Microeconomics : Principles, Applications, and Tools

For Principles of Microeconomics courses. Questions that drive interest, applications that illustrate concepts, and the tools to test and solidify comprehension. Students come into their first Economics course thinking they will gain a better understanding of the economy around them. Unfortunately, they often leave with many unanswered questions. To ensure students actively internalize economics, O'Sullivan/Sheffrin/Perez use chapter-opening questions to spark interest on important economic concepts, applications that vividly illustrate those concepts, and chapter-ending tools that test and solidify understanding.

ARTHUR O’SULLIVAN

is a professor of economics at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. After receiving his B.S.

in economics at the University of Oregon, he spent two years in the Peace Corps, working with city

planners in the Philippines. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University in 1981

and has taught at the University of California, Davis, and Oregon State University, winning teaching

awards at both schools. He is the author of the best-selling textbook Urban Economics, currently in its

seventh edition.

Professor O’Sullivan’s research explores economic issues concerning urban land use, environmental

protection, and public policy. His articles have appeared in many economics journals, including the

Journal of Urban Economics, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, National Tax Journal,

Journal of Public Economics, and Journal of Law and Economics.

Professor O’Sullivan lives with his family in Portland, Oregon. For recreation, he enjoys hiking,

kiteboarding, and squash.

 

STEVEN M. SHEFFRIN

is professor of economics and executive director of the Murphy Institute at Tulane University. Prior to

joining Tulane in 2010, he was a faculty member at the University of California, Davis, and served as

department chairman of economics and dean of social sciences. He has been a visiting professor at

Princeton University, Oxford University, London School of Economics, and Nanyang Technological

University, and he has served as a financial economist with the Office of Tax Analysis of the United

States Department of the Treasury. He received his B.A. from Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. in

economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Professor Sheffrin is the author of 10 other books and monographs and over 100 articles in the

fields of macroeconomics, public finance, and international economics. His most recent books

include Rational Expectations (second edition) and Property Taxes and Tax Revolts: The Legacy of

Proposition 13 (with Arthur O’Sullivan and Terri Sexton).

Professor Sheffrin has taught macroeconomics and public finance at all levels, from general introduction

to principles classes (enrollments of 400) to graduate classes for doctoral students. He is the

recipient of the Thomas Mayer Distinguished Teaching Award in economics.

He lives with his wife Anjali (also an economist) in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has two daughters

who have studied economics. In addition to a passion for current affairs and travel, he plays a

tough game of tennis.

 

STEPHEN J. PEREZ

is a professor of economics and NCAA faculty athletics representative at California State University,

Sacramento. After receiving his B.A. in economics at the University of California, San Diego, he was

awarded his Ph.D. in economics from the University of California, Davis, in 1994. He taught economics

at Virginia Commonwealth University and Washington State University before coming to California

State University, Sacramento, in 2001. He teaches macroeconomics at all levels as well as econometrics,

sports economics, labor economics, and mathematics for economists.

Professor Perez’s research explores most macroeconomic topics. In particular, he is interested

in evaluating the ability of econometric techniques to discover the truth, issues of causality in

macroeconomics, and sports economics. His articles have appeared in many economics journals,

including the Journal of Monetary Economics; Econometrics Journal; Economics Letters; Journal of

Economic Methodology; Public Finance and Management; Journal of Economics and Business; Oxford

Bulletin of Economics and Statistics; Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking; Applied Economics; and

Journal of Macroeconomics.

 

PART 1: Introduction and Key Principles

Ch 1: Introduction: What is Economics?

Appendix: Using Graphs & Percentages

Ch 2: Key Principles of Economics

Ch 3: Exchange and Markets

Ch 4: Demand, Supply, and Market Equilibrium 

 

Part 2: A Closer Look at Demand and Supply

Ch 5: Elasticity: A Measure of Responsiveness

Ch 6: Market Efficiency and Government Intervention

Ch 7: Consumer Choice Using Utility Theory

Appendix: Consumer Choice with Indifference Curves

 

Part 3: Market Structures and Pricing

Ch 8: Production Technology and Cost

Ch 9: Perfect Competition: Short Run and Long Run

Ch 10: Monopoly and Price Discrimination

Ch 11: Market Entry and Monopolistic Competition

Ch 12: Oligopoly and Strategic Behavior

Ch 13: Controlling Market Power: Antitrust and Regulation

 

Part 4: Externalities and Information

Ch 14: Imperfect Information: Adverse Selection and Moral Hazard

Ch 15: Public Goods and Public Choice

Ch 16: External Costs and Environmental Policy

 

Part 5: The Labor Market and Income Distribution

Ch 17: The Labor Market, Income, and Poverty

Ch 18: Unions, Monopsony, and  Imperfect Information

 

Part 6: The International Economy

Ch 19: International Trade and Public Policy