Economics in One Virus: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning through COVID-19

Ryan A. Bourne

Cover of Economics in One Virus: An Introduction to Economic Reasoning through COVID-19

"A truly excellent book that explains where our pandemic response went wrong, and how we can understand those failings using the tools of economics." ―Tyler Cowen, coauthor of the blog Marginal Revolution Have you ever stopped to wonder why hand sanitizer was missing from your pharmacy for months after the COVID-19 pandemic hit? Why some employers and employees were arguing over workers being re-hired during the first COVID-19 lockdown? Why passenger airlines were able to get their own ring-fenced bailout from Congress? Economics in One Virus answers all these pandemic-related questions and many more, drawing on the dramatic events of 2020 to bring to life some of the most important principles of economic thought. Packed with supporting data and the best new academic evidence, this book offers a crash-course in economics analysis through the applied case-study of the COVID-19 pandemic, to help explain everything from why the U.S. was underprepared for the pandemic to how economists go about valuing the lives saved from lockdowns. After completing this highly readable, fast-paced, and provocative virus-themed economic tour, readers will be able to make much better sense of the events that they've lived through. Perhaps more importantly, the insights on everything from the role of the price mechanism to trade and specialization will grant even those wholly new to economics the skills to think like an economist in their own lives and when evaluating the choices of their political leaders.

Author
Ryan A. Bourne
Edition published
April 27, 2021
Publication year
2021
Goodreads rating
3.85/5 from 134 ratings and 16 reviews
Purchased
April 13, 2021 · kindle
Publisher
Cato Institute
Edition
Kindle Edition · 320 pages
Language
English
Genres
Economics, Nonfiction, Business, Politics
ISBN
9781952223068
Added
April 13, 2021
Times read
1
Owned copies
1
Goodreads
Book record