Distinguishing Features of the 2nd Edition:

• Modern Approach and Organization: Mandel frames the text into three main forces shaping today’s economy: technological change, globalization, and the evolution of financial markets. The basic tools of economics are presented in the first 11 chapters to lay a foundation for understanding how the economy evolves and changes.

• Current and Real Examples: Mandel’s approach combines the traditional news values of immediacy and impact with an additional layer of analysis and explanation. Chapter concepts are presented via newsworthy events starting with an engaging opening vignette to help students see economics is in action all around them.

• Clear & Simple Graphs: Many textbooks overwhelm students with too much text and too few graphs. Mandel breaks selected economic concepts into their own simple, easy-to-follow graphs that effectively translate to a beginning student. [The presentation of graphs in Connect is consistent with the text to ensure a smooth experience with online homework.]

• Assurance of Learning Ready: Each chapter in the book begins with a list of numbered learning objectives, which appear throughout the chapter as well as in the end-of-chapter assignments. All end of chapter material, test bank material, and assignable content within Connect maps to a specific chapter learning objective in the textbook, as well as topic area, Bloom’s Taxonomy level, and AACSB skill area. The reporting features within Connect allow student results to be aggregated, making the collection and presentation of Assurance of Learning data simple and easy.

Retained Features:

• Student Centered Approach: Accustomed to dry textbook prose, students can easily warm up to Mike Mandel’s journalistic, conversational writing style. A colorful and engaging one column design layout looks more like a magazine than a traditional textbook. Mandel incorporates less formal math, and ensures each chapter is short and accessible.

• Current Events: “Spotlight” and “How it Works” boxes highlight examples from current events to help students identify how economics works in the real world. Several of these features are assignable within Connect with accompanying questions.

• Real Data: Mandel uses interesting, real data directly from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.

• Historical Context: “Economic Milestone” boxes help students connect economics to history by providing historical facts and references that relate to the economic concepts they are learning.