Economics For Dummies

Learn the basics of economics and keep up to date on our ever-changing economy

Whether you’re studying economics in high school or college, or you’re just interested in taking a peek into the complexities of how money moves, Economics For Dummies is the go-to reference that transforms complex economic concepts into easy-to-understand reading. With the simple explanations in this book, you’ll master key topics like supply and demand, consumer behavior, and how governments and central banks attempt to avoid―or at least ameliorate―business downturns and recessions. Plus, you’ll learn what’s going on these days with inflation, interest rates, labor shortages, and the Federal Reserve. Studying for an exam? This Dummies guide has your back, with online practice and chapter quizzes to help you get the score you need. It’s time to recon econ, the Dummies way.

• Get a grasp on the unchanging fundamentals of economics
• Dive into behavioral economics and consumer decision making
• Learn what drives economic growth and inequality
• Solidify your knowledge with practice questions and quizzes

Economics For Dummies is an approachable reference book for students, as well as an informative guide for anyone interested in learning more about today’s economy.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Economics: The Science of How People Deal with Scarcity

CHAPTER 1: What Economics Is and Why You Should Care

CHAPTER 2: Cookies or Ice Cream? Exploring Consumer Choices

CHAPTER 3: Producing Stuff to Maximize Happiness

Part 2: Microeconomics: The Science of Consumer and Firm Behavior

CHAPTER 4: Supply and Demand Made Easy

CHAPTER 5: Introducing Homo Economicus, the Utility-Maximizing Consumer

CHAPTER 6: The Core of Capitalism: The Profit-Maximizing Firm

CHAPTER 7: Why Economists Love Free Markets and Competition

CHAPTER 8: Monopolies: Bad Behavior When Competition Is Lacking

CHAPTER 9: Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition: Middle Grounds

Part 3: Applying the Theories of Microeconomics

CHAPTER 10: Property Rights and Wrongs

CHAPTER 11: Asymmetric Information and Public Goods

CHAPTER 12: Internet Economics: Networks and Platforms

CHAPTER 13: Behavioral Economics: Investigating Irrationality

Part 4: Macroeconomics: The Science of Economic Growth and Stability

CHAPTER 14: How Economists Measure the Macroeconomy

CHAPTER 15: Inflation Frustration: Why More Money Isn’t Always Good

CHAPTER 16: Understanding Why Recessions Happen

CHAPTER 17: Fighting Recessions with Monetary and Fiscal Policy

CHAPTER 18: Grasping Origins and Effects of Financial Crises

Part 5: The Part of Tens

CHAPTER 19: Ten Seductive Economic Fallacies

CHAPTER 20: Ten Economic Ideas to Hold Dear

CHAPTER 21: Ten (Or So) Super-Famous Economists

CHAPTER 22: Ten (Or So) Recent Nobel Laureates in Economics

About the Author

Sean Masaki Flynn, PhD, is an assistant professor of economics at Scripps College, where he also serves as the chairman of the economics department. Dr.??Flynn has been a guest expert on NPR and has been interviewed for articles on Forbes.com. He’s the coauthor of the world’s best-selling economics textbook.