Price Theory and Applications [Hardcover]

Steven Landsburg (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0324059795 | ISBN-13: 978-0324059793 | Publication Date: July 20, 2001 | Edition: 5

Intermediate microeconomics is both fun and intellectually challenging in this new edition, written by the author of The Armchair Economist, the popular trade book that explains basic economics to the general public. The text provides an exceptionally friendly and application-rich presentation, combined with a rigorous and careful development of microeconomic theory. All of the standard topics of intermediate price theory are included, as well as innovative topics such as alternative normative criteria, efficient asset markets, contestable markets, antitrust law, human capital, and the demand for public goods. A unique unifying theme of social welfare is used with little higher-level mathematics.

Editorial Reviews

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. For more information about Professor Landsburg, visit http://www.landsburg.com/about2.html.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 780 pages
• Publisher: South-Western College Pub; 5 edition (July 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0324059795
• ISBN-13: 978-0324059793
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,421,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Steven E. Landsburg is a Professor of Economics at the University of Rochester. He is the author of More Sex Is Safer Sex, The Armchair Economist, Fair Play, two textbooks on economics, and over thirty journal articles in mathematics, economics, and philosophy. He writes the popular "Everyday Economics" column in Slate magazine and has written for Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, and other publications.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 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.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Zachary Gochenour (Fairfax, VA) - 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.

6 of 8 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.