Economics is vital, but its labyrinth of equations can make it feel disconnected from the real world. Enter a powerful tool: the metaphor.
From longtime economics journalist Peter Coy comes an approachable and fun guide to the metaphors that unlock its power. With nearly 500 alphabetized entries, complemented by playful illustrations, Economics Without Numbers demystifies concepts, exploring their origins, the truths they express, and where they fall short. The result is a delightful and original primer on economic ideas and history that's perfect for students and anyone who wants to understand what makes the world go 'round.
Coy has spent decades collecting these vivid metaphors. From "trickle-down economics" (the idea that making the rich richer will help the poor) to "inductivist turkey" (a parable about the perils of assuming that a trend will persist without knowing its cause), Coy brings economics to life.