The Undercover Economist

An international bestseller, The Undercover Economist is an entertaining and pain-free introduction to the key concepts of economics, by a popular Financial Times writer.

Exposing Why the Rich Are Rich, the Poor Are Poor—and Why You Can Never Buy a Decent Used Car!

Tim Harford’s bestselling debut is part field guide to economics and part exposé of the economic principles lurking behind daily events. Showing us the world through the eyes of an economist, Harford reveals that everyday events are in fact intricate games of negotiations, contests of strength, and battles of wits.

He explains:
- Why picking stocks is like picking a line in the supermarket
- The connection between a drunken frat party and getting stuck in traffic
- How coffee companies use fair trade products to skim money from customers

This book offers the hidden story behind these and other questions, as Harford reports back from Africa, Asia, Europe, and your local Starbucks. Written with a light touch and sly wit, The Undercover Economist turns “the dismal science” into a true delight.