In the face of inflation, the price intervention measures taken by the government; in the face of economists' endless debates about whether the economy is overheating and whether the RMB exchange rate should rise; in the face of various confusions in personal financial management, etc., even ordinary people feel the need to understand A little economics.  

The best way to learn economics is to read a textbook systematically. There are too many economics textbooks on the market. These books are written for people at different levels. It is very important to choose which textbook to read. As a non-major in economics, you need a book that is comprehensive and easy to understand, and this "Economics Way of Thinking" is a book suitable for the public to read.

We say this book is suitable for general reading because it has a different entry point when introducing economics. Mankiw believes that the purpose of studying economics is to "think like an economist." In other words, for the public, studying economics is not about mastering profound theories or learning to use tools such as mathematics and charts for analysis. Economic issues, but to learn to use economic thinking to think about various problems in the real economy and make decisions. How do economists think about problems? How should we master this way of thinking? This is what the entire book revolves around.

Of course, economic thinking itself is inseparable from the basic content of economics. This book introduces all kinds of economic knowledge starting from the way of thinking, from individuals to society, from micro to macro, from mainstream views to non-mainstream views, and from history to reality. It can be said that the content of this book is quite comprehensive. , but the entry points are different, and the methods of organization and writing are also different, making it easier for general readers to read and understand. This is another important feature of this book.

The book starts with the example of a traffic jam. Traffic jams are a common occurrence in cities and major traffic arteries around the world. When ordinary people encounter traffic jams, they feel "annoyed" and wish they were the only one in the world to drive; sociologists talk about the harm of cars to human beings, but when they drive, they think about how to reduce the harm of cars; they can speak economics Some people say that traffic jams reflect economic prosperity and good government leadership, so they almost shouted "I love traffic jams." The author of this book believes that there is a kind of order hidden under the surface chaos of a traffic jam; precisely because there is order, cars are still moving despite the traffic jam, which leads to the conclusion that the purpose of studying economics is to understand social order. The market economy appears to be quite chaotic on the surface, but there is also order within it. Understanding this order and the operating laws of the economic world are the starting point for learning the way of thinking in economics. Later, we will start to introduce collaboration in the market, how everyone's behavior unconsciously cooperates with each other, what are the rules of the game in cooperation, how important property rights are, etc., and then expand the entire content. The contents introduced are all things that happen around us every day, but from the perspective of economics, everything is different from our usual feelings. After reading it, you will find that you have a new perspective and new understanding. You will learn more about economics, your ability to understand and analyze problems will improve, and you will learn to think like an economist.

The author of this book is an American, and the examples used are mainly American. However, China and the United States are very different. In addition to cultural background, historical traditions, and economic development levels, the main difference is the economic system. The United States is a complete market economy, while China is a government-led market economy. Moreover, China's future market economy model will not be the American model, so the author's analysis of the situation in the United States may not necessarily apply to China. For example, the author, like most American economists, opposes government price limits. However, when my country's market is immature, the government's economy needs to limit prices, such as price limits for Spring Festival travel train tickets, and when inflation is severe. price intervention. This issue is not just market regulation, but requires more consideration of political and social factors. When we read this book, we learn the basic content. If we can do some further thinking based on China's reality, it will be more meaningful and the harvest will be greater.