Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies, 17/e

by Campbell R. McConnell, Stanley L. Brue

McConnell and Brue’s Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies is the leading Principles of Economics textbook because it is innovative and teaches students in a clear, unbiased way. The 17th Edition builds upon the tradition of leadership with three main goals: help the beginning student master the principles essential for understanding the economizing problem, specific economic issues, and the policy alternatives; help the student understand and apply the economic perspective and reason accurately and objectively about economic matters; and promote a lasting student interest in economics and the economy.

Genres: Economics, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Finance, School, Business, College

808 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obviously written by people who shouldn't be teaching economics in a book. My personal favorite (and I'm being sarcastic) was when the authors would take three paragraphs explaining how and why something is done only so I could spend two hours trying to figure out how to do the accompanying homework problem... only to look it up on Google and discover there was a simple formula that's never mentioned in the book. For example, the tax multiplier. All they had to say was that it's always negative and it's always one less than your regular multiplier. Yeah, never mentioned in the book. But there IS a pretty graph of it!

I did well in the class, but not without putting a ton of work into figuring most of this stuff out on my own, and not without annoying my professor with more questions than should have been necessary!

[Andrii Tymchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful textbook on Economics which explains everything clear enough, so that even a complete beginner in the subject would be able to grasp all the concepts very quickly. Sometimes it lacks a deeper mathematical background on the problems described, though. But I should not judge the book very strictly for that because, as I mentioned, the main segment of this textbook is beginners rather than people with advanced math skills.

Even despite the fact that I am an Economics major and I know the subject better than the book can offer, I decided to spend my time on it and I have no regrets about doing that. The only regret is that I didn't study economics from such high-quality American textbooks from the beginning. Maybe this could accelerate my studying process even more.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this textbook for a two-semester micro & macroeconomic series of classes at the community college. I enjoyed both the class and this textbook immensely. So much of the latter, in fact, that I took the initiative and read the whole book when only 75% of it was used during the courses.

This book offers a gentle introduction to US-centric economics which should satiate the casual learner as well as prime the beginning economics major. I highly recommend this textbook and the online facilities which accompany it.

[Mehdi Zare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great job!
Full of case studies, comes with a 4 hour DVD which contain interesting cases on economics and application of theory.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad, as far as economics textbooks go.

[Mike Harmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I taught Macro from this book. While the information is adequate, I found it relatively tedious. Most economists have a terribly good sense of humor and the material can be enjoyable.

[Vasilis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished it! This is the first economics textbook I bought in English almost twenty... years ago. However, back then my level of English was not sufficient to go through the book and I just let it dust in my bookcase. I got my economics and politics degree, but I decided to follow the politics/international relations path in my postgraduate studies. During the last academic year I was asked to teach economics to law/politics undergraduates at a very basic level. Oh well... It had to be done. This is when I decided I wanted to read the book, despite the fact the 13th edition was published in 1996, since in terms of basic economic theory it is still valid.

I have to say that the textbook was really accessible and it covered many different aspects of both micro and macro. There has been an enormous effort to contain as much as possible in a textbook and explain it as clearly as possible. On the other hand, I believe that the authors should have been more selective, since there is no need to overburden the students with chapters that are not necessary for an introduction to economics course (such as the economics of health care, for example). The different theories are well explained, but I found the microeconomics chapters much better than the macroeconomics ones. Perhaps the biggest drawback is that the the structure of the 13th edition of the book is really really awkward; starting with a number of general chapters, then macro, then banking, then micro and then public economics and international economics. Just to show how irrational the structure is, there is a bit of international economics in the beginning (chapter 6) and then again 600 pages later towards the end of the book (Chapters 37 and 38). It makes so much more sense to start with micro, followed by macro and then proceed with other chapters and units that are not that important from a basic economic theory perspective. In any case, I hope this has been improved in subsequent editions. Finally, the textbook is really US-centric. It would be better if it was more open to examples from other parts of the world. I am glad I read it, though (even the archaic chapter on Russia as a transition economy, since it gave me a very nice view of the relevant debates back then - we are talking about the mid-1990s).

All in all, I would have given it 2 1/2 stars if possible. I now need to find my university professors and tell them that all their efforts were not in vain. I can still read and understand economic theory. As a matter of fact, I can even teach it! ;)

[Rusty · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book for an introductory look at economic concepts.

[Sean · Rating 3 out of 5]

reading a textbook cover to cover is not reccomended

[Eesha Khan Niazi]

21st edition with Sean M Flynn

[Charles Theiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This definitely goes in depth and is a helpful first dive into econ. That said, it's boring as hell and you'll have to look elsewhere sometimes for clarification on certain concepts.

Now if you're doing this as a McGraw-Hill course in a can, I pity you. Though a decent textbook, the online course that comes with it is based on rote memorization of throwaway concepts and examples rather than the implementation of the content Mr. McConnell & Co have been so kind as to put before us. The course itself is a solid 1.5 stars.

[Mister Southwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

THis book is not the perfect economics text by any means. However, it does a particularly good job of preparing students for the AP Micro exam, and gives a lot of depth and breadth to the discussion of Microeconomics. The Macroeconomics portion of the book leaves a lot to be desired. It is confusing, ordered strangely, and lacking in many of the key ideas needed for the AP Macro exam.

I would say 5 stars for Micro, 2 for Macro.

[Nicholas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fail.

[Ibrahim]

Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies

[Amy Komrska · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible text book and a horrible teacher. Barely scraped by in this class and didn't learn a thing.

[Kaisa Mettille · Rating 4 out of 5]

good at making the concepts clear

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

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