Schiller focuses on the core questions of economics: WHAT, HOW, and FOR WHOM. (WHAT goods and services does the United States produce? HOW is that output produced? FOR WHOM is the output produced?) The author asks "Who best answers these questions - the market or the government?" "To intervene or not" is then the central policy question raised in Chapter 1 and revisited in every chapter. This theme underscores the policy emphasis of the text.
Schiller's text contains more real-world applications than most Principles texts. The Microeconomy Today uses economic policy to show the student the reality and relevance of economics; every chapter starts and ends with policy issues.
Schiller not only interests students but also teaches them carefully by using extensive pedagogical aids. Graphs and tables are synchronized; i.e., they appear together in a single illustration to help students visualize the transition of tabular data to graphic representation. All tables, graphs, boxes, and cartoons are annotated and referenced in the text. Students can look at the graph, read the annotation, and understand why it's important. The running glossary in the margins not only defines a term when first introduced but repeats the term in subsequent chapters, thereby reinforcing learning. Every key concept is developed step by step.
Internet Integration. Internet applications pop up everywhere. The updated marginal WebNotes are descriptive enhanced URLs that extend the in-text discussion by directing students to relevant web sites. Many "In the News" and "World View" boxes include related URLs.
Global Coverage: Schiller's Tenth Edition examines how the United States, as well as every nation in the world, is part of a global or "open" economy. Chapter 2 offers a unique global comparison on economic performance.
Student Problem Set To facilitate homework assignments, Brad Schiller has prepared a Student Problem Set that includes built-in numerical and graphing problems that build on the tables, graphs, and boxed material in each chapter. Grids for drawing graphs are also provided. Each chapter's problem set is detachable and includes answer boxes that facilitate grading. (Answers are available in the Instructors Resource Manual, in print or in downloadable form on the book's website). The Student Problem Set is behind the tab at the end of each book.
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