The bestselling citizen's guide to economics Basic Economics is a citizen's guide to economics, written for those who want to understand how the economy works but have no interest in jargon or equations. Bestselling economist Thomas Sowell explains the general principles underlying different economic systems: capitalist, socialist, feudal, and so on. In readable language, he shows how to critique economic policies in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the goals they proclaim. With clear explanations of the entire field, from rent control and the rise and fall of businesses to the international balance of payments, this is the first book for anyone who wishes to understand how the economy functions. This fifth edition includes a new chapter explaining the reasons for large differences of wealth and income between nations. Drawing on lively examples from around the world and from centuries of history, Sowell explains basic economic principles for the general public in plain English.

With over a million copies sold, Economics in One Lesson is an essential guide to the basics of economic theory. A fundamental influence on modern libertarianism, Hazlitt defends capitalism and the free market from economic myths that persist to this day. Considered among the leading economic thinkers of the “Austrian School,” which includes Carl Menger, Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich (F.A.) Hayek, and others, Henry Hazlitt (1894-1993), was a libertarian philosopher, an economist, and a journalist. He was the founding vice-president of the Foundation for Economic Education and an early editor of The Freeman magazine, an influential libertarian publication. Hazlitt wrote Economics in One Lesson, his seminal work, in 1946. Concise and instructive, it is also deceptively prescient and far-reaching in its efforts to dissemble economic fallacies that are so prevalent they have almost become a new orthodoxy. Economic commentators across the political spectrum have credited Hazlitt with foreseeing the collapse of the global economy which occurred more than 50 years after the initial publication of Economics in One Lesson. Hazlitt’s focus on non-governmental solutions, strong — and strongly reasoned — anti-deficit position, and general emphasis on free markets, economic liberty of individuals, and the dangers of government intervention make Economics in One Lesson every bit as relevant and valuable today as it has been since publication.

From one of America's best-known economists, the one book anyone who wants to understand the economy needs to read.

With wit and verve, Economic Literacy explains the logic, language, and worldview of economic theory and engagingly describes the organization and performance of the U.S. economy. Its combination of theory and description is essential for understanding debates about current affairs, penetrating the literature of economics, and reflecting on the usefulness and limits of economic analysis. Updated throughout, the second edition includes new discussions of social security, tax reform, surging petroleum prices, and the economic effects of the Iraq war and other international issues.

This user-friendly guide explains economic concepts and principles in a lively, informative way. Clear and easy-to-understand definitions and explanations, with examples that relate to issues and problems relevant to teenagers, will help students gain a better understanding of economics. In 15 chapters, the guide covers all the basic information students need to understand the basic concepts and principles of economics, including: definition of economics in historical context; how various economics systems work; how prices are set in the U.S. economy; consumer behavior; factors of production; types of businesses; competition in the marketplace; the functions of money; banking and credit; types of investments; the federal budget and taxation; federal monetary and fiscal policies; income distribution in the United States; labor and management issues; international trade. Each chapter explores a key question in economics, is illustrated with graphs and tables, and features the latest economic data. Profiles of the major economic thinkers who influenced thinking on concepts and principles provide historical context. In addition to improving students' conceptual understanding, the guide also encourages critical thinking by investigating controversial issues related to topics as varied as the minimum wage, the decay of our natural environment, poverty, and business ethics of multinational corporations. An extensive glossary of key economic concepts, terms, and institutions is a handy tool. Unlike cut-and-dried, difficult to follow reference works on economics, this guide, designed and written especially for students, will help readers better understand economic information and issues.

Thomas Sowell “both surprises and overturns received wisdom” in this indispensable examination of widespread economic fallacies (The Economist) Economic Facts and Fallacies exposes some of the most popular fallacies about economic issues-and does so in a lively manner and without requiring any prior knowledge of economics by the reader. These include many beliefs widely disseminated in the media and by politicians, such as mistaken ideas about urban problems, income differences, male-female economic differences, as well as economics fallacies about academia, about race, and about Third World countries. One of the themes of Economic Facts and Fallacies is that fallacies are not simply crazy ideas but in fact have a certain plausibility that gives them their staying power-and makes careful examination of their flaws both necessary and important, as well as sometimes humorous. Written in the easy-to-follow style of the author's Basic Economics, this latest book is able to go into greater depth, with real world examples, on specific issues.