This Handbook provides an overview of established and cutting-edge contributions to political economic thought. Chapters by leading and emerging scholars showcase the diverse approaches and productive debates among researchers. Separate sections of the book deal with political economy as an area of knowledge, its principal theoretical traditions, the dynamics and socio-ecological foundations of economic systems