Microeconomic principles and problems : a pluralist introduction / Geoffrey Schneider.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

PART I: Economics: A Pluralistic Definition.--1. What is Economics?.-- 2. Scarcity, Opportunity Cost and Choice.-- PART II: The Evolution of Economic Systems and Economic Thought.-- 3. The Evolution of Pre-Capitalist Economic Systems.-- 4. Adam Smith and the Rise of Capitalism.-- 5. Karl Marx and the Dark Ages of Capitalism.-- 6. Thorstein Veblen and Monopoly Capitalism.-- 7. Keynes and Mixed Market Capitalism.-- 8. Modern Economic Systems. Part III: Markets, Supply and Demand.-- 9. Markets and how they work.-- 10. Applications of Supply and Demand.-- 11. Consumer and Supplier Behavior.-- PART IV: Market Structures and Corporations.-- 12. Different types of market structures.-- 13. Short Run and Long Run Costs of Production.-- 14. Perfect Competition and competitive markets.-- 15. Monopoly and Monopoly Power.-- 16. Monopolistic Competition.-- 17. Oligopoly and Strategic Behavior.-- 18. Corporations and their role in society.-- Part V: Government Intervention in Microeconomic Markets.-- 19. Market Failure and Government Failure.-- 20. The Economics of the Environment and Climate Change.-- 21. Public Goods and Services. Part VI: Labor Markets and Inequality.-- 22. Working for a Living: The Labor Market.-- 23. Inequality: Class, Race, Gender and Distribution.--Part VII: International Microeconomics.-- 24. International Microeconomics: Trade and Exchange Rates.

"Microeconomic Principles and Problems offers a comprehensive introduction to all major perspectives in modern economics, including mainstream and heterodox approaches. Through providing multiple views of markets and how they work, it will leave readers better able to understand and analyse the complex behaviours of consumers, firms, and government officials, as well as the likely impact of a variety of economic events and policies. Most principles of microeconomics textbooks cover only mainstream economics, ignoring rich heterodox ideas. They also lack material on the great economists, including the important ideas of Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Thorstein Veblen, John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich Hayek. Mainstream books neglect the kind of historical analysis that is crucial to understanding trends that help us predict the future. Moreover, they focus on abstract models more than existing economic realities. This engaging book addresses these inadequacies. Including explicit coverage of the major heterodox schools of thought, it allows the reader to choose which ideas they find most compelling in explaining modern economic realities. Written in an engaging style focused on real world examples, this ground-breaking book brings economics to life. It offers the most contemporary and complete package for any pluralistic microeconomics class." -- Provided by publisher