Library: OER: Economics

Open Textbooks

Intermediate Microeconomics with Excel This book is based on the idea that there is a particular framework used by economists to interpret observed reality. This framework has been called the economic way of thinking, the economic approach, and the method of economics. This book is different from the many other books that attempt to teach microeconomics in three ways: • It explicitly applies the recipe of the economic approach in every example. • It uses concrete examples via Microsoft Excel in every application, which enables the reader to manipulate live graphs and learn numerical methods of optimization. • The majority of the content is in the Excel workbooks which the reader uses to create meaning. You learn by doing, not by reading.
International Economics: Theory and Policy This text presents numerous models in some detail, not by employing advanced mathematics, but rather by walking students through a detailed description of how a model's assumptions influence its conclusions. Second, and perhaps more important, students must learn how the models connect with the real world. I believe that theory is done primarily to guide policy. We do positive economics to help answer the normative questions; for example, what should a country do about its trade policy or its exchange rate policy? The results from models give us insights that help us answer these questions. Thus this text strives to explain why each model is interesting by connecting its results to some aspect of a current policy issue. A prime example is found in Chapter 11 "Evaluating the Controversy between Free Trade and Protectionism" of this book, which addresses the age-old question of whether countries should choose free trade or some type of selected protection. The chapter demonstrates how the results of the various models presented throughout the text contribute to our understanding of this long-standing debate.
Microeconomics for Business Topics include: Introduction to Economics; Demand and Supply in Competitive Markets; Elasticity of Demand and Supply; Markets and Government; Consumer Choice; Production, Costs, and Profit; Firms' Decisions under Perfect Competition; Monopoly, Rent Seeking, and Antitrust Policies; Firms' Decisions under Monopolistic Competition; Market Concentration, Oligopoly, and Firms' Strategic Interaction.
Principles of Economics 2e Principles of Economics 2e covers the scope and sequence of most introductory economics courses. The text includes many current examples, which are handled in a politically equitable way. The outcome is a balanced approach to the theory and application of economics concepts. The second edition has been thoroughly revised to increase clarity, update data and current event impacts, and incorporate the feedback from many reviewers and adopters.
Principles of Macroeconomics 2e Principles of Macroeconomics 2e covers the scope and sequence of most introductory economics courses. The text includes many current examples, which are handled in a politically equitable way. The outcome is a balanced approach to the theory and application of economics concepts. The second edition has been thoroughly revised to increase clarity, update data and current event impacts, and incorporate the feedback from many reviewers and adopters.
Principles of Microeconomics 2e Principles of Microeconomics 2e covers the scope and sequence of most introductory microeconomics courses. The text includes many current examples, which are handled in a politically equitable way. The outcome is a balanced approach to the theory and application of economics concepts. The second edition has been thoroughly revised to increase clarity, update data and current event impacts, and incorporate the feedback from many reviewers and adopters.

Open Access Journals

Cogent Economics & Finance Cogent Economics & Finance is a multidisciplinary open access journal publishing high-quality peer-reviewed research by authors from across the globe. Our inclusive nature ensures we cover the entire scope of economics and finance research – from financial economics to economic philosophy and everything in between, including replication studies – and we make sure this research is visible to everyone, anywhere, any time. The journal welcomes theoretical and empirical contributions.
Economies Economies is an international, peer-reviewed open access journal for the fields of development economics and macroeconomics. It publishes regular research papers, original reviews, and short notes for communications. Emphasis is on applied empirical and analytical work, and theoretical papers with applications
Journal of Economic Structures The Journal of Economic Structures is a peer-reviewed international journal that publishes theoretical and empirical articles that apply to a wide range of formal analytical instruments and statistical techniques to explore the structural interdependencies among various activities immanent in the economy.
Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics Founded in 1867, The Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES) is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes theoretical and empirical contributions to any field of economics and reaches an international audience.

Online Courses

Course Resources

Economic Policy Simulator

Beginning with the details of an unnamed country, this interactive exercise lets students combine various economic policies to analyse their future impact (in the following two years) on the main macroeconomic indicators. The results and feedback given to students are expressed numerically and graphically. Students also have access to the results of the combination of policies used throughout the exercise so that they can be compared. Said results can be printed for subsequent discussion. ***Requires Adobe Flash***

The Economics of Seinfeld

This website associates short clips from the Seinfield show to economic concepts. The authors suggest, "It is the simplicity of Seinfeld that makes it so appropriate for use in economics courses. Using these clips (as well as clips from other television shows or movies) makes economic concepts come alive, making them more real for students. Ultimately, students will start seeing economics everywhere – in other TV shows, in popular music, and most importantly, in their own lives." The authors have also created an index of economic terms which are linked to the appropriate episode(s).

Economics U$A: 21st Century Edition

Explore economic history, theory, and practice through case studies and interviews with Nobel-prize winning and major economists. The series covering macro, micro, and international economics features Milton Friedman, Paul Samuelson, John Kenneth Galbraith, Alice Rivlin, and Ben Bernanke, among others. Major economic events, including the 2008 banking crisis and technology’s influence on the economy, connect economic theory to the headlines. The full complement of material includes audio interviews and a coordinated website.

Games Economists Play: Noncomputerized Classroom Games

Searchable abstracts of over 100 noncomputerized classroom games to illustrate fundamental micro/macroeconomic principles. Sorted by subject area and other functional categories. Full references provided, often including original author email and URL.

SPENT - Simulation created by Urban Ministries of Durham

Interactive website which places user in poverty situation due to loss of job, and then challenges user to make important choices across a broad set of contingencies. (In addition to educational value, the site solicits donations for sponsoring organization.) ***Requires Adobe Flash***

TeachingWithData: Data in the News

A repository of tools and educational materials designed to improve quantitative literacy skills in social science courses. Built especially for faculty teaching post-secondary courses in such areas as demography, economics, geography, political science, social psychology, and sociology, the materials include stand-alone learning activities, tools, and pedagogy services.

UN Monthly Bulletin of Statistics

Includes current monthly economic statistics for most countries and areas of the world. The statistics are obtained by from official sources in the various countries, except where otherwise stated in the notes to the tables. Updated monthly.

World Bank Open Data

At the World Bank, the Development Data Group coordinates statistical and data work and maintains a number of macro, financial and sector databases. Working closely with the Bank’s regions and Global Practices, the group is guided by professional standards in the collection, compilation and dissemination of data to ensure that all data users can have confidence in the quality and integrity of the data produced.