From my early beginnings as a young introvert, the public library has always been a bit of a refuge. Years later, not much has changed, albeit with an additional affinity for endless hours spent scouring second-hand bookstores to add to my ever-growing “to-read” pile.
From one bookworm to another, this column underscores and outlines various literary genres, authors, and recent reads and serves as an introduction for those unfamiliar with these works, as a refresher for long-time aficionados, and maybe as an inspiration for readers to share their own suggested topics. Do you have a topic that you would like covered in this column? Feel free to contact me for an interview and a feature in an upcoming column.
Who
This week, we focus on major authors in the discipline of Economics. Economics can be defined as a “social science that seeks to analyze and describe the production, distribution, and consumption of wealth.” In particular, “[t]he study of individual decisions is called microeconomics. The study of the economy as a whole is called macroeconomics.”
Economics can be divided into various subspecialties including Applied Economics, Development Economics, Environmental Economics, International Economics, and Labour Economics, among others.
Examples of notable Economics authors include Adam Smith, Karl Polyani, John Maynard Keynes, Amartya Sen, and Karl Marx.
What
Some examples of Economic texts include The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time by Karl Polyani, The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes, Development as Freedom by Amartya Sen, and Capital: Critique of Political Economy by Karl Marx.
Where
These texts take place in the United Kingdom, the United States, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, India, and Germany.
When
These works were written in the 17,18,19, and 20-centuries.
Why
Economics texts may appeal to AU students who would like to understand our world. In particular, Economics is a way to “understand the news, make financial decisions, shape public policy, and see the world in a new way.”
How
AU’s wide range of diverse courses make it easy to study this topic in depth. Courses related to Economics are available in a variety of disciplines, including one’s that may fit into your Degree Works. (Always check with an AU counsellor to see if these particular courses fulfill your personal graduation requirements!)
AU students interested in learning more about this topic may enroll in ECON 401: The Changing Global Economy, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “focuses on the economic aspects of globalization but recognizes that political, social, and cultural perspectives are also important.” (Prerequisites include ECON 247: Microeconomics or ECON 248: Macroeconomics – or any introductory Economics course.)
Students may also be interested in ECON 300: Financial Economics, a senior-level, three-credit course, which “introduces basic principles of finance.” (Please note that this course requires ACCT 250: Accounting for Managers or ACCT 253: Introductory Financial Accounting, as well as MGSC 301: Statistics for Business and Economics I or MATH 215: Introduction to Statistics. Students can also obtain professor approval.) Happy reading!