Foundations of Economics : A Beginner's Companion

This book was published in 1998 by Routledge and is the culmination of ten years of teaching introductory economics at Sydney University. It started life as a set of lecture notes, the purpose of which was to engage the student in a critical discussion of the models residing in standard textbooks.The idea was that the economics textbook, contrary to widely held belief, contains a great deal of philosophically and politically interesting assertions. Moreover, I was convinced that an otherwise boring course (economics is usually reviled by a large majority of students) could be enlivened if the student is allowed a glimpse into these hitherto unexplored parts of economics. The end result of exposing students to a critical assessment of the textbook would be, I claimed, beneficial not only for students but also for the profession.

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.

Booknews

A text for undergraduates and general readers that attempts to make introductory economics more interesting and accessible. Varoufakis (economics, U. of Sydney) discusses free will and economic theory, consumption choices, production, markets, the good society, the relevance of economic theory to the real world, and economics courses as indoctrination. The text is peppered with numerous boxed quotations and anecdotes taken from a wide variety of sources, all intended to spice up the material. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 16 1 Introduction......Page 28 2 Review: textbooks on consumer and choice theory......Page 68 3 History of textbook models......Page 101 4 Critique: do we maximise utility (even subconsciously)? Should we?......Page 119 5 Review: textbooks on firms, production and markets......Page 146 6 History of textbook models: the intellectual road to perfect competition......Page 174 7 Critique: is the textbook’s theory of production good economics, politics, both or neither?......Page 191 8 Review: textbooks on markets and social well-being......Page 230 9 History of textbook models: the concept of a legitimate State in economics......Page 272 10 Critique: can a capitalist society be good?......Page 304 Conclusion to Book 1......Page 347 11 Does economic theory matter?......Page 360 12 The curse of economics......Page 379 Further reading......Page 401 References......Page 407 Name index......Page 411 Subject index......Page 413 Introductory economics is often thought of as dull and unappetising. Beginners need inspiration and help. Foundations of Economics breathes new life into an often-times dry 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. Economics, Finance, Business and Industry Book Cover 1 Title 4 Contents 16 1 Introduction 28 2 Review: textbooks on consumer and choice theory 68 3 History of textbook models 101 4 Critique: do we maximise utility (even subconsciously)? Should we? 119 5 Review: textbooks on firms, production and markets 146 6 History of textbook models: the intellectual road to perfect competition 174 7 Critique: is the textbook鈥檚 theory of production good economics, politics, both or neither? 191 8 Review: textbooks on markets and social well-being 230 9 History of textbook models: the concept of a legitimate State in economics 272 10 Critique: can a capitalist society be good? 304 Conclusion to Book 1 347 11 Does economic theory matter? 360 12 The curse of economics 379 Further reading 401 References 407 Name index 411 Subject index 413 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. Aiming to breathe life into an often dry discipline by linking key economic concepts with wider debates and issues, this text presents brain-teasers, philosophical questions and politics in mainstream economics. The book covers the principal foundation-economics concepts and addresses in detail three main areas: consumption and choice, production and markets, and 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 the anxieties of students are discussed The book covers all the main economic concepts and addresses in detail three main areas: consumption and choice, production and markets and government and the State. Yanis Varoufakis. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes.