Microeconomics and Behavior [Hardcover]

Robert H Frank (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0072977450 | ISBN-13: 978-0072977455 | Edition: 6

Robert Frank’s Microeconomics and Behavior covers the essential topics of microeconomics while exploring the relationship between economics analysis and human behavior. The book’s clear narrative appeals to students, and its numerous examples help students develop economic intuition. This book introduces modern topics not often found in intermediate textbooks. Its focus throughout is to develop a student’s capacity to “think like an economist.”

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert H. Frank received his B.S. in mathematics from Georgia Tech in 1966, then taught math and science for two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Nepal. He received his M.A. in statistics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1971, and his Ph.D. in economics in 1972, also from U.C. Berkeley. He is the Goldwin Smith Professor of Economics at Cornell University, where he has taught since 1972 and where he currently holds a joint appointment in the department of economics and the Johnson Graduate School of Management. During leaves of absence from Cornell, he served as chief economist for the Civil Aeronautics Board from 1978 to 1980 and was a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in 1992-93. He has published on a variety of subjects, including price and wage discrimination, public utility pricing, the measurement of unemployment spell lengths, and the distributional consequences of direct foreign investment. For the past several years, his research has focused on rivalry and cooperation in economic and social behavior. His books on these themes include Choosing the Right Pond: Human Behavior and the Quest for Status (Oxford University Press, 1985) and Passions Within Reason: The Strategic Role of the Emotions (W.W. Norton, 1988). He and Philip Cook are co-authors of The Winner-Take-All Society (The Free Press, 1995) , which received a Critic’s Choice Award and appeared on both the New York Times Notable Books list and Business Week Ten Best list for 1995. His most recent general interest publication is Luxury Fever (The Free Press, 1999). Professor Frank’s books have been translated into eight languages. He has been awarded an Andrew W. Mellon Professorship (1987 – 1990), a Kenan Enterprise Award (1993), and a Merrill Scholars Program Outstanding Educator Citation (1991).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 720 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Irwin; 6 edition (February 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072977450
• ISBN-13: 978-0072977455
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than average, May 30, 2000

By 

Edward Mariyani-Squire (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microeconomics and Behavior (Hardcover)

In response to the previous reviews: It is true that this text does fit neatly between the "mathematical" (read: hard) and the "wordy" (read: easy) alternatives texts available on the market today. It is also true that it is disappointing (and annoying) to see the mathematical appendices shipped off to a website (which readers then have to print out for themselves!).

However, a virtually unique virtue of this text that has not been mentioned so far is the supplementary chapters, "The Economics of Information and Choice Under Uncertainty", "Explaining Tastes: The Importance of Altruism and Other Nonegoistic Bheavior", "Cognitive Limitations and Consumer Behavior" (very good), and "Government". These chapters really distinguish the book. They are intellectually (and I mean that it the broad sense) stimulating and challenging. Thus, for the student who is genuinely interested in UNDERSTANDING (as opposed to memorising) the basis of neo-classical theory, it a must.

In my opinion there are a few annoying omissions (e.g., Pigovian taxes/subsidies with respect to externalities, and bilateral monopolies in labour markets), but then again, others would no doubt object to the inclusion of these topics.

Overall, the text is very well written, user-friendly and, more importantly, intellectually stimulating thanks largely to the supplementary chapters. I just hope they're not shipped off to some website too.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Judgment, Choice and Rationality, May 2, 2004

By 

Tyler Markowsky (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microeconomics and Behavior (Hardcover)

As of late, microeconomic and macroeconomic theory has been incorporating social, psychological and social-psychological theory and concepts into the fold. This makes sense, for the quantification sans-psychology (social psychology) of analysis has been poor.

This author is well-versed in this area and articulates well the concepts which are important. However, as my colleagues have stated, the book does leave much to be desired in the mathematical-sense.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Judgment, Choice and Rationality (defined).

This book should be included in undergraduate curriculum.

Five stars because it accomplishes what it was designed for (non-mathematical approach to microeconomics).

Regards,
Tyler Markowsky

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars clear insights in the world of microecenomics, November 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Basle, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microeconomics and Behavior (Hardcover)

at first glance the 750 pages of the book made me shiver. but the contents are very comprehensive a the flow is good. many examples will guide you through to more complicated topics. accompaning study guide by james halteman is not needed. -> waste of money