Economics

The Economist, Profile Books, 356 pages, hardback £20.00, paperback £10.99

Written in the lively, jargon-free style characteristic of the weekly Economist, this book analyses the dramatic changes in the world economy in the last few decades and seeks to make sense of them for the average reader. Part one examines globalisation, information technology, the role of the state, the "tiger" economies in south east Asia and international finance. Part two starts by looking at the abuses of economic theory and concludes with an assessment of its relevance and usefulness.

Much can be learnt from this highly readable book, which is conventional, pro-market economics at its best. The only problem for trade unionists is that it contains almost nothing about the gross inequality of property and income generated by markets within and between countries or about Keynesian economics and the means to get full employment. It is complacent about the trend towards the privatisation of pensions. Trade unions and industrial relations are hardly mentioned, and the alternative economics of socialism is ignored.