[Gachinto]

Hi to all the Econ students on RS! Do you have any good reading material regarding economics? Maybe a book that your prof recommended, your textbook, or something you've came across.

Thanks! :thumbsup:

[TheRaySta]

Tim Harford - Undercover Economist. You can find a pdf download through google if you look around.

[dr.faustus]

in terms of textbooks, try anything by krugman or bernanke.
as a magazine, "the economist" surprisingly consists of little actual economics, and instead focuses more on politics, news, and current events. the usual others are fortune, forbes and business week.
and the most interesting, easy-to-understand read for the economics newbie is probably freakonomics and the recently released superfreakonomics.

[RFlush]

Naked economics is one of the best books I have ever read. But don't give me too much credit, I don't read books nor have I fully read any economic textbooks (I just don't buy textbooks) and im in my last semester for my econ degree!

[El Bastardo]

This should really be in the Campus Forum

[roastpuff]

Try the Reluctant Economist by Richard Easterlin. Quite interesting if you're interested in the disparity between the First World and the Third World.

[misteranswer]

Do you want to read books to learn about theory, or do you want to read books with applied theory?

[Beilei]

ECONOMICS OF MONEY BANKING & FINANCIAL MARKETS 3RD EDITION
BY: MISHKIN

Nice readings on bonds, stocks, Bank of Canada, and interest rates

[shenmecar]

This should really be in the Campus Forum

+1

[anl27]

Principles of Microeconomics 4th CDN edition - Frank Bernanke


they have colourful graphs and tables

[misteranswer]

This should really be in the Campus Forum

Why? This topic doesn't really have anything to do with schools. The only possible reference to schools is his address to econ students.

[Gachinto]

This should really be in the Campus Forum
This is not related to school though.

This is actually for leisure... (yes I'm weird)!

I am asking students and insightful readers because I dun trust the book reviews for "Get Rich 101" or "Rich Dad Poor Dad" on most websites.
:)

[Gachinto]

Do you want to read books to learn about theory, or do you want to read books with applied theory?

Hmm... what's the difference? ;) As you can tell I should prolly start with a noob one.

[misteranswer]

Hmm... what's the difference? ;) As you can tell I should prolly start with a noob one.

Well, do you want to know about utility maximization, theories as to why we should and shouldn't have fixed exchange rates, how financial markets work, how firms maximize profits, oligopolies and game theory, and the theoretical reasoning for free trade....buy a text book.

If you want to know why abortion reduced the crime rate, descriptions on how gangs work, or someone explaining to you why the great depression happened, you probably wanna read some applied theory book like freakonomics.

[Gachinto]

Well, do you want to know about utility maximization, theories as to why we should and shouldn't have fixed exchange rates, how financial markets work, how firms maximize profits, oligopolies and game theory, and the theoretical reasoning for free trade....buy a text book.

If you want to know why abortion reduced the crime rate, descriptions on how gangs work, or someone explaining to you why the great depression happened, you probably wanna read some applied theory book like freakonomics.

Applied theories would certainly be more interesting to read; however, for someone who did not have prior knowledge in the field wouldn't it be less appropriate? Many of these theories may be false or simply crazy ideas, hence I'm trying to get opinions which are less commercially bias. Not to say that the textbooks UBC uses are 100% the best. Sometimes it may be beneficial to read new ideas with an open mind too...

[misteranswer]

A book like Freakonomics will teach you what you need to know in order to understand it. It's not an academic journal article.

[The_AK]

ECONOMICS OF MONEY BANKING & FINANCIAL MARKETS 3RD EDITION
BY: MISHKIN

Nice readings on bonds, stocks, Bank of Canada, and interest rates

i heard theres a great course based on just that

[CP.AR]

ECONOMICS OF MONEY BANKING & FINANCIAL MARKETS 3RD EDITION
BY: MISHKIN

Nice readings on bonds, stocks, Bank of Canada, and interest rates

Mishkin +1
Prof. Newman (UBC) has a love/hate relationship with the guy lawl

i heard theres a great course based on just that

Yea, at UBC It's ECON 345


If you would like to read something about Economic history of Europe I highly recommend "A Farewell to Alms" by Gregory Clark.

[Gachinto]

Tim Harford - Undercover Economist. You can find a pdf download through google if you look around.
I couldn't find it. :( I thought I was reading it on google but it's a review.
in terms of textbooks, try anything by krugman or bernanke.
as a magazine, "the economist" surprisingly consists of little actual economics, and instead focuses more on politics, news, and current events. the usual others are fortune, forbes and business week.
and the most interesting, easy-to-understand read for the economics newbie is probably freakonomics and the recently released superfreakonomics.
I've seen Freakonomics, ranked way up on Amazon!
Economics and Politics are like Knife and Fork; actually more like chopsticks.
ECONOMICS OF MONEY BANKING & FINANCIAL MARKETS 3RD EDITION
BY: MISHKIN

Nice readings on bonds, stocks, Bank of Canada, and interest rates
Thank I will definitely look into that when it's more in my league.

[misteranswer]

Mishkin is pretty basic text book on banking.

