Economics surround us, impacting the decisions people make as consumers, producers, workers, savers, investors, taxpayers, and voters. This guide offers a thorough and understandable overview of basic economic concepts and principles, providing building blocks for understanding the systems of economics in today’s complex world. It then explores contemporary, economics-related topics, issues, and challenges that exist within local communities, the U.S. economy, and the global economy.

Using language that is clear, precise, and accessible to high school and community college students as well as to general readers, the book covers microeconomic topics, macroeconomic topics, and international economics. It connects theory and practice as it examines how economic decisions are made and looks at the roles of the private and public sectors in achieving growth, stability, and employment. In addition, the author explores overarching trends in the global economy and the prospects for economic development in emerging nations and offers specific ways to locate other quality print and online resources on economics.

Features

• Covers many of the economic concepts and principles outlined by the Council for Economic Education (Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics, 2nd Edition, 2010), National Council for the Social Studies (College, Career, & Civic Life C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards: Guidance for Enhancing the Rigor of K–12 Civics, Economics, Geography, and History, 2013), the Foundation for Teaching Economics, and the College Board