Includes bibliographical references and index

Part one : An overview of the economy -- 1. An introduction to our economic system -- 2. American capitalist today -- 3. Productivity and economic growth -- 4. Measuring and forecasting economic activity -- Part two : 5. The market price -- 6. The markets of perfect competition and monopolistic competition -- 7. The markets of monopoly and oligopoly -- 8. Wages and employment in perfectly and imperfectly competitive markets -- Part three : Banking and government -- 9. Our banking system -- 10. Monetary policies -- 11. Why we need government --12. The government's role in stabilizing the economy -- Part four : Inflation and unemployment -- 13. The nature of inflation -- 14. The modern inflation problem -- 15. Possible remedies for inflation -- 16. How inflation and unemployment can coexist -- 17. Business cycles -- Part five : International economics -- 18. International trade -- 19. International exchange rates -- 20. Economics of other countries -- Part six : Conclusion -- 21. Where do we go from here?