Provides information on the role of government spending in the economy, different forms of taxation, government budgets, the national debt, tax reform, and related topics.

Provides information on the basics of buying goods and services and the role of goods and services in the economy.

Provides information about producing goods and services using resource regulation, model economies, various means of predicting production, and private enterprise capitalism.

At the turn of this century, the American national debt stood at just under $6 trillion and the deficit at a "mere" $86 billion. Today, the national debt has topped $15 trillion, and the yearly deficit for 2012 is projected at a whopping $1.2 trillion. This new, second edition of Deficits: Why Should I Care? updates all the statistics, charts, and forecasts, while adding a new chapter on how global economies now, for better or worse, affect the U.S. debt and the annual budget deficit. It also includes a new appendix detailing how the U.S. political parties view the debt issue. According to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Annual Report on the Public Debt, the debt is estimated to hit $19.6 trillion by 2015. The federal government has borrowed roughly 40 percent of its total budget for the last several years, a trend that could leave the U.S. in an economic crisis. Astronomical interest payments, a debt burden to your children and grandchildren, and an increased reliance on foreign creditors are just a few of the problems. Although the U.S. has experienced soaring unemployment, stagnant production, and a crippled housing market, foremost on many economists' minds are rising deficits and ballooning debt. Others feel fears of the national debt are overblown or pale in comparison to today’s economic problems. This clear, concise book will give you the need-to-know on the debt. You will learn: How to calculate deficits and the national debt The history of U.S debt and its recent unparalleled growth over the years How and why the government borrows money The economic arguments for, and against, accruing a debt Could we become like Greece if we don't cut our deficit? The impact of the debt on interest rates and inflation The impact of the debt on the value of the dollar and U.S. economic power This book also answers key questions: Can the government go bankrupt? Why have there seemingly been no repurcussions of the large debt to date and is that likely to change? When the interest on the debt becomes higher than the revenue of the government, what happens? And many more practical insights into the government debt controversy. Business professionals, parents, retirees, and students are all concerned about the debt. This quick read will provide an understanding of the ramifications of the rising debt and what the consequences may be.

Follow the history of Starbucks on its journey from one local retail store in Seattle to a global chain of coffeehouses found in more than 47 countries around the world. Starbucks tells the story of how a single retail outlet opened in 1971 became the world's largest chain of coffeehouses, and for that matter, one of the largest franchises of any kind, with over $10 billion in sales in 2008. Starbucks offers readers the opportunity to get to know this extraordinary corporation's leaders, employees, guiding principles, corporate innovations, competitive strategies, setbacks, and future prospects. Along the way, it explores a number of fascinating issues, including the company's pivotal decision to use Arabica beans instead of mass-produced coffee and its efforts to support sustainable coffee farming worldwide. The book also looks at how Starbucks is coping with the global economic downturn, detailing its recent initiatives to reduce costs, offer healthier food, and re-embrace its coffee-centered, customer-based roots.

Money. Debt. Interest rates. Bankruptcy. Billionaires. Students may understand that money makes the world go 'round, but most are a little shaky when it comes to explaining how and why. Using an A-Z format and containing over 400 entries, this reference book provides an essential foundation of business and economic knowledge for middle-school, high-school, and community college students. Short features scattered throughout the text add interest and fun, while helping students understand how economics affects their daily lives. Best, the entries are written in a style ideal for students just beginning to learn how economies work and function Teenagers spend over $100 billion annually in the U.S. and influence everything from clothing styles to music and movies to food and cell phones. Money for Minors will help them understand how their daily decisions have a huge impact on the economy. Special features will enable budding moguls to understand how they can become entrepreneurs and create economic value in various ways, evaluate offers from banks and credit card companies, read the business section of the newspaper, understand the importance of various government statistics, and more. And the book will not just prepare students for the higher-level economics courses they will take in high school and college—it will be a terrific guide for anyone doing research on everything from the Great Depression to credit card debt to real estate to inflation. Over 400 clearly written definitions will help students understand the essential concepts of economics and finance. In addition: -Short sidebars scattered throughout the text help students understand how economics affects their daily lives. Topics include reading stock quotes, icon economists like Alan Greenspan, monetary trivia, cool econ and monetary Websites, and the basics of entrepreneurship. -Six mini-lessons provide real-life applications of how the economy functions. Topics include The Federal Reserve System, Gross Domestic Product, Government Spending and Taxation, National Debt, Money, and The Business Cycle. Used as a stand-alone reference or in conjunction with an economics textbook, the definitions in the book will help students learn the language of economics—and help them understand the ways in which individuals, businesses, and government work together to form our $13 trillion economy.