The Economics of Just About Everything: The hidden reasons for our curious choices and surprising successes
By (Author) Andrew Leigh
Allen & Unwin
Allen & Unwin
23rd July 2014
Australia
General
Non Fiction
330
Paperback
256
Width 138mm, Height 208mm
326g
Did you know that another 10 cm of height boosts your income by thousands of dollars per year Or that a boy born in January is nearly twice as likely to play first grade rugby league as a boy born in December Or that natural disasters attract more foreign aid if they happen on a slow news day And that a perfectly clean desk can be as inefficient as a messy one Drawing on examples and data from across Australia, Andrew Leigh shows how economics can be used to illuminate what happens on the sporting field, in the stockmarket, and at work. Economics has things to say about AC/DC and Arthur Boyd, dating and dieting, Grange and Geelong, murder and poverty. Incentives matter, often in surprising ways, and seemingly simple everyday activities can have unexpected outcomes. Insights from behavioural economics can also help us make better decisions. If you like fresh facts and provocative ideas, this is great train and weekend reading. You'll soon see the world and the people around you in a new light.
'Economics isn't the only thing, but Andrew Leigh reminds us that it can explain almost everything.' - George Megalogenis 'What do you get when you cross a politician with an economist A captivating, charming, and nicely-written book. Who knew' - Annabel Crabb
Andrew Leigh is the author of several books, including Battlers and Billionaires.