Foundations of Economics breathes life into the discipline by linking key economic concepts with wider debates and issues. By bringing to light delightful mind-teasers, philosophical questions and intriguing politics in mainstream economics, it promises to enliven an otherwise dry course whilst inspiring students to do well.
The book covers all the main economic concepts and addresses in detail three main areas:
* consumption and choice
* production and markets
* government and the State.
Each is discussed in terms of what the conventional textbook says, how these ideas developed in historical and philosophical terms and whether or not they make sense. Assumptions about economics as a discipline are challenged, and several pertinent students' anxieties ('Should I be studying economics?') are discussed.
Author(s): Yanis Varoufakis
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2002
Language: english
Pages: 323
Title Page
Copyright Page
Preface
Figures
Tables
Book 1 Foundations
Chapter 1
Introduction
Part one: Consumption choices
Chapter 2
Review: textbooks on consumer and choice theory
Chapter 3
History of textbook models
Chapter 4
Critique: do we maximise utility (even subconsciously)? Should we?
Part two: Production and markets
Chapter 5
Review: textbooks on firms, production and markets
Chapter 6
History of textbook models
Chapter 7
Critique: is the textbook’s theory of production good economics, good politics, both or neither?
Part three: Markets, the State and the Good Society
Chapter 8
Review: textbooks on markets and social well-being
Chapter 9
History of textbook models
Chapter 10
Critique: can a capitalist society be good?
Book 2 Anxieties
Chapter 11
Does economic theory matter?
Chapter 12
The curse of economics
Further reading
References
