How can I learn more about microeconomics?

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CaptainTrips222
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07 Feb 2010, 5:18 am

Many of the books that are supposed to be basic are actually fairly complicated from the first chapter, and most assume you already are familiar with what they're talking about. Any suggestions?



Cyanide
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07 Feb 2010, 1:38 pm

Have you tried an outdated edition of an intro college textbook? Or Youtube?



pat2rome
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09 Feb 2010, 3:47 am

Don't take a microecon class... I haven't learned crap yet. haha


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Awesomelyglorious
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09 Feb 2010, 2:28 pm

Hmm.... I don't know what your specific issue is or what the issue you have exactly. If you have the book on hand, maybe you could tell us what you find so confusing about it. It's been a few years since I was introduced to microeconomics, so I don't remember what problems could emerge, but I could hopefully help you if I knew what the issue was.



MrTeacher
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09 Feb 2010, 3:48 pm

I have some suggestions:

1) Visuals. A good textbook should have lots of graphs about issues and topics such as opportunitycost, etcetera. Try and get a graph for everything. Than you need to categorize what you are reading - why is something in a category, what features make it a part of that category and how is it different than other things. Example: What category could income be put in? (money made). Where does income come from? (selling goods) How is it different than net incomes? (profit considers expenditures)

2) Youtube videos/independent research

3) Tutor/ Professor assistance

4) Scenario/Dramatic and experential learning. Experience is the only real way to get anything out of university. Try and get a job!



CaptainTrips222
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10 Feb 2010, 9:19 pm

I think I see the problem with the book I use. It thinks it does you a favor by defining much of the terminology, but within the definition it uses jargon that most people wouldn't regularly be familiar with. It also doesn't really communicate the concept all that well. I wish they could dumb it down, but that might not be possible with such complicated material.



skysaw
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11 Feb 2010, 1:06 pm

Economics was the only subject at school that I ever had the opportunity to drop mid-year, and through laziness and boredom (supply and demand curves every bleedin' lesson!) I did indeed drop it. So perhaps I could be accused of bitterness, but I am gradually coming to the conclusion that economics as it is currently taught and practiced is something of a con, because it is based on an unquestioning acceptance of the way most of our money is created (ie, by banks, as a debt).

Monetary reform was a big issue only a few generations ago, but nowadays little attention is paid to the issue at all.
For more on this issue, and as a good introduction to anyone interested in studying economics, I would recommend Grip of Death by Michael Rowbotham. It covers micro and macroeconomics.
In fact, the 10 page introduction is a real eye-opener in itself.

I am still midway through the book, and once I've finished I intend to use my new-found knowledge to tackle more conventional economic writing, perhaps starting with The Complete Idiots Guide.

(This kind of reminds me of a guy I knew who studied law. The first book they told him to read on the course was The Trial by Franz Kafka. It seems the thinking behind this was to inform him that 'the law is an ass. Get used to it'.)