Consumer Economics A Practical Overview

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Focusing on the service economy, and designed especially for non-economics majors, this practical text establishes a new and enduring blend of topics for courses in consumer economics and consumerism. Consumer Economics develops useful perspectives and rules of thumb to guide decision making. As it introduces the fundamentals of markets, consumer choice, financial assessment, risk avoidance, etc., it presses students to appreciate the world of markets and to clarify their personal priorities for decision making in such a world.Boxed sections throughout the text illustrate concepts and provide examples, and each chapter includes a summary, consumer workshop, questions for study, and suggested readings.CONTENTSI. Getting Started1. Introduction -- 2. Consumers -- 3. The Marketplace 4. Negotiation -- 5. Household AccountsII. Priorities and Choices6. Routine Shopping -- 7. Buying Durables -- 8. Borrowing 9. Risk and Uncertainty -- 10. Saving and Investing 11. Gains from InternationalTradeIII. Consumer Rights and Protections12. A History of Consumer Protection13. Today's Consumer Protection System14. Economic Footings for Consumer PolicyIV. Momentous Decisions15. Housing -- 16. Cars -- 17. College -- 18. Kids 19. The Green Way -- 20. Health Care 21. Retirement -- 22. Death: Planning and PerspectiveV. Consumers and the National Economy23. National Consumption Its Measurement and Determination24. Consumption and National Prosperity25. Consumers and Government Spending