The Undercover economist

Author

• Harford, Tim

Additional Author(s)

-

Publisher

New York: Oxford University press, Inc., 2012

Language

English

ISBN

9780199926510

Series

Subject(s)

• CONSUMER EDUCATION
• ECONOMIC
• ECONOMIC HISTORY-1990-...

Notes

. . Index: p. 283-293

Abstract

With over one million copies sold, The Undercover Economist has been hailed worldwide as a fantastic guide to the fundamental principles of economics. An economist's version of The Way Things Work, this engaging volume is part Economics 101 and part exposé of the economic principles lurking behind daily events, explaining everything from traffic jams to high coffee prices.
New to this edition: This revised edition, newly updated to consider the banking crisis and economic turbulence of the last four years, is essential for anyone who has wondered why the gap between rich and poor nations is so great, or why they can't seem to find a decent second-hand car, or how to outwit Starbucks. Senior columnist for the Financial Times Tim Harford brings his experience and insight as he ranges from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the United States to reveal how supermarkets, airlines, and coffee chains--to name just a few--are vacuuming money from our wallets. Harford punctures the myths surrounding some of today's biggest controversies, including the high cost of health-care; he reveals why certain environmental laws can put a smile on a landlord's face; and he explains why some industries can have high profits for innocent reasons, while in other industries something sinister is going on.
Covering an array of economic concepts including scarce resources, market power, efficiency, price gouging, market failure, inside information, and game theory, Harford sheds light on how these forces shape our day-to-day lives, often without our knowing it. Showing us the world through the eyes of an economist, Tim Harford reveals that everyday events are intricate games of negotiations, contests of strength, and battles of wits. Written with a light touch and sly wit, The Undercover Economist turns "the dismal science" into a true delight.

Physical Dimension

Number of Page(s)

ix, 293 p.

Dimension

24 cm.

Other Desc.

-

Summary / Review / Table of Content

Preface to the second edition – ix
Introduction – 3
Who pays for your coffee? – 7
What supermarkets don't want you to know – 33
Perfect markets and the "world of truth" – 63
Crosstown traffic – 83
The inside story – 115
Rotten investments and rotten eggs – 145
The men who knew the value of nothing – 165
Why poor countries are poor – 191
Beer, fries, and globalization – 215
How China grew rich – 245
Notes – 271
Index – 283

Exemplar(s)

#	Accession No.	Call Number	Location	Status
1.	01434/17	330.90511 Har U	Library - 7th Floor	Available