How to Think Like an Economist: Great Economists Who Shaped the World and What They Can Teach Us

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An entertaining collection of biographical portraits of history's most influential and inspiring economists from Aristotle to Keynes, and Karl Marx to Friedrich Hayek and what they can teach us about understanding the world. We all live in the economy, whether we know it or not. The current cost-of-living crisis is an economic problem. Brexit might be a political project, but it has already changed how much money we have to spend and which products we can buy. Climate change may seem to be an ecological, or a social, or a technological problem, but it is also an economic problem, because its solution will transform the structure of the global economy. This book provides a readable and entertaining guide to the great thinkers who help us understand how economics works. It looks at how Aristotle invented the household budget, why Adam Smith wanted to abolish rent, and how modern Nobel prize winners shape the world around us. From the Greeks and Romans to the thinkers behind Enron and the financial crash of 2008, this is the ultimate guide to the greatest economists of the human age, and what their extraordinary thinking can teach us about how to see the world. Robbie Mochrie also discusses why economics is so Western, White and male and how economics is beginning to become more diverse in its representation. He brings the everyday impact of complex economics thinking to life and shows how the great ideas in this book are a practical tool we can all use in our day-to-day existence.

Reviews

Thinking like an economist involves thinking like a philosopher, a mathematician, a psychologist and a political scientist. Let Robbie Mochrie explain it all to you. * Professor John Kay, co-author of Radical Uncertainty *
How economists think has not only evolved over the centuries, but has also been far more wide-ranging than most people imagine. This window into the ideas and lives of eminent economic thinkers reveals the remarkable depth and power of the subject. * Diane Coyle, Professor of Public Policy, Cambridge University *
Robbie Mochrie has written a delightful set of vignettes from Aristotle through to Akerlof showing how economic thinking has evolved through the ages. * Professor Sir Angus Deaton, author of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism *
How to Think Like an Economist demystifies the principles of economics, making them accessible and engaging. This book is not just for aspiring economists, but for anyone seeking to understand the economic forces that shape our world. It provides clear, concise explanations and real-world applications. An essential read for students and professionals alike who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the economic landscape and its impact on our daily lives. * Professor Dame Heather McGregor DBE FRSE, Provost, Heriot-Watt University Dubai *
By putting economics in historical context, from its roots in Ancient Greek household management to the wondrous mathematics and methodologies of the modern version, Robbie Mochrie sheds important light on what may be the most misunderstood social science. Tying the book together is a thread running through the entire history, the economic way of thinking about the world a mode that serves "not just to understand it but, by changing it, to make it better. This book will leave the reader not just smarter but wiser. * Professor Erik Angner, Stockholm University, author of How Ecomonics Can Save the World *

Author Bio

Robbie Mochrie has taught economics for over 30 years, to students, CEOs and adult learners. The author of a regular column on economics in The National, Mochrie brings the everyday impact of complex economics thinking to life and believes the great ideas in this book are a practical tool we can all use in our day-to-day existence.