Economics Questions

Re: Reading Suggestions

Torsten — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:29:18 GMT

I consider

An Introduction to Economic Reasoning

by David Gordon

a good introduction: http://www.mises.org/etexts/EconReasoning.pdf

the concepts and method are well explained and it is less riddled with ideological statements campaigning for certain policies.

Re: Reading Suggestions

Pedro — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 22:56:16 GMT

As others have said: Economics in One Lesson and Economics for Real People are great introductory books. The first one is more of a rebuttal to many economic misconceptions, but the good thing is that, in a way, it teaches how to think about economy. The second one is an introductin to Austrian Economics. Both are very easy to read.

They can both be downloaded at mises.org:

http://www.mises.org/books/econforrealpeople.pdf

http://www.mises.org/books/onelesson.pdf

Re: Reading Suggestions

MarkRussell — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:32:36 GMT

As a recent economics graduate who has read both sowell's basic economics and hazlitt's econ in one lesson, I would highly recommend sowells book to start out with, then hazlitt's book to follow up. Sowell ties much broader implications to the basic laws of economics, while hazlit presents specific arguments to specific policy, utilizing the what is seen/unseen approach to resource allocation.

Re: Reading Suggestions

justinx0r — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 02:54:45 GMT

Economics In One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt is a great introduction to economics in general.

Re: Reading Suggestions

Inquisitor — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:27:28 GMT

As others here have suggested, Economics for Real People and Sowell's Basic Economics are good starting points. If you are serious about Economics though, I suppose it is best, once one has read some basic texts, to begin with Menger's Principles, then move on to Mises's Human Action and later Rothbard's Man, Economy and State, Hayek's Individualism and Economic Order and perhaps Reisman's Capitalism. Friedman Jr's Price Theory is good if you want to familiarize yourself further with Neoclassical econ.

Re: Reading Suggestions

Jim OConnor — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:39:36 GMT

And how could I forget "Economics in One Lesson" by Hazlitt. Also at no charge from Mises.org.

Re: Reading Suggestions

Jim OConnor — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:38:48 GMT

Gene Callahan's "Economics for Real People" is both entertaining, easy to read and available at no cost to you in the form of PDF from Mises.org. However, at $14 it isn't expensive for a good introduction to the field. I also have Thomas Sowell's Basic and Applied Ecnomics. They are good as well, but I learned more from Callahan.

Re: Reading Suggestions

Webster — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:23:46 GMT

I do not know what level you are looking for, but Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics is quite impressive for ground-up books. It is not from strictly Austrian perspective, but it primarily confines itself to the issues one is likely to see in political debates: foreign trade, price floors and ceilings, and the like (and he always at least comes out on the side of the free market).

Reading Suggestions

Pennsuedo — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:14:09 GMT

I have no background in economics. I just finished reading "The Mystery of Banking", and I found it eye-opening and enjoyable. I would like to know more about both general and liberal economics. Will some of you please suggest what sources I should consider reading?