Economics Books

"Who Owns the Future?" is a must-read to understand the new power paradigm created by the digital revolution. Lanier highlights how the information economy ruins markets and concentrates wealth, leading to a collapse in living standards for the majority. He proposes a more humane reality, where risk and reward are shared equally, allowing for a more democratic information economy. This eye-opening read is perfect for those who want to learn about the impact of digital technologies on society and explore alternative futures.

This book would be a good read for someone who wants to understand the historical and political origins of current political affairs. Fukuyama provides a comprehensive analysis of the development of political order, drawing from different disciplines such as economics, anthropology and geography. His insightful perspectives on the evolution of human societies and politics, make the book an essential guide for anyone interested in political science and history.

In the age of big data, we can crunch an incomprehensible amount of information, providing invaluable insights we wouldn't otherwise have.We're just starting to reap the benefits: tracking vital signs to foresee infections, predicting building fires, anticipating the best moment to buy a plane ticket, seeing inflation in real time and monitoring social media in order to identify trends. But there is a dark side to big data. Will it be machines, rather than people, that make the decision? How do you regulate an algorithm? What will happen to privacy? Will individuals be punished for acts they have yet to commit?In this groundbreaking and fascinating book, two of the world's most-respected big data experts reveal the reality of a new world and outline clear and actionable steps that will equip the reader with the tools needed for this next phase of human evolution.This new and expanded edition also details the effects big data is having on education and learning.

Review: Superfreakonomics is a fascinating exploration of unconventional economic principles that will challenge your preconceived notions. Levitt and Dubner dive deep into controversial topics, presenting mind-bending truths that are backed by unexpected economic insights. From discussing the surprising risks of walking drunk to the intriguing dynamics between prostitutes and policemen, this book will keep you engaged from start to finish. Prepare to have your perspective shifted and your assumptions shattered as you explore the hidden side of societal issues.

Recommendation: "The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity" is a must-read for anyone who has ever been frustrated with the irrational and illogical behavior of others. The book provides a unique economic model that helps readers understand, identify, and neutralize the phenomenon of human stupidity. It is a hilarious yet alarming read that will leave you with a better understanding of the world around you.

Brilliant and engagingly written, Why Nations Fail answers the question that has stumped the experts for centuries: Why are some nations rich and others poor, divided by wealth and poverty, health and sickness, food and famine? Is it culture, the weather, geography? Perhaps ignorance of what the right policies are? Simply, no. None of these factors is either definitive or destiny. Otherwise, how to explain why Botswana has become one of the fastest growing countries in the world, while other African nations, such as Zimbabwe, the Congo, and Sierra Leone, are mired in poverty and violence? Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson conclusively show that it is man-made political and economic institutions that underlie economic success (or lack of it). Korea, to take just one of their fascinating examples, is a remarkably homogeneous nation, yet the people of North Korea are among the poorest on earth while their brothers and sisters in South Korea are among the richest. The south forged a society that created incentives, rewarded innovation, and allowed everyone to participate in economic opportunities. The economic success thus spurred was sustained because the government became accountable and responsive to citizens and the great mass of people. Sadly, the people of the north have endured decades of famine, political repression, and very different economic institutions—with no end in sight. The differences between the Koreas is due to the politics that created these completely different institutional trajectories. Based on fifteen years of original research Acemoglu and Robinson marshall extraordinary historical evidence from the Roman Empire, the Mayan city-states, medieval Venice, the Soviet Union, Latin America, England, Europe, the United States, and Africa to build a new theory of political economy with great relevance for the big questions of today, including:    - China has built an authoritarian growth machine. Will it continue to grow at such high speed and overwhelm the West?    - Are America’s best days behind it? Are we moving from a virtuous circle in which efforts by elites to aggrandize power are resisted to a vicious one that enriches and empowers a small minority?    - What is the most effective way to help move billions of people from the rut of poverty to prosperity? More philanthropy from the wealthy nations of the West? Or learning the hard-won lessons of Acemoglu and Robinson’s breakthrough ideas on the interplay between inclusive political and economic institutions? Why Nations Fail will change the way you look at—and understand—the world.

Este livro apresenta uma análise reveladora da maior tendência na tecnologia e do drástico impacto que ela terá sobre a economia, a ciência e a sociedade como um todo. Big data se refere à nossa recém-descoberta capacidade de reunir grandes quantidades de informações, analisá-las num instante e chegar a incríveis conclusões. Essa abordagem pode traduzir vários fenômenos – do preço das passagens aéreas ao texto de milhões de livros – numa forma pesquisável, e usa nosso crescente poder computacional para descobrir epifanias que nunca teríamos observado. Uma revolução semelhante à Internet e talvez até mesmo à imprensa, o big data mudará a maneira como pensamos sobre os negócios, a saúde, a política, a educação e a inovação nos anos vindouros. Ele também gera novas ameaças, do fim da privacidade como a conhecemos à ideia de sermos penalizados pelo que ainda não fizemos, com base na capacidade que o big data tem de prever nosso comportamento futuro. Nesta obra brilhantemente clara e surpreendente, dois especialistas explicam o que é o big data, como ele mudará nossas vidas e o que podemos fazer para nos protegermos de seus perigos. Big data é o primeiro grande livro sobre a próxima grande moda.

