Economics is much too interesting to be left to
professional economists. It affects almost everything
we do, not merely at work or at the shops but
also in the home and the voting booth. It influences
how well we look after our planet, the future
we leave for our children, the extent to which
we can care for the poor and the disadvantaged,
and the resources we have for enjoying ourselves.
These issues are discussed daily, in bars and
on buses as well as in cabinet meetings and boardrooms.
The formal study of economics is exciting because
it introduces a toolkit that allows a better understanding
of the problems we face. Everyone knows a smoking
engine is a bad sign, but sometimes only a trained
mechanic can give the right advice on how to fix
it.
This book is designed to give you the toolkit
and teach you how to use it. Nobody carries an
enormous toolbox very far. Useful toolkits are
small enough to be portable but contain enough
proven tools to deal both with routine problems
and unforeseen circumstances. With practice, you
will be surprised at how much light this analysis
can shed on daily living. This book is designed
to make economics seem as useful as it really
is.
If you are approaching the study of economics
for the first time, this book is designed to help
you develop an understanding of the key principles
of this fascinating subject. Although you may
not continue to study economics after reading
this book, we hope that it will provide you with
a working knowledge of the economic forces that
shape our day-to-day lives.
To assist you in working through this text, we
have developed a number of distinctive study and
design features. To familiarise yourself with
these features, please see the Guided Tour.
To further help you in your studies we have devloped
this Online Learning Centre webiste, so take time
to explore the the student resources available
to you here. Free with your copy of the book,
you will also find a Student CD-ROM, which provides
cases, self-tests and other resources you can
use alongside the text to check your understanding
and apply your knowldege as you progress.
