Understanding Our American Economy.

This handbook of economics reviews current economic activities in the United States, encouraging thinking and further study for the reader, rather than providing answers. The book provides a basic framework of knowledge in economics for a better informed citizenry to think clearly and objectively about economic issues in an attempt to combat economic illiteracy which the author considers a basic problem in the United States today. The approach used is to describe the organizations in the economy and to develop economic principles with emphasis on their application and use. Five parts deal with (1) the framework of the economy as it relates to consumers, workers, businessmen, and government employees; (2) prices and markets of the private enterprise system; (3) general view of economic change over a period of years; (4) the relationship of the United States with other countries; and (5) current economic problems of poverty, agriculture, food supplies, inflation, and the energy crises in relation to future economic development. (Author/JR)