Easy Economics with Examples (Book)

Easy Economics with Examples is an economics book written by Turkish economist and author Mahfi Eğilmez and first published in 2014 by Remzi Kitabevi. The book aims to explain complex economic concepts in a simple and accessible language, using real-life examples, for readers with little or no prior knowledge of economics.

The primary goal of the book is to enable readers to confidently follow discussions, articles, and statements about economics. With its compact structure of 192 pages, the book addresses economic terms in short sections, each preceded by quotations from renowned thinkers. As of 2024, the book has reached its 33rd printing and has established itself in Türkiye’s economics education and popular economics literature.

Content and Structure

Easy Economics with Examples is designed to explain the fundamental concepts and workings of economics in a straightforward manner. The book is structured into short sections, each consisting of one to two pages. Eğilmez seeks to simplify the learning of economics by supporting economic theories and concepts with examples from daily life and historical anecdotes.

The book seeks to answer fundamental economic questions such as: “What is economics and what is it useful for?”, “What are consumption, production, saving, investment, income, and GDP?”, and “How does the economy grow?” It also addresses topics such as unemployment, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, public finance, external balance, and the global system. Additionally, it includes a section titled “City Myths About Economics,” highlighting common misconceptions about the subject.

Themes and Core Arguments

The book explores the following key themes and arguments:

• Simplifying Economics: Eğilmez aims to make economics understandable by stripping it of abstract mathematical models and grounding it in real-life examples. For instance, when explaining the concept of scarcity, he cites Thomas Sowell’s quote “The first lesson of economics is scarcity,” emphasizing that economic resources are limited.

• Core Economic Concepts: Terms such as consumption, production, saving, investment, income, GDP, unemployment, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, and public finance are defined concisely. Each section illustrates how these concepts manifest in everyday life through practical examples.

• Economic Misconceptions: By addressing misunderstandings and “city myths” about economics, the book seeks to develop readers’ critical thinking skills.

• Enrichment through Anecdotes: Each section opens with a quotation, such as H.G. Wells’ “Today’s crisis is tomorrow’s joke” or Robert W. Sarnoff’s “Finance is the art of passing money from hand to hand until it finally disappears.”

Critiques and Discussions

Easy Economics with Examples has generally been praised for its clear language and accessible examples. However, some critics have argued that the book remains superficial and may be insufficient for readers seeking more advanced economic analysis. For instance, a reader familiar with Eğilmez’s other work, The Global Financial Crisis, has noted that this book offers a deeper analysis, while Easy Economics with Examples is deliberately limited to a more basic approach. Nevertheless, for its intended audience—those new to economics—this simplicity is widely regarded as the book’s greatest strength. Although some readers feel that the short sections do not explore topics in sufficient depth, the general consensus is that the book is well suited as an introduction to economics.