Can anyone recommend a good read on Modern Economics? Preferably on a macro stage and not a text-book.

June 24, 2004 1:22 PM

Can anyone recommend a good read on Modern Economics? Preferably on a macro stage and not a text-book.

I’m looking for something anecdote heavy, aimed for one without an economics background, and is politically oriented.

posted by Dr_Octavius to work & money (5 comments total)

Naked Economics by Charles Wheelan is a quick read that gave a good overview. Lots of interesting real world examples. Should give a good start to see what aspects you want to learn more about.
posted by gregchttm at 1:28 PM on June 24, 2004

Economics in one Lesson

Basic Economics

Both books are written from a Laissez-faire perspective.
posted by trharlan at 1:39 PM on June 24, 2004

I second Naked Economics by Wheelan, excellent coverage of a lot of concepts, wish I had read this before taking Macro in college.
posted by mhaw at 1:53 PM on June 24, 2004

I read New Ideas From Dead Economists in a History of Economic Thought class and have recommended it to every armchair economist I know. It gives you a good mix of history and theory, and you learn quite a bit about the lives of Modern Econ's big players. Maybe not as technical as you're looking for, but well worth your time. It's pretty damn funny in spots, too.
posted by Ufez Jones at 2:21 PM on June 24, 2004

I was not a fan of New Ideas From Dead Economists...

I much prefer Heilbroner's The Worldly Philosophers.
posted by cadastral at 5:14 PM on June 24, 2004