The Undoing Project showcases two brilliant minds working in tandem, paving the way for the field of behavioral economics. Through their research, they revolutionized the way society views the human mind, providing insight into the ways in which we make judgments in uncertain situations. This book would be a great read for anyone interested in psychology and human behavior, providing a fascinating look into the lives of two men who made a profound impact on our understanding of decision-making.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the roots of our modern consumer culture. The author's wit and insight make for an entertaining and thought-provoking journey, as he takes on some of the most deeply held assumptions about our economy and society. Readers will come away with a new perspective on the ways in which we measure success, and the often hidden costs of our quest for status and luxury.

This book is relevant for anyone interested in understanding the economic landscape of current times and how it is being shaped by big tech companies. The author offers in-depth analysis of how the foundation of economy is being rapidly divided among a few dominant platforms. The uniqueness of this book lies in its critical examination of the new business forms and how their rise is posing significant challenges to any vision of a post-capitalist future.

This book—an ethnography of inequality—addresses these questions. Formed by a series of essays, they are written to be read individually, but have been arranged to be read as a totality and in sequence. Each aims to accomplish two things: first, to introduce a key aspect of the experience of being low-income in contemporary Singapore. Second, to illustrate how people’s experiences are linked to structural conditions of inequality.

This book is a must-read for those seeking to understand the complexities of contemporary social and political identities. Laclau and Mouffe's examination of hegemony provides a unique lens through which to view power dynamics and the struggle for democracy. Readers will appreciate the authors' nuanced approach to essentialism and their compelling argument for a radical democratic politics.

Recommendation: - This book is a captivating exploration of unconventional economic insights that will challenge your preconceived notions. From global cooling to the economics of suicide bombers, Freakonomics authors, Levitt and Dubner, delve into a fascinating array of topics that will leave you questioning the world around you. With its mind-blowing revelations and page-turning storytelling, Superfreakonomics is the perfect read for those who crave a dose of intellectual stimulation and enjoy thinking outside the box.

Bestselling author Michael Lewis examines how a Nobel Prize–winning theory of the mind altered our perception of reality.Forty years ago, Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky wrote a series of breathtakingly original studies undoing our assumptions about the decision-making process. Their papers showed the ways in which the human mind erred, systematically, when forced to make judgments about uncertain situations. Their work created the field of behavioral economics, revolutionized Big Data studies, advanced evidence-based medicine, led to a new approach to government regulation, and made much of Michael Lewis’s own work possible. Kahneman and Tversky are more responsible than anybody for the powerful trend to mistrust human intuition and defer to algorithms.The Undoing Project is about the fascinating collaboration between two men who have the dimensions of great literary figures. They became heroes in the university and on the battlefield―both had important careers in the Israeli military―and their research was deeply linked to their extraordinary life experiences. In the process they may well have changed, for good, mankind’s view of its own mind.

This book is for those who are tired and fed up with the prevalence of human stupidity in both personal and political situations. The author provides the reader with a unique economic model that helps identify and put an end to the negative effects of human stupidity. The book is a quick read, and the author uses humor to keep the reader engaged throughout. Readers have found the book to be timely, beneficial, and hilarious, making it a must-have for those looking to arm themselves against the perplexities of life.

Recommended for those seeking a hopeful perspective

Émile Durkheim is often referred to as the father of sociology. Along with Karl Marx and Max Weber he was a principal architect of modern social science and whose contribution helped established it as an academic discipline. "The Division of Labor in Society", published in 1893, was his first major contribution to the field and arguably one his most important. In this work Durkheim discusses the construction of social order in modern societies, which he argues arises out of two essential forms of solidarity, mechanical and organic. Durkheim further examines how this social order has changed over time from more primitive societies to advanced industrial ones. Unlike Marx, Durkheim does not argue that class conflict is inherent to the modern Capitalistic society. The division of labor is an essential component to the practice of the modern capitalistic system due to the increased economic efficiency that can arise out of specialization; however Durkheim acknowledges that increased specialization does not serve all interests equally well. This important and foundational work is a must read for all students of sociology and economic philosophy.

"Winners Take All" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the impact of globalization, the role of the elite in shaping it, and how they often mask their self-interest as philanthropy. Anand Giridharadas' insider account provides an eye-opening perspective on how the elite rebrand themselves as champions for social change, while perpetuating inequality. This book calls on both the elite and the general public to work towards building a more just and equitable society by creating robust institutions that uphold democratic values. Highly recommended for anyone interested in understanding the intersection of power, politics, and media in the modern world.