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The Undercover Economist

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The Undercover Economist

By: Tim Harford
Narrated by: Cameron Stewart
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About this listen

 Ever wondered why the gap between rich and poor nations is so great, or why it's so difficult getting a foot on the property ladder, or how to outwit Starbucks? This audiobook offers the hidden story behind these and other questions, as economist Tim Harford reveals how supermarkets, airlines, and coffee chains, to name just a few, are vacuuming money from our wallets. Written with a light, humorous touch but backed up by the latest economic research, this eye-opening book exposes the forces that shape our day-to-day lives, often without our knowing it.©2006 Tim Harford; (P)2007 Hachette Audio Economics Capitalism Thought-Provoking US Economy Banking Taxation Socialism Tariff China

Critic reviews

"A playful guide to the economics of everyday life, and as such is something of an elder sibling to Steven Levitt's wild child, the hugely successful Freakonomics." ( The Economist)
"This is a book to savour." ( The New York Times)
All stars
Most relevant
I have come to the world of Economics like many people via the route of Freakonmics. As much as I enjoyed Freakonomics I felt there was a very small amount of (admittedly excellent) content spread over a longer book.

This book is different. The author sometimes takes a while setting the scene but this all adds to the understanding of the principles he is explaining. I can honestly say that my understanding of the world is greater having listened to this book. The narration is fine, with a pleasant english voice that doesn't grip you but at the same time does not become tiresome.

I would certainly purchase another book by this author

Better than Feakonomics - more in depth

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A very in teresting and informative book. Just right for todays world of credit crunch

Nicely Put

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This book made economic principles easy to understand by applying them to real world situations. It also contains fascinating insight into how markets work. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone starting out in economics.

Really interesting

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Great view economics for non-economists, would benefit from an update though as now eastern and western economies have moved on. Some interesting insights.

Dated now

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I feel the narration is a bit of a shame, as Tim Harford has been presenting very ably on BBC Radio and I feel he'd have done a better job.

That written, The Undercover Economist is a rather engaging book on economics. Often humorous, always accessible.

A Super Book

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