The Instant Economist

Reviews / Votes

"Taylor breaks the complex ideas of macro- and microeconomics into bite-sized chapters, each covering a distinct aspect, by using examples and stories instead of formulas and equations."-Library Journal

"Presenting a broad, non-mathematical treatment of microeconomics and macroeconomics, this book requires no prior knowledge of the subject and is clearly written. Taylor, the managing editor of the Journal of Economic Perspectives, also adds a good dose of humor."-Reference & Research Book News

"Taylor sets out to teach us how economists think and begins with a microeconomics understanding of the economy (the view of individuals). We learn how markets work in the context of goods, labor, and financial capital and also about unregulated markets, including monopoly, the environment, and poverty; he notes that although these issues can attract democratic government involvement, such intervention can fail. He concludes with macroeconomics (an overall view of the economy), with topics including economic growth, unemployment, and inflation. Taylor wants us to respect the power of market forces but understand where those forces fall short; he encourages a belief that government policy can be useful but, in some cases, can be useless or even counterproductive... Excellent."-Booklist