別懷疑,經濟學真的可以解決所有問題!
從FACEBOOK到劈腿,150個生活難題爆笑拆解!
★好酷的經濟學-英國《泰晤士報》
★生活經濟學的第一把交椅!-經濟學泰斗Tyler Cowen
別說你不曾煩惱過以下問題:
「忙到快死了,怎樣辦?」、「要不要劈腿?」、「兒子的FACEBOOK朋友比我多……」、 「為什麼要燙衣服啊?」、「約會時,究竟誰該付錢?」、「兒子很皮,該不該揍?」
如果你得問個人來解決這些生活上的難題,還有比他更好的人選嗎?
不過別期待他跟其他主持讀者信箱的夫人們一樣有同情心
他講話有點直、有點沒禮貌,但卻中肯得令人爆笑
他不會提供肩膀借你哭泣,但會為你獻上最實在的理性線索與生活建議
他是隱藏在你身邊的臥底經濟學家
*精選答客問:
Q:忙到快死了,怎樣解脫?──倫敦的一個著名的經濟學家
A:為自己訂一個「價格」吧,低於這個價錢,寧可休息。──能說會道的臥底經濟學家
Q:孩子很皮,該揍嗎?──切爾西的吉兒.杭斯利
A:不要揍他,扣他零用錢即可。──非暴力的臥底經濟學家
Q:人幹嘛燙衣服?──新加坡的茱蒂絲.奧利佛
A:因為我們缺乏其他更有效的指標,來判斷一個人的能力。──不修邊幅的臥底經濟學家
Q:要不要在乎童貞?──紐約的葛蘿麗亞
A:看你的性別。女人失去童貞,是一種投資;男人失去童貞,只是一種消費。──不浪漫的臥底經濟學家
Q:真愛,很難找嗎?──巴塞隆納的露絲
A:放心,人總是很快就降低標準的。──務實的臥底經濟學家
An economist’s version of The Way Things Work, this engaging volume is part field guide to economics and part expose of the economic principles lurking behind daily events, explaining everything from traffic jams to high coffee prices. The Undercover Economist is for anyone who’s wondered why the gap between rich and poor nations is so great, or why they can’t seem to find a decent second-hand car, or how to outwit Starbucks. This book offers the hidden story behind these and other questions, as economist Tim Harford ranges from Africa, Asia, Europe, and of course the United States to reveal how supermarkets, airlines, and coffee chains—to name just a few—are vacuuming money from our wallets. Harford punctures the myths surrounding some of today’s biggest controversies, including the high cost of health-care; he reveals why certain environmental laws can put a smile on a landlord’s face; and he explains why some industries can have high profits for innocent reasons, while in other industries something sinister is going on. Covering an array of economic concepts including scarce resources, market power, efficiency, price gouging, market failure, inside information, and game theory, Harford sheds light on how these forces shape our day-to-day lives, often without our knowing it. Showing us the world through the eyes of an economist, Tim Harford reveals that everyday events are intricate games of negotiations, contests of strength, and battles of wits. Written with a light touch and sly wit, The Undercover Economist turns ”the dismal science” into a true delight.
本書中譯版《親愛的臥底經濟學家》由早安財經出版。
作者簡介
提姆.哈福特(Tim Harford)
知名英國《金融時報》(Financial Times)主筆。在該報撰寫、並供稿全球的專欄「臥底經濟學家」,揭示日常生活經驗背後的種種經濟觀念。他同時也是全球唯一開設答客問專欄「親愛的經濟學家」的經濟學家。他曾擔任BBC電視節目《聽我的,我是經濟學家》(Trust Me, I’m an Economist)的主持人,現主持BBC廣播節目《多或少》(More or Less)。文章散見《君子》(Esquire)、《富比士》(Forbes)、《紐約》(New York)雜誌、《華盛頓郵報》(Washington Post),及《紐約時報》(New York Times)。二○○六年獲得專門針對新聞從業者所頒發的巴斯夏獎(Bastiat Prize),廣電節目也曾獲獎。現與妻子和兩個女兒居住在倫敦。
著有暢銷書《誰賺走了你的咖啡錢》(The Undercover Economist,早安財經出版)。
Tim Harford is an editorial writer at the Financial Times, where he also writes the newspaper’s “Dear Economist” column and “The Undercover Economist” column, which also appears in Slate. He lives in London.