Customer Reviews

Economics: A New Introduction

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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.

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!

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!

This is a great effort.. For those interested in REAL LIFE Economics..not just the usual textbook stuff....Who are the economists , anyway???? REAL people with values and biases that are reflected in their work and opinions. The size of this book maybe intimidating...but once you are in it...is very nice and easy reading stuff.
I think it goes deeper than the average economics book and that you can learn a lot from it. Get it.....