This book presents a realistic picture of current economic thought through an understanding of theory and the application of issues. It discusses concepts in economics and how they relate to real issues in life. It delves into economics by looking at Crime, Labor Markets, Drug Use, Population etc, using the "tools" of economics.

Wendy A. Stock, Ph.D. is the Co-Department Head & Professor of Economics within the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics at Montana State University. She received her PhD in Economics in 1996 from Michigan State University. She has been published in Journal of Economic Education, American Economic Review, Journal of Human Resources, Economic Inquiry, to name a few. She has experience with the American Economic Association (AEA) Committee on Economic Education (CEE) and is coordinator of the CEE-sponsored poster session on active learning techniques at the AEA meetings. Her research interests include: the effects of labor market policies, labor force participation and employment trends, professional labor markets, economic education, the education and training of economists, job stability, and job displacement.