Microfinance has been heralded as an effective way to address imperfections in credit markets. From a theoretical perspective, however, the success of microfinance contracts has puzzling elements. In particular, the group-based mechanisms often employed are vulnerable to free-riding and...

Thinking like an economist -- The power of economics -- Economics and life -- Specialization and exchange -- Supply and demand -- Markets -- Elasticity -- Efficiency -- Government intervention -- Microeconomics : thinking like a microeconomist -- Individual decisions -- Consumer behavior --...

"We offer the second edition of this text as a resource for professors who, like us, want to show students that economics can make a positive impact-in their own lives and in society as a whole. We designed the text with our own version of a "dual mandate": to deliver core economic concepts...