx's theories regarding capitalism relating to the exploitation of workers and free market monopolies were disproved as I would consider the need for antitrust legislation and the fact that the earnings of the bottom 50% of Americans have either stagnated or decreased in real terms over the last 30 years since the U.S. relaxed wage control legislation as evidence that there is at least some basis to his thinking. Please note that I'm not a communist/Marxist just that it seemed like a bold statement to make off hand without presenting a case to support your statement.
Other than that one point which considering how little of the book it relates to I would have to say that it greatly increased my knowledge of the topics it covered and I felt fairly confident applying the formulas after they were explained.
June 20, 2015
أردتُه مدخلًا كافيًا إلى عالم الإقتصاد، مصطلحاتٍ وأُسسًا. وقد كان بحمدالله وافيًا لهذا الغرض، بل ويتجاوز هذا إلى تفاصيلٍ في بعض الجوانب أكثر مما أحتاجه.
وأنا من أنصار فكرة هذه السلسلة( FOR Dummies )ومن أشدّ المعجبين بها، وكم أتمنى لو صدرت ترجمة لها بالعربية إن لم يكن سلسلة كاملة مشابهة في الغرض والطريقة، تقرّب العلم إلى من لم يختصّوا به.
وأنا من أنصار فكرة هذه السلسلة( FOR Dummies )ومن أشدّ المعجبين بها، وكم أتمنى لو صدرت ترجمة لها بالعربية إن لم يكن سلسلة كاملة مشابهة في الغرض والطريقة، تقرّب العلم إلى من لم يختصّوا به.
September 26, 2012
Sometimes a little bit dry but it does a good job of explaining how micro and macro economics work.
October 6, 2012
Easy to read and not too dry but very much just covers the basics and "accepted wisdom". Anyone wanting to understand what is happening in today's global economy will be left unsatisfied
January 13, 2013
Too theoretical- for students.
November 2, 2015
I read about half. :)
March 28, 2017
The book is a beginner for students who are interested in economics. It is easy to understand but is too theoretical for students.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews