Principles of Microeconomics 3rd ED Author:N. Gregory Mankiw "A study of mankind in the ordinary business of life." — That is how Alfred Marshall, the great 19th century economist, defined economics in his classic textbook, Principles of Economics. — The text you have in your hand continues that tradition, from the cover image to the last page. The cover of this and previous editions shows a market science.... more » It reminds us that economics is about people as they go about their lives. Economics is about buying, selling, setting prices, competing for customers, looking for jobs, and earning a living. It is about why markets so often succeed as a way to run a society and why they sometimes fail.« less