Economic Literacy: Basic Economics with an Attitude

by Frederick S. Weaver

This book explains the logic, language, and worldview of economic theory, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international topics. The book also has considerable descriptive material on the organization and performance of the U.S. economy. Explaining 'economics'_an academic discipline_is not the same thing as explaining 'the economy'_the processes of producing and distributing goods and services. The difference is crucial, because meaningful economic literacy requires the ability to think critically about the distinctive viewpoint proposed by academic economics, a viewpoint that has become dominant in contemporary politics and culture. A combination of economic theory and description is essential for understanding debates about current affairs, reading some professional economics literature, and reflecting on the usefulness and limits of the discipline of economics. These are ambitious goals for a short book, and while the book is serious, it is not grim_thus basic economics with an attitude.

Genres: Economics

284 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2002

About the author

American historian.

Reviews

[Justin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reasonably clear, slightly opinionated and very wide-ranging intro to economics. I don't know if this would be a good choice for your very first encounter with the discipline, but if you're at my level (i.e., some grounding in history, pay attention to the news without necessarily grasping all the intricacies, but no formal training of any kind) it's very good. It gets murkier as the subject matter gets murkier: the micro section is very clear, the macro section gets a little more difficult, and the international economy section is often baffling. But then, I suspect the same goes for what he's writing about. A particularly nice feature is the way he closes chapters or sections with real world history-of-the-economy. I don't quite know how, but he moves very smoothly from raw theory to the disasters we've lived through over the last few years. Also bonus points for distinguishing between the economy and economics, and trying to make sure you, the reader, also keep that distinction in mind: what economists agree about isn't necessarily a true statement about the economy.

[Tommy Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A damned interesting "how to" work on understanding the literature of economics. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, but found the author just a tad too charming.