February 8, 2008
The new economics
Using some remarkably clever techniques and imaginative perspectives, a bold new breed of economists is busily demonstrating that life makes more sense than anyone would have thought. Using every clue that comes to hand, from a laboratory brain scan to the hidden patterns in old maps, they are discovering that there is a surprisingly rational basis to the seemingly irrational world around us.
This is new territory for economics. Some early attempts to popularise economics read more like a book of cute logical puzzles than an investigation into the nitty-gritty of the world around us. But don’t blame the popularisers too much: that was actually a fair reflection of the way economists used to do their work.
Things are different now.
That is me, writing for Waterstones Book Quarterly. The piece is posted here with permission.
I am very disappointed that my rationality has been betrayed. As a fan and promoter of “The Undercover Economist” I rushed to buy your new book. Then I saw a similar titled book, but as it was offered as a pair on that well known internet book site, and because it was you, I bought them both (inspite of being unsure that you could be that prolific and maintain quality).
Different covers, different inscriptions (to me, not being good on UK Eng to/from US Eng)
I should have read your chapter on buying a secondhand car more closely.
Posted by: Gerry | February 8th, 2008 at 3:02 pm | Report this commentGerry, I apologise. As soon as I noticed that Amazon were making this spectacularly stupid offer I asked my publishers to get in touch with them and take the US edition off the website. After rather too long, they complied. My experience with Amazon as an author is full of such frustrations. My experience with Amazon as a customer suggests that they will take the US edition back promptly and offer you a full refund. Please let me know if they do not, and sorry again.
Posted by: Tim Harford | February 8th, 2008 at 3:09 pm | Report this commentBest, Tim Harford