Economics: The Basics provides a fascinating introduction to the key issues in contemporary economics. With case studies ranging from the coffee plantations of El Salvador to the economic slowdown in Japan, it addresses questions such as whether increasing wealth for some always means increasing poverty for others, and whether producing more food for humankind means we drive other species to extinction. Comprehensive and easy to read, it is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how economics works and why it is important.Concise Blurb :Economics: The Basics provides a fascinating introduction to the key issues in contemporary economics. With case studies ranging from the coffee plantations of El Salvador to the international oil industry and the economic slowdown in Japan, it addresses fundamental issues such as:A· Whether economic growth is always bad for the environmentA· What impact multinational companies and the WTO have on developing countriesA· How price, markets, supply and demand interact across the worldA· How money comes to have worth, and how this can be regulatedA· How unemployment affects inflationComprehensive and easy to read, this accessible guidebook is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how economics works and why it is important.