[TRDood]

i am doing a masters in economics right now.

there are a lot of books to read, depending what you are interested.

if you have no background in economics, i would suggest just picking up a principles textbook in Macro and Micro. Mankiw is fairly easy to understand.

for intermediate level, if you are into simple math, then take a look at Varian's undergrad text.

if you are in the graduate level for real formal studies, the most popular textbooks for SFU would be

1. Varian - Micro
2. Greene - Econometrics (statistics, you need it to do any empirical work)
3. I don't know what book I use for Macro

to understand the above books, you need to be very good at math.

reading newspaper articles and books don't really help in understanding what's going on in the most basic side of things.

if you want to read real articles, i suggest you reading real empirical work written by universities.

[chunk_stir]

One good book assigned in a graduate seminar I took was called Worldly Philosophers by Heilbroner.
http://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Lives-Economic-Thinkers/dp/068486214X

As someone with zero economics background, I found this book to be very helpful in understanding the development of economic theory. This is not so much a theory of economiccs book, but more of a historical development... but very helpful nonetheless.

[misteranswer]

3. I don't know what book I use for Macro


Advanced Macro by Romer.

Personally wasn't a big fan of it, but it was sufficient.

[Gachinto]

Mishkin is pretty basic text book on banking.
Oh okay! :)
i am doing a masters in economics right now.

there are a lot of books to read, depending what you are interested.

if you have no background in economics, i would suggest just picking up a principles textbook in Macro and Micro. Mankiw is fairly easy to understand.

for intermediate level, if you are into simple math, then take a look at Varian's undergrad text.

if you are in the graduate level for real formal studies, the most popular textbooks for SFU would be

1. Varian - Micro
2. Greene - Econometrics (statistics, you need it to do any empirical work)
3. I don't know what book I use for Macro

to understand the above books, you need to be very good at math.

reading newspaper articles and books don't really help in understanding what's going on in the most basic side of things.

if you want to read real articles, i suggest you reading real empirical work written by universities.
Well I'm in the middle of a design degree, so I can't really afford the time and money to study economics. I don't even think I can do grad school in economics or something since design/architecture is totally unrelated (academically).
One good book assigned in a graduate seminar I took was called Worldly Philosophers by Heilbroner.
http://www.amazon.com/Worldly-Philosophers-Lives-Economic-Thinkers/dp/068486214X

As someone with zero economics background, I found this book to be very helpful in understanding the development of economic theory. This is not so much a theory of economiccs book, but more of a historical development... but very helpful nonetheless.
Philosophy sounds like my kind of read! Thx. :)


So... where should I get these books? Would be nice if I can find them at library, probably not the textbooks tho. It is cheaper to get it from Amazon or from UBC/SFU bookstore? I can get my buddies to get it for me.

[Gachinto]

DUPLICATED

[Alphamale]

Don't read the mishkin book. Fucking useless and stupid.

Heilbroner's Worldly philosopher is good for a historical understand of the background of economics and invariably some political ideas as well.

Instead of mishkin, Paul Krugman & Obstfeld text called "International Economics: Theory and Policy" is MUCH MUCH better.

Edit: Oh btw, save for a few interesting facts that freakenomics brought up, the books was pretty shitty, imo. But it might appeal to the bigger crowd who enjoy being entertained by small things.

[TekDragon]

For a light-hearted read on economics, I would suggest Eat the Rich: A Treatise on Economics by P.J. O'Rourke.

[tiger_handheld]

Wickinomics and Freakonomics.

[Gachinto]

I just got back from Chapters. I've decided to start with a light read with conceptual stuff that may be less practical. First book I searched for was Freakonomics, then I found Tim Harfod's The Logic of Life and Dear Undercover Economist. I was looking for The Undercover Economist but that was not the same book, so I've omitted that, and left with Freakonomics and The Logic of Life. I came across The Logic of Life from research, although Freakonomics seemed more hyped up. I looked deeper into both books.

Freakonomics was from a columnist from New York Times and an awarded economist. It is New York Times bestseller. Of course it was, they published it.

The Logic of Life was written by a columnist for a lot of econ journal. He was apparent a tutor for econ in Oxford too; not a prof. His book does however has a bunch of recognition from authors, publishers, "Nobel Laureate in Economics".

At the end I chose The Logic of Life as the first book to start off with. I may try to dl Freakonomics later. Since it is so hyped up there must be torrent somewhere. I may go into another one of these or jump into a textbook that is a little more "developed".

[Gachinto]

There really are tons of books with "get rich" on title! The only person getting rich is the publishers LOL.

[TRDood]

you got to realize. economics has nothing to do with "getting rich"

finance would be a better route if you are into that.
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[misteranswer]

you got to realize. economics has nothing to do with "getting rich"

finance would be a better route if you are into that.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

finance is a branch of economics.

[Gachinto]

you got to realize. economics has nothing to do with "getting rich"

finance would be a better route if you are into that.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

No no I'm just saying there are lots of books like that! Scams.

[m!chael]

.

[!SG]

a good book to read for economic history is "world of philosophers". i believe thats the books title. it goes over history, macro economics, societies. its a good intro to economics.

[Gachinto]

I'm taking Econ 345 right now and Newman does nothing but rip on Mishkin. He's got some good points too
Is it that bad?

[Alphamale]

you got to realize. economics has nothing to do with "getting rich"

finance would be a better route if you are into that.
Posted via RS Mobile (http://www.revscene.net/forums/announcement.php?a=228)

I don't know about that....

depending on your definition of economics, and assuming the definition of economics desired to be discussed in this thread I would say economics has everything to do with getting rich.

It's all about whether or not you are able to apply and identify economic variables before others which is what gets you "rich".