The Undercover Economist
by Tim Harford
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.91 You Save: $8.04 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.32 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Undercover Economist
Book Review: Timely on health care!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I reinforce the positive reviewers on Harford's topics, and don't find it "socialist" or a "rant" on global warming (he suggests charging for damaging activities, and we can decide exactly what those are separately), but most important September 2009 is the section on health insurance. He identifies the problems as inside information (healthy people declining health policies since they expect to need little of them) and the need for competition and free markets in the health care system (take that, socialism-accusers!). His writings form another opinion on how to solve the problem that should be widely publicized and seriously considered, but of course won't be.Book Review: A great start fading to handwaving
Summary: 4 Stars
As a scientist, I am always looking for data to support any claim. The first chapters of this book are great for a non-economist like me. They really made me feel like I understood some of the basic ideas of economics. Unfortunately from my point of view, just as it was getting meaty, the author shifts to hand-waving in his support of globalism and the sheer purity of unfettered capitalism. I honestly don't agree or disagree, since I don't know enough to make a valid judgment, but I was disappointed at the utter lack of evidence presented to support the claims of the latter portion of the book. I still strongly recommend the book, for the first half!Book Review: Great variety of topics
Summary: 4 Stars
The Undercover Economist mainly describes the economics of pricing and the theory of improving one group without disadvantaging another. It is also a great way to discover interesting economic topics. The topics include the following:
Marginal Value
Scarcity Power
Information Gathering
Price-Targeting
Markets
Externalities
Health Insurance
Keyhole Economics
"Random Walk" Theory
Stock Market Prices
Game Theory
Development of Poor Countries
Comparative Advantage
Free Trade
Globalization
Miracle Development of China
Book Review: The Undercover Socialist
Summary: 1 Stars
This book should have been called, "The Undercover Socialist". At first read, there are spatters of interesting economic theories and ideas, but for the most part, it is Harford's half-narrative in favor of socialist policies. He uses economics to reinforce his socialist policies, however, his socialist policies are based on little, if any at all, documented evidence, and sometimes, are flat out lies completely. If you are interested in learning about economics, this is not the book for you. If however, you voted for Barack Obama, and enjoy socialism, this is the perfect book for you.Book Review: Broaden Your Perspective
Summary: 5 Stars
If you liked Freakonomics, you will love The Undercover Economist. More straightforward explanations about who really gets the money from a $4 cup of coffee, how China went about becoming an economic superpower, why healthcare is not working in the US and specifically what can be done about it, why trade restrictions always backfire, and why poor countries remain poor. Easy reading, but not too easy . . . really gets you thinking. This kind of education can help all of us become more critical consumers of what we get from the media, politicians, and special interest groups.