As the MindManager doesn't work I used the time to finish my book.
'Discover your inner economist' by Tyler Cowen.
We are used to think that economics is all about graphics, diagrams, difficult calculations - but it isn't. Economics doesn't end with forecasting stock prices - it may be applied and it is applied in our daily life.
That is what this book tells us about - how to deal with our everyday problems using our economic knowledge.
Tyler Cowen explains how people's behaviour is affected by economic principles: the dirty dishes parable, the car salesman parable, the parking tickets parable - let's take the first one as an example.
If parents want to make his child do the dishes, they may consider paying him money for doing housework as a good idea.
And many of them really beleive it works, but, however effective it seems to them, it doesn't.
That is simply because the child takes status of working for the parents as immature or even humiliating.
Another bad point is that the child doesn't put an effort in doing his work properly - because he is paid for that anyway.
So probably the only way to make a child happy to do the washing up is to let him know how important it is for the family and how highly the parents appreciate his ability and willigness to help. This tactic may seem simple, but it unexpectedly does a good job.
That is only an example of what this book is about -you will find a lot more about incentives, penalties and rewards and the impact these have on our life.
You can even find out ( and I did) that you use some of this methods yourself (but never thought about it).
The advantage is that the book is written in plain language with the examples provided for each new topic, - it's like the author has a friendly conversation with a reader ).
In conclusion, I'd like to say that I enjoyed reading this book ( not just because I HAVE TO enjoy it and write a positive review :) ) and I'd advise to read it anybody who wants to get familiar with a different application of economic science.
P.S. In fact, I like reading, but I'm too lazy to do it unless I'm forced to, so, thank you, Chris ))
things to do
5 comments:
Why has Rinat posted nothing?
he wrote a blog on a credit crunch - i didnt know he had to post one more
2. 3 mind maps a day related to the chapters of the book I sent round. (This is for Economics students - not one student has done this so already you are falling behind)
3. Learn how to and then create a PODCAST. (That's for these people - why haven't all of them done it?)
6. Finish off the Unit 1 Economics book (Economists)
7. Learn web design (Mary) and Desk Top publishing. How quickly you have forgotten
8. Checking out links: and practising! The pathetic attempts a few hours ago where you thought demand was supply and supply was demand and two people even thought a PPF had a price on and the PPF shifted to show demand.....I despair!
9. You were supposed to be doing questions on market failure - but no-one bothered and that's why when asked about it pink people just looked confused.
If you pretend you don't know about externalities then ask the person in this photograph!
Two days with no blog is not good - you must help yourself!
No-one can MAKE your English improve if you do not try - and if your English does not improve you will not pass any A levels at all.
Your choice.
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