Economics: A New Introduction [Paperback]

Hugh Stretton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745315313 | ISBN-13: 978-0745315317 | Publication Date: March 1, 2000

Economics: A New Introduction provides a fresh introduction to real economics. Highlighting the complex and changing nature of economic activity, this wide-ranging text employs a pragmatic mix of old and new methods to examine the role of values and theoretical beliefs in economic life and in economists’ understanding of it. It attends to the problems which have come with high productivity, rapidly changing technology and skills, changing proportions of earning and non-earning years in most people’s lives, and a faltering revolution in childhood and parenting which has brought stress and over-work for many women. It addresses such issues as rising poverty, inequality, insecurity and the slow progress of environmental reform. In focusing on such abuses of affluence the text draws on institutional, Keynesian, green and feminist theories, while emphasising all approaches to understanding economic life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Stretton provides a brilliant, critical and fresh look at the whole of economics. He points to the contradictions and the lack of realism in its current approaches. I cannot recommend this book too strongly.' --Paul Streeten, Boston University, founder of World Development journal

 

'Introduces the reader to the many different skills required in economics: analysis, a knowledge of history and institutions, philosophical concepts, quantitative precision, judgement, relevance and a sense of time and place.' --G.C. Harcourt, Cambridge University

 

“The publication of this book is one of the most important events of the last ten years in economics. It is not a flimsy response to the stagnating orthodoxy, but a substantial quality alternative building upon solid philosophical foundations.” --Michael Keaney, Glasgow Caledonian University

About the Author

Hugh Stretton studied law and classics at Melbourne University, history at Oxford University, and economics as a visiting fellow at Princeton University. He has been a Fellow and Dean of Balliol College, Oxford and taught at Smith College, Massachusetts, Professor of History and Research Fellow in Economics at the University of Adelaide. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academies of the Humanities and the Social Sciences. His most recent book is Public Goods, Public Enterprise, Public Choice: Theoretical Foundations of the Contemporary Attack on Government (coauthored with Lionel Orchard).

Product Details

• Paperback: 896 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745315313
• ISBN-13: 978-0745315317
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,500,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Economics as you've never seen it, March 14, 2000

By 

Michael Keaney (Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Economics: A New Introduction (Paperback)

The typical economics primer is a weighty tome whose content is not noted for its ability to inspire its readers. In addition, by adhering to the time-worn principle of treating the subject as a "positive" science, the pretence that it has no political ramifications is carefully crafted. Most who choose to continue their study of economics are thus indoctrinated into the myth of market versus state, and the "impartiality" of economic "scientists". For example, not for a minute is the state's actual role in propping up the "market" given its due consideration -- that would overly complicate matters, and spoil the pretty theoretical models. Conventional economics' public relations work for our political economic system would also suffer.

For those interested in how the real world works, this book offers an introduction to economics like no other. The breadth of its coverage and depth of its discussions put the authors of other conventional texts to shame for their blasé treatments of intensely political issues they describe as "purely economic", as if there could be such a thing. This is Political Economy writ large, and the connectedness of the political and the economic forms the basis of Stretton's revision of the entire corpus of economics.

For an accessible, well-written, and wholly serious treatment of an essential subject, beginners and experienced alike would be hard put to find a better source of its kind.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for every economic student... and professor, July 30, 2005

By 

touraj "eaglereader" (LA, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Economics: A New Introduction (Paperback)

The first seven chapters of this book should be a must-read for anyone who is determined to study economics, irrespective of one's socio-political biases. Cause and effect relationships, facts-values-selections, assertions vs. mathematical explanations, and many other topics related to critical thinking are clearly explained. I wish I had access to this book when I was trying to understand the underlying assumptions of microeconomics which my professors simply ignored to explain.

I am now ready to read the remaining 53 chapters of this book as well as reread all my old economics textbooks, including Samuelson's!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now for something completely different...and GOOD!, October 14, 2003

By 

economist "economist" (Berkeley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Economics: A New Introduction (Paperback)

This is a completely different textbook from the ones flooding the market place of elementary economics education. Steeton is a scholar with a background in the classics and the humanities and brings to economic inquiry a vision lacking in most treatments of the subject. I can not recommend this book enough!