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The Economic Naturalist

In Search of Explanations for Everyday Enigmas

By Robert H. Frank

(68)

| Hardcover | 9780465002177

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Book Description

The fascinating and playful guide to how economics explains the simple but profound ideas that govern our world.

Why do the keypads on drive-up cash machines have Braille dots? Why are round-trip fares from Orlando to Kansas City higher than those from Kansas City to Orlando?

For decades,Continue

7 Reviews

The Economic Naturalist: Why Economics Explains Almost Everything

Looking at the world around us from an economic perspective. Recommended for teenage readers.

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Mimi Ho 247 said on Apr 8, 2010 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Yet another attempt to explain everything using economics. Plausible as the explanations seem to be, many are just educated guesses at best. Still, it's a delight to read the questions, which are often quite insightful themselves.

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Holmes said on Oct 29, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Section 3[return]Entrepreneurship

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Jonaschau said on Jul 18, 2009 | Add your feedback

This book is fun. It poses hundreds of interesting questions in our daily life, which can all be explained by economics. And you don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand it.
For example, why is milk sold in rectangular containers, while soft drinks are sold in cylindrical ones? Why ... (continue)

This book is fun. It poses hundreds of interesting questions in our daily life, which can all be explained by economics. And you don't need to be a rocket scientist to understand it.
For example, why is milk sold in rectangular containers, while soft drinks are sold in cylindrical ones? Why is there a light in your fridge but not in your freezer?
Robert H Frank draws on fundamental economic theories such as opportunity cost, cost-benefit analysis etc. to explain them all. The result is thought-stimulating and satisfying.
Frank shows readers why behavioral economics has become such a hot subject. It enables us to make sense of things in this seemingly out-of-control world.
Fascinating. Glad to know that a second-helping has been released.

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Tracy W said on Jul 6, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

Started at the very beginning- Cover - cozy and warm. The Milk Carton (mooo000)brings the question "Why is the milk sold in rectangular containrs, while soft drinks are sold in cylindrical ones?".
As an Economics teacher, Robert Frank gathered his students' essays (link up daily life / behavior ... (continue)

Started at the very beginning- Cover - cozy and warm. The Milk Carton (mooo000)brings the question "Why is the milk sold in rectangular containrs, while soft drinks are sold in cylindrical ones?".
As an Economics teacher, Robert Frank gathered his students' essays (link up daily life / behavior/ event with the economy), reorganized and amended them.
Over hundreds of short articles tell the readers why almost everything can be explained in an economic way. =^曲^=. The humourous illustrations cheer the readrs too!
Ty and see if you can explain why:
- Why do humantis lectures often write so
unclearly?
- Why do taxi drivers stop working early in rainy
days?
- Why are child safety seats required in cars but
not on aeroplane?
Want MORE? Crack the book yourself ^_<

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Corky said on Jan 23, 2009 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

I enjoyed this even better than "Underocver Economist", but slightly under "Freakonomics" in terms of the enjoyable level...

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Wandering Clouds said on Sep 25, 2008 | Add your feedback