Level-up, Economics.

November 14, 2008 1:28 PM

I'm looking for a good, intermediate economics textbook.

I would like to get a few recommendations on intermediate/advanced economics textbooks that are well suited to self-study. I am particularly interested in macroeconomics and development economics. What are the standard books typically assigned in college courses? Which books have been particularly helpful in moving you from a beginner to intermediate understanding of macroeconomics? Also, books that have associated online content (quizzes, tests) are a plus.

posted by dead_ to education (3 comments total)

I'm an econ prof and teach development economics. I really like Mankiw's principle book. He has separate micro and macro books and one that combines them togethor.

Mankiw also has a good blog, is a great writer and should be easier to follow.

In terms of online quizes, you can look into Aplia. Which is a system that many professors use to give online homework, it includes an online copy of the text and homework.
Contact their customer service department, they may be able to work something out.

For development I have used Smith and Todaro. It has some online quizes, although I'm not sure if the answers are posted. I would also recommend reading paper backs by Jeffery Sachs, Bill Easterly, Paul Collier, Joeseph Stiglitz, Jagdish Bhagwati, for development. Also check out Chris Blattman's blog.

All this stuff should be easy to find through google.

Also if you live near a college/univ go to their book store. Leaf through some text and see who you like.
posted by akabobo at 1:50 PM on November 14, 2008 [1 favorite]

I really like Mankiw's blog and have been using blogs as a supplement to help me further my understanding. Haven't read his text, but I am sure it is excellent.

In my entry level economics course, we have been using Krugman's text, which I find really easy to read, although I feel it could be more helpful in terms of learning some of more complicated math involved with economics. It is designed to work with Aplia, so you read the text and then have all of these problems online as a supplement.
posted by hazyspring at 2:40 PM on November 14, 2008

My Development Economics class (I am a student, not a professor) used Perkins/Radelet/Lindauer's Economics of Development. It uses plain, clear language, and engages policy debates very directly.
posted by Clandestine Outlawry at 4:54 PM on November 14, 2008