2006-06-26 10:04:24 · 4 answers · asked by madhu 1 in Social Science ➔ Economics
Economics, as J.M. Keynes once put it, is a difficult and technical subject, but no one will believe it.
Freakonomics is a very enjoyable book, but its subject matter is much broader than economics. I would call its subject "quantitative social science". Steven Levitt often studies matters that are outside of the economists' purview and are of greater interest to sociologists and political scientists, be it school choice, cheating on tests, sumo wrestling, or relative levels of danger from guns and swimming pools. But he does it using a full set of economist's tools -- formulating hypotheses and then quantitatively testing them on available data.
If you enjoyed Freakonomics and have an interest in history, you might get a kick out of Peter Turchin's "Historical Dynamics":
http://www.pupress.princeton.edu/titles/7690.html
Turchin, a biologist by training, attempts to quantitatively study human population biology, which we for lack of better word call history. :) I must warn you, the book is much more technical than Freakonomics...
2006-06-27 07:10:04 · answer #1 · answered by NC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Economics is a marvelous social science to study. It combines history with sociology and throws in finances to boot. I have read Freakonomics. Other extremely good econ books include Diane Coyle's Sex, Drugs and Economics, Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat, and John Perkins' Confessions of an Economic Hitman.
2006-06-26 20:25:05 · answer #2 · answered by abelind 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I've read Freakonomics. Really enjoyed it. But it seems like economics is given too much credence as being absolutely factual. I think it's mostly theoretical, just like everything else. If it weren't, we would be able to avoid things like recessions every time. Another example is the whole "supply and demand" thing. Yeah, I guess it works like that for the most part, but it's also very manipulated by those who control supply. Take gasoline. No really, take it. Give me hydrogen! I'll make it myself in the backyard with a windmill and a solar panel.
2006-06-26 23:45:52 · answer #3 · answered by layajones 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes read anything by Milton Friedman!!!!
2006-07-01 18:53:36 · answer #4 · answered by Conservative 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