Understanding Capitalism: Competition Command and Change

About this book

Understanding Capitalism: Competition Command and Change Third Edition is an introduction to economics that explains how capitalism works why it sometimes does not work as well as we would like it to and how over time it not only changes but also revolutionizes the world around us. The "three-dimensional approach" of the text focuses on competition in markets; command in firms governments and international relations; and change as a permanent feature of a capitalist economy driven by technical innovation and conflict over the distribution of income. The book covers the standard topics of supply and demand market competition imperfect competition aggregate demand inflation and unemployment. It emphasizes the extraordinary dynamism and material productivity of the capitalist economy; the psychological foundations of human behavior; the logic and limitations of Adam Smiths invisible hand; technical change and the new information-based economy; global economic integration and its impact on national economies; the impact of economic activity on the environment; and inequality both within and among nations. In addition it provides a critical evaluation of the tenets of neoclassical economics a clear introduction to contract theory and material drawn from new research in behavioral institutional and information economics. Understanding Capitalism Third Edition is ideal for undergraduate courses in economics and political economy. An Instructors Manual is available to adopters. FEATURES OF THE THIRD EDITION BLOffers a new chapter on the behavioral foundations of economics showing that the selfishness of the "economic man" leaves out the important role of other social motives and how individual tastes and values evolve in response to experiences BLIncludes a new chapter that examines how economic success (and poverty) are passed on from parents to children and also looks at the increasing inequality of income and wealth along lines of race and gender BLPresents a completely revised and expanded treatment of the revolutionary changes that have been associated with capitalism over the past three centuries BLProvides boxed treatments of issues that can serve as the basis of classroom discussions BLDefines important terms in the margins throughout the text BLContains a section entitled "Sources of Economic Information" that helps readers locate relevant outside data both in print and online