HKSYU Course Resources

"My freshman course on the principles of economics opened my eyes to a new way of thinking. Economics combines the virtues of politics and science. It is, truly, a social science. Its subject matter is society -- how people choose to lead their lives and how they interact with one another -- but it approaches the subject with the dispassion of a science. By bringing the methods of science to the questions of politics, economics aims to make progress on the challenges that all societies face. I wrote this book with the hope that I could convey some of the excitement about economics that I felt as a student in my first economics course. Economics is a subject in which a little knowledge goes a long way. Economists have a unique world-view, much of which can be taught in one or two semesters. My goal in this book is to transmit this way of thinking to the widest possible audience and to convince readers that it illuminates much about their lives and the world around them. Economics aims to understand the world in which we live. Most chapters of this book include Case Studies that illustrate how the principles of economics can be applied. In the News boxes offer excerpts from newspapers, magazines, and online news sources to show how economic ideas shed light on current issues facing society. After students finish their first course in economics, they should think about news reports from a new perspective and with greater insight. To keep the study of economics fresh and relevant for each new cohort of students, I update each edition to keep pace with the ever-changing world."--