Macroeconomics
by N. Gregory Mankiw · first published 1999
63% recommend31% neutral6% critical
Why HN recommends it
A clear, well-explained intro-level textbook that serves as a solid foundation in macroeconomics. It is often presented alongside Taylor's principles text and suits students and self-learners starting out.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…it worse, as has been demonstrated in every recession since records began. The failure to spend has brought us to a double-dip. For some grounding in economics, try the following: http://www.amazon.com/Macroeconomics-N-Gregory-Mankiw/dp/071.... Update: For a more specific analysis of an analogous situation - the Japanese "lost decade", try: http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Grail-Macroeconomics-Revised-Rece...
on “It's Time To Prepare For The Crisis Ahead” ↗You should check out Macroeconomics by Mankiw. It's very short and sweet. You really shouldn't judge economics by a few articles aimed at lay audiences just as you wouldn't try to learn about quantum mechanics from the NYTimes. Economics…
on “Paul Krugman: Fighting off depression” ↗…can also pick up introductory undergraduate college textbook in economics and read the parts that interest you. Greg Mankiw's books are good but the price is off the charts, so maybe don't buy them. (Macroeconomics & Financial Systems could be cheap if bought used) After that some light reading for general audience with interesting viewpoints and lessons: - A Random Walk Down Wall Street by Malkiel - Common…
on “Ask HN: Book recommendations for understanding financial systems?” ↗Greg Mankew’s textbook is the best for intro imo. Not cheap. https://www.amazon.com/Macroeconomics-N-Gregory-Mankiw-ebook...
on “Ask HN: How can I learn macroeconomics properly?” ↗…understanding of economics, finance and investing? Here's what I liked so far: People (their blogs or Twitter): Paul Krugman, Cullen Roche, Lyn Alden, Joseph Wang, Aswath Damodaran, Matthew C. Klein. Books: Macroeconomics by Mankiw, Pragmatic Capitalism, Central Banking 101. Podcast, news websites: I don't follow any.
on “Money market funds swell by over $273B as investors pull deposits from banks” ↗…anything by Mankiw. We read several of his books when I was studying Econ in college a few years ago. Given your interest in inflation, government spending, etc, you'll want to focus on the chapters on Macroeconomics. I also found a good presentation from the Berkeley website that might be interesting: http://emlab.berkeley.edu/users/webfac/wood/e100b_f08/intro....
on “Ask HN: what are some good resources to understand economics?” ↗Mankiw's books is the best option if you want an inferential and qualitative understanding of the subject. If you want something with more mathematical rigor I suggest Blanchard's Macroeconomics.
on “Ask HN: What are the must-read books about economics/finance?” ↗I think Mankiw covers pretty well how banking system works in real life. Open market operations etc. I'm referring to the book: 'N. Gregory Mankiw, Laurence Ball - Macroeconomics and the Financial System-Worth Publishers (2010)
on “Ask HN: Book recommendations for understanding financial systems?” ↗Read the micro 101 and macro 101 textbooks used by good universities. Principles of Economics by Taylor is one of the common textbooks. Macroeconomics by Mankiw is another one. Intro courses on any subject tend to be very accessible to laypeople. Sowell is unserious because he misrepresents the other side. He basically argues that when you leave everything…
on “Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?” ↗…However, it seems to have lost some traction in recent years. My impression is that "Principles of Economics" by N. Gregory Mankiw took its place. If Mankiw's "Principles" is written as clearly as his Macroeconomics textbook, it's certainly worth to start with it. Of course, both are quite expensive and -- depending on your math education -- demanding. So, as a test whether textbooks are something you could like,…
on “Economics in One lesson - Henry Hazlitt” ↗…Microeconomics" which is a standard university textbook translated to many languages (I am not associated with the book in any way). It's very accessable, colourful, well explained. He's also authored "Macroeconomics" if you're interested. Back to learning the "practical way" - I would recommend reading the Mankiw book fast and then just start looking around your world and asking questions as if you were an economist.…
on “Ask HN: What's a practical way to learn microeconomis?” ↗It's more than just a few lay articles, but your point is well-taken. And I appreciate the book suggestion. Alas: Macroeconomics by N. Gregory Mankiw (Hardcover - April 28, 2006) Buy new: $117.47 Ouch! I think we've discovered something about required textbooks and the economics of cartels.
on “Paul Krugman: Fighting off depression” ↗https://www.amazon.com/Macroeconomics-N-Gregory-Mankiw/dp/14...
on “Four Basic Truths of Macroeconomics” ↗…now 0%? Why haven’t the banks created infinite money? The loanable funds model that you describe is no longer accurate (though it is still taught by courses using outdated textbooks, e.g. the classic “Macroeconomics” by Mankiw. Newer textbooks, e.g. Core Econ do not teach the loanable funds model. It is incompatible with empirical data. [1] https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/reservereq.htm
on “The branch banking model” ↗And those books are...? I've got a copy of Macroeconomics by Mankiw sitting over here that says you're wrong. So does the consensus on wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly and to get right down to it Adam Smith, when writing of monopolies in Wealth…
on “Why First Round Capital funded a lawsuit” ↗