The Microeconomics Of Complex Economies

The Microeconomics of Complex Economies uses game theory, modeling approaches, formal techniques, and computer simulations to teach useful, accessible approaches to real modern economies. It covers topics of information and innovation, including national and regional systems of innovation; clustered and networked firms; and open-source/open-innovation production and use. Its final chapter on policy perspectives and decisions confirms the value of the toolset. Written so chapters can be used independently, the book includes an introduction to computer simulation and pedagogical supplements. Its formal, accessible treatment of complexity goes beyond the scopes of neoclassical and mainstream economics. The highly interdependent economy of the 21st century demands a reconsideration of economic theories. Describes the usefulness of complex heterodox economics Emphasizes divergences and convergences with neoclassical economic theories and perspectives Fits easily into courses on intermediate microeconomics, industrial organization, and games through self-contained chapters

A 'Non-Toxic' Intermediate Textbook 'Here, at last, we have the ideal textbook for microeconomics from an evolutionary and institutional perspective. Wolfram Elsner does nothing less than reconstruct the principles of microeconomics for a world of interactive business networks, change and innovation, crisis and uncertainty, as well as coordination problems and cooperative joint ventures. The publication of this book is a landmark event in microeconomics.' – Phillip A. O'Hara, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia and President-Elect of AFEE, 2012 'This microeconomics textbook by Wolfram Elsner provides a timely alternative for understanding the micro roots of uncertainty, complexity and crisis. The evolutionary and institutional perspective sheds new light on contemporary issues such as clusters, networks, innovation and coordination. By reading this textbook, teachers, students and practitioners will open their minds to new economic thinking.' – Ping Chen, Peking University, Beijing, Fudan University, Shanghai, China and author of Economic Complexity and Equilibrium Illusion This thorough reconstruction of microeconomics 'post-2008' provides economic students with a new way of real-world understanding and strategic qualification that will be better appreciated by their future employers and any professional practice. It will prove essential for economic students and other social science programs at a graduate level. This accessible and engaging textbook includes: • A survey of the most famous core models of modern microeconomics including the neoclassical approach and its heterodox critiques – Sraffian, Institutionalist, Post-Keynesian and Mirowskian • An introduction to complexity thinking in economics • An introduction to game theory • An introduction to the methods of complex computer simulation • An introduction to strategic behavior • An newly integrated approach to real-world and complexity economics, rather than focusing on neoclassical ('perfect') market equilibrium 'plus a thousand recent extra things on top'. See the companion website – www.microeconomics.us – for teaching material, readings, exams and as a general guide to explore issues raised in the book.

The structure of the micro-economic theory and its motivation.

“In some ways, the e?ect of achieving understanding is to reverse completely our initial attitude of mind. For everyone starts (as we have said) by being perplexed by some fact or other: for instance... the fact that the diagonal of a square is incommensurable with the side. Anyone who has not yet seen why the side and the diagonal have no common unit regards this as quite extra- dinary. But one ends up in the opposite frame of mind... for nothing would so much ?abbergast a mathematician as if the diagonal and side of a square were to become commensurable”. [Aristotele] This is the ?rst volume of a new series entitled “New Economic Windows”. Each volume in the series will, we hope, provide pointers towards a better understanding of the nature of economic phenomena and help to “reverse our initial state of mind” as economists. As H. Simon observed, Economics must be considered a “hard”, (in the sense of di?cult rather than precise), science. As he cogently argued, the problems dealt with are so complex they “cannot simply be reduced to analytically solvable models or decomposed into sepa- 1 rate sub processes”. In this he was following on from Einstein who, many years earlier, when asked why he had not turned his attention to economics said that he found it too di?cult a subject to handle scienti?cally.

V. 1. An introduction to dynamical systems and market mechanisms -- v. 2. An introduction to macroeconomics dynamics.

Untangle the jargon and understand how you're involved in everyday economics If you want to get to grips with the basics of economics and understand a subject that affects British citizens on a daily basis, then look no further than Economics For Dummies. This easy to understand guide takes you through the world of economics from understanding micro- and macroeconomics to demystifying complex topics such as capitalism and recession. This updated edition walks you through the history, principles and theories of economics as well as breaking down all the complicated terminology, leaving you clued up on economics in no time. Getting to grips – explore the science of economics and how people deal with scarcity Keeping an eye on it – learn all about macroeconomics and how economists keep track of everything Watch patterns emerge – understand why monitoring consumer behaviour is vital and all you need to know about microeconomics Your recession guide – expert advice on recessions and a detailed look at why they occur Open the book and find: Why you should care about economics and how it affects you Tools to help you understand a recession A guide to seductive economic fallacies All you need to know on monetary and fiscal policies How supply and demand can be made easy Why it's vital to track consumer choices An in-depth look at a profit-maximising firm and the core of capitalism Guidance on property rights and wrongs Learn to: Look through economic history and spot the trends Understand micro- and macroeconomics Get to grips with consumer behaviour and its influence on the economy Spot the signs of a recession and see how economic decisions affect you

This work acts as a critique of the basis of neoclassical microeconomics, and makes a proposal for the structure of a new evolutionary theory.

From the inability of wealth to make us happier, to our catastrophic blindness to the credit crunch, Economyths reveals ten ways in which economics has failed us all. Forecasters predicted a prosperous year in 2008 for financial markets - in one influential survey the average prediction was for an eleven percent gain. But by the end of the year, the Standard and Poor's 500 index - a key economic barometer - was down 38 percent, and major economies were plunging into recession. Even the Queen asked - "Why did no one see it coming?" An even bigger casualty was the credibility of economics, which for decades has claimed that the economy is a rational, stable, efficient machine, governed by well-understood laws. Mathematician David Orrell traces the history of this idea from its roots in ancient Greece to the financial centres of London and New York, shows how it is mistaken, and proposes new alternatives. Economyths explains how the economy is the result of complex and unpredictable processes; how risk models go astray; why the economy is not rational or fair; why no woman has ever won the Nobel Prize for economics; why financial crashes are less Black Swans than part of the landscape; and finally, how new ideas in mathematics, psychology, and environmentalism are helping to reinvent economics.