Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: 1. The Economic way of thinking: the economic approach -- Some tools of the economist -- -- 2. Markets and governments: Supply, demand , and the market process -- supply and demand: applications nd extensions -- Difficult cases for the market and the role of government -- The economics of collective decision making -- 3. Core microeconomics: Consumer choice and elasticity -- Costs and the supply of goods -- Price takers and the competitive process -- Price-searcher markets with low entry barriers -- Price-searcher markets with high entry barriers -- The supply and demand for productive resources -- Earnings, productivity, and the job market -- Investments, hte capital market, and the wealth of nations -- Income inequality and poverty -- Gaining from international trade -- Appendices: General business and economic indicators -- Answers to selected critical analysis questions --