The Joy of Economics: Making Sense Out of Life

Author: Robert J. Stonebraker, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Winthrop University.
Publication Date: May 15, 2017.
Permission: Non-profit reproduction/copying is granted, provided author and source are credited.
Economics Defined: Far from being peripheral (like stock markets or inflation rates), economics is fundamentally about choice – all kinds of choices, including everyday decisions (e.g., buying ice cream vs. potato chips), profound life decisions (e.g., love, marriage, life, death), social issues (e.g., crime, punishment), and even faith.
Core Insight: "Everything we do is really economics." All behavior, both good and bad, is driven by underlying perceived costs and benefits.
Author's Goal: To provide an accessible book focusing on the theme of choice, demonstrating the breadth and power of basic economic analysis without assuming prior knowledge.
Content Approach:
- Mixes conventional and unconventional topics.
- Applies economics in