Product Description

Explaining global economics in language that the layman can understand, this book demystifies key concepts, lays bare the truth behind the numbers, and answers those questions you've always been embarassed to ask.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16647 in Books
• Published on: 2003-10-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 260 pages

Book
Explains our global economy in a way that is—gasp!—actually entertaining.

Chicago Tribune
Clear, concise, informative, [and] witty.

Burton G. Malkiel, from the foreword
Wheelan has an anti-Midas touch. If he touched gold he would turn it to life.

Customer Reviews

The book to get for an insight into how economists think
Having studied economics at degree level and found much of the literature dry and inaccessible (but rewarding when you get into it), I have made it a bit of a hobby reading these sort of "economics is fun" style introductory books. (Note to self: perhaps you should get out more?)

Many of them (e.g. by David Friedman or Steven Landsburg) are a both well informed and a great read. However, they tend to come from just one perspective - a libertarian one which is unable to conceive that governments can do anything but harm nor private enterprise anything but good (this is an exaggeration, but not a huge one).

The strength of Naked Economics is that it takes a more balanced approach without abandoning the "rules" of the economic game. It is also well written, with clear and interesting real-world examples and robust but not overly complex reasoning.

For anyone wanting to read one book on economics which is enjoyable, explains the unique perspective economists have on the world, and is balanced about the range of political views they hold - this is the one.

Excellent reading and informative
This is a very good for everyone! It explains basic tenetes of economics with examples. After reading this book you should be able to understand following topics at least:

Why a good government is necessary for good economy
Why poor countries remain poor
How Federal Bank/Bank of England etc. decides interest rate
What are inflation and deflation and how they affect our lives
Why government usually cajoles minority groups
How you pay stealth taxes
Why free trade actually helps everyone in long term
How corruption affects economy and well being of citizens
Why environmental groups don't always care for environments
Why sweatshops are good for all of us
Why a good economy should make everyone better off without making anyone worse off

There are no charts or equations. The language is lucid and the book is quite nice to read.

Dare I say, fun to read
A well-reasoned and insightful introduction to economics. Lined with analogies and real-world examples, Naked Economics is accessible to anyone considering picking up the book--not just econ majors. Wheelan displays a casual tone tempered by intimate knowledge of recent examples of economics at work in society. As the back cover pronounces, the book is without graphs, curves or equations, which can be a plus or minus depending on what you are after. But for those interested in learning more about economics in a straightforward and enjoyable read, Naked Economics fits the bill perfectly.