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Read more about Microeconomics: Theory Through Applications

Microeconomics: Theory Through Applications

(4 reviews)

Russell Cooper, European University Institute

Andrew John, Melbourne Business School

Copyright Year: 2011

ISBN 13: 9781453313282

Publisher: Saylor Foundation

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of Use

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CC BY-NC-SA

Reviews

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Reviewed by Eric Dodge, Professor of Economics, Hanover College on 12/29/19

The text does cover the usual areas in a Principles of Microeconomics course, however, I don't see an effective index or glossary in the PDF version. It would be helpful if the table of contents included sub-sections under each chapter title. I... read more

Reviewed by Liz Perry-Sizemore, Professor of Economics, Randolph College on 12/19/19

This text covers the expected topics in a microeconomics principles course in a refreshing way—by presenting problems, questions, and observations relatable to students and then introducing them to the ways economists explore them. Relative to... read more

Reviewed by Dawn Renninger, Instructor of Economics, Pennsylvania State University on 2/1/18

There are several key concepts only briefly discussed in this text, which is sufficient for those who are completing a basic survey course or as a supplement to a concept based text. The examples are relevant to student decision making and... read more

Reviewed by John Brouwer, Principal, Eton College on 10/9/13

The text covers all the areas and ideas of Macroeconomics that one would expect to find at the introductory level. The subjects are clear, easy to follow, relevant with applied examples. Global examples are used through the lens of US laws and... read more

Table of Contents

 

  • Chapter 1: What Is Economics?
  • Chapter 2: Microeconomics in Action
  • Chapter 3: Everyday Decisions
  • Chapter 4: Life Decisions
  • Chapter 5: eBay and craigslist
  • Chapter 6: Where Do Prices Come From?
  • Chapter 7: Why Do Prices Change?
  • Chapter 8: Growing Jobs
  • Chapter 9: Making and Losing Money on Wall Street
  • Chapter 10: Raising the Wage Floor
  • Chapter 11: Barriers to Trade and the Underground Economy
  • Chapter 12: Superstars
  • Chapter 13: Cleaning Up the Air and Using Up the Oil
  • Chapter 14: Busting Up Monopolies
  • Chapter 15: A Healthy Economy
  • Chapter 16: Cars
  • Chapter 17: Microeconomics Toolkit
 

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About the Book

Russell Cooper and Andrew John have written an economics text aimed directly at students from its very inception. You're thinking, ”Yeah, sure. I've heard that before.“

This textbook, Microeconomics: Theory Through Applications, centers around student needs and expectations through two premises: … Students are motivated to study economics if they see that it relates to their own lives. … Students learn best from an inductive approach, in which they are first confronted with a problem, and then led through the process of solving that problem.

Many books claim to present economics in a way that is digestible for students; Russell and Andrew have truly created one from scratch. This textbook will assist you in increasing students' economic literacy both by developing their aptitude for economic thinking and by presenting key insights about economics that every educated individual should know.

How? Russell and Andrew have done three things in this text to accomplish that goal:

1. Applications Ahead of Theory: They present all the theory that is standard in Principles books. But by beginning with applications, students get to learn why this theory is needed.

The authors take the kind of material that other authors put in ”applications boxes“ and place it at the heart of their book. Each chapter is built around a particular business or policy application, such as minimum wages, the stock exchange, and auctions.

Why take this approach? Traditional courses focus too much on abstract theory relative to the interests and capabilities of the average undergraduate. Students are rarely engaged and the formal theory is never integrated into the way students think about economic issues. And traditional books are organized around theoretical constructs that mean nothing to students. The authors' applications-first approach ensures that students will not see chapters with titles like ”Cost Functions“ or ”Short-Run Fluctuations“. They introduce tools and ideas as and when they are needed. Each chapter is designed with two goals. First, the application upon which the chapter is built provides a ”hook“ that gets students' attention. Second, the application is a suitable vehicle a vehicle for teaching the principles of economics.

2. Learning through Repetition: Important tools appear over and over again, allowing students to learn from repetition and to see how one framework can be useful in many different contexts.

Each piece of economic theory in this text is first introduced and explained in the context of a specific application. Most are re-used in other chapters, so students see them in action on multiple occasions. As students progress through the book, they accumulate a set of techniques and ideas. These are collected separately in a ”toolkit“ that provides students with an easy reference and also gives them a condensed summary of economic principles for examination preparation.

3. A Student's Table of Contents vs. An Instructor's Table of Contents: There is no further proof that Russell and Andrew have created a book aimed specifically at educating students about economics than their two tables of contents.

The Student's Table of Contents speaks to students, piquing their interest to involve them in the economics, and a Instructor's Table of Contents with the economics to better help you organize your teaching—and frankly, you don't need to get excited by economics, you already are.

About the Contributors

Authors

Dr. Russell Cooper is a professor of economics at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. He has held positions at the University of Texas, Boston University, the University of Iowa, and Yale University as well as numerous visiting positions in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. He has taught principles of economics at many of these universities as well as numerous courses to PhD students. Cooper’s research has focused on macroeconomics, labor economics, monetary policy, and industrial organization. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1982. He was elected Fellow of the Econometric Society in 1997.

Andrew John is an associate professor of economics at Melbourne Business School, Melbourne, Australia. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Dublin, Trinity College, in 1981 and his PhD in economics from Yale University in 1988. He has held academic appointments at Michigan State University, the University of Virginia, and INSEAD. He has also held visiting appointments at the University of Michigan, the Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration, and the University of Texas at Austin. He joined Melbourne Business School in January 2009.

Andrew has consulting experience in the areas of marketing, economics, and strategy. He has worked with clients in Australia, Europe, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. He has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and has also worked with firms in the consumer goods and consulting sectors.

Andrew has taught economics to undergraduates, PhD students, MBA students, and executives. His research interests include state-dependent pricing models, environmental economics, coordination games, and consumer boycotts. His published research has appeared in top economics and business journals, including American Economic Review, Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Monetary Economics, Economic Journal, Journal of Public Economics, Management Science, Sloan Management Review, and Journal of Marketing. His work is widely cited in economics journals.

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