This thought-provoking introduction to economics exposes readers to the workings of the market in a democratic state. The text explains basic economic concepts from a political perspective: how the price mechanism substitutes for central authority in determining production and allocation of goods; the use of demand and supply curves to trace the impacts of tariffs, taxes, subsidies, quotas and patents; and the redistribution of income. Additionally the text explores political topics from an economic perspective, including the avoidance of anarchy and despotism; and the mutual dependence of markets, voting, public administration and law. Relies largely on stories and paradigms to convey important economic concepts. Explains basic economic concepts from a political perspective and explores political topics from an economic perspective. Covers topics such as the price mechanism, demand and supply curves, redistribution of income, anarchy, voting and public administration.

Dan Usher is a Professor of Economics at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada. He has worked for the United Nations and taught economics in England and the United States. He is the author of many books, including The Price Mechanism and the Meaning of National Income Statistics (1968), The Measurement of Economic Growth (1980), The Economic Prerequisite to Democracy (1981), and The Welfare Economics of Markets, Voting and Predation (1993)The Uneasy Case for Equalization Payments (1995), Collected Papers, Volume I: National Accounting and Economic Theory and Volume II: Welfare Economics and Public Finance (1994), and The Welfare Economics of Markets, Voting and Predation (1993). Professor Usher has also contributed to numerous journals, including American Economic Review, Canadian Journal of Economics, Economica, Journal of Political Economy, Oxford Economics Papers, Public Choice, Public Finance, and Review of Income and WealthAmerican Economic Review, Economic Letters, Public Choice, and . His articles are compiled in Collected Papers, Volume I: National Accounting and Economic Theory and Volume II, Welfare Economics and Public Finance (1994).