Price Theory and Applications (with Economic Applications) (Hardcover)

by Steven E. Landsburg (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
By the successful author of "The Armchair Economist" (a popular trade book that explains basic economics to the general public), this book makes intermediate microeconomics fun and intellectually challenging. The writing style provides an exceptionally friendly and application-rich presentation, combined with a rigorous and careful development of microeconomics theory. All of the standard topics of intermediate price theory are included, as well as many innovative topics, such as alternative normative criteria, efficient asset markets, contestable markets, antitrust law, human capital, demand for public goods, and more. A unique unifying theme of social welfare is used throughout. The inclusion of higher-level mathematics is minimal.

About the Author
Steven E. Landsburg teaches economics at the University of Rochester. He is the author of six books, including The Armchair Economist (Free Press/Macmillan 1993). His articles have appeared in the Journal of Political Economy, the Journal of Economic Theory, and many other journals in mathematics, economics and philosophy. He writes the monthly "Everyday Economics" column in Slate magazine, and has written for Forbes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. He appeared as a commentator on the PBS/Turner Broadcasting series "Damn Right", and has made over 200 radio and television appearances. He has served on the board of directors of Hutchinson Technology, the world's largest maker of suspension assemblies for hard disk drives.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 768 pages
• Publisher: South-Western College Pub; 6 edition (July 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0324274483
• ISBN-13: 978-0324274486
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #624,908 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Price Theory and Applications (Hardcover)

I have only read two textbooks in my life that I would recommend to the public in general. This is one. If you have never studied economics, start here. Extremely readable. Note in particular the discussion on whether college should be outlawed (Chapter 9, "Knowledge and Information"), the tragic story of Treasury Bill #GS7-2-179-46-6606-1 (Chapter 17, "Allocating Goods over Time") and the Pigs-in-the-Box problem (Chapter 12, "Game Theory"). Don't succumb to the Nash equilibrium! Read Price Theory.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very readable and challenging textbook, May 13, 2003

By	Zachary Gochenour (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Price Theory and Applications (Hardcover)

This is an excellent textbook for any intermediate level price theory or microeconomics course. The author is right when he says beginning students should find it easy to grasp and advanced students will find the material challenging and thought provoking. The portion devoted to a review of elementary topics is small, and I would not recommend this book as an introduction to economics. Any undergraduate who encounters this book should breathe a sigh of relief - it is definitely one of the better texts in the subject. Instructors looking for a good textbook would do well to choose this one.

The "study guide" that is sometimes packaged with the textbook is not entirely useful; the number of problems actually in the textbook should be more than sufficient. Overall, this is a great survey of price theory with Landsburg's signature examples and interesting applications.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great!!, October 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Price Theory and Applications (Hardcover)

One of the best books on Price Theory. He really elucidates the subject matter. The questions given at the end of the chapters challenge you to the limit.