Basic economics : a citizen's guide to the economy / Thomas Sowell.

Preface, ix -- Acknowledgements, xi -- 1. What is economics?, 1 -- Part 1. Prices, 7 -- 2. The role of prices, 7 -- 3. Price controls, 21 -- 4. An overview, 39 -- Part II. Industry and commerce, 59 -- 5. The rise and pall of businesses, 59 -- 6. The role of profits-and losses, 73 -- 7. Big business and government, 89 -- 8. An overview 105 -- Part III. Work and pay, 127 -- 9. Productivity and pay, 127 -- 10. Controlled labor markets, 149 -- 11. An overview, 167 -- Part IV. Time and risk, 175 -- 12. Investment and speculation, 175 -- 13. Risks and insurance, 193 -- 14. An overview, 207 -- Part V. The national economy, 215 -- 15. National Output, 215 -- 16. Money and the banking system, 223 -- 17. The role of government, 237 -- 18. An overview, 261 -- Part VI. The international economy, 269 -- 19. International trade, 269 -- 20. International transfers of wealth, 283 -- 21. An overview, 297 -- Part VII. Popular economic fallacies, 305 -- 22. "Non-economic" values, 305 -- 23. Prices and purchasing power, 315 -- 24. Business and labor, 329 -- 25. An overview, 343 -- Sources, 347 -- Index, 359.