Economics Uncut: A Complete Guide to Life, Death and Misadventure

Book Overview

This highly innovative and intriguing book applies principles of microeconomics to unusual settings to inspire students, teachers and scholars alike in the 'dismal science'. Leading experts show how economics reaches into the strangest of places and throws light onto the occasionally dark side of human nature.

'Sins and Needles' examines the economics of drug addiction, prohibition and liberalization; 'Guns and Roses' looks at the contribution economists can make to understanding crime as well as marriage and divorce; 'Body and Soul' investigates the economics of pornography, prostitution, suicide and religion; 'Conception and Rejection' explores the controversial economics of assisted reproduction and abortion; and 'Fun and Games' considers the economics of sport, gambling and music.

Not only does Economics Uncut illustrate how economics can be used to promote our understanding of a broad range of human behaviour, but it also draws upon research conducted in other disciplines from the social sciences. As such, this fascinating and highly accessible book will be of great interest to academics, students and researchers in economics, criminology, sociology, and psychology alike

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845425804
• ISBN13: 9781845425807
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Length: 488 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

The Times shall have it, too!

This book is a blessing and should be kept in everyone's bday wish and gift list to purchase for yourself, or for your loved ones and friends. If Freakonomics was able to receive a NY Times blogger section, so shall the Times with Economics Uncut. Please enjoy this fabulous book.

A Student's Perspective

As a student reading this textbook for the course "Economics of Behavior and Misbehavior," I find this an excellent work. Not only is it a smooth read, but it also gives me a feel for the entire picture of its topics. Just when I feel left with the question, "But what about...," there's the answer in the next sentence or paragraph. Anyone interested in the controversial issues tackled by this work can learn much from the economist's or general social scientist's perspective.

A superbly organized and presented compendium

Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Simon W. Bowmaker (Academic Associate in Economics at the University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Adjunct Lecturer in Economics at Florida State University, and Visiting Lecturer in Economics at the State University of New York, Buffalo and at the University of Colorado, Denver), "Economics Uncut: A Complete Guide To Life, Death and Misadventure" features informed and informative essays and seminal articles by eighteen accomplished economists on a variety of economic issues. The economic implications to diverse range human activities include: drug addiction, prohibition, and legalization; crime, marriage and divorce; pornography, prostitution, suicide and religion; assisted reproduction and abortion; sport, gambling, and rock music. A superbly organized and presented compendium of seminal studies and commentaries adhering to high academic standards of methodology and reporting, "Economics Uncut" is an important and strongly recommended addition to academic library Economic Studies reference collection, as well as being quite accessible to the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the economic implications and impacts with respect to the social issues of the present day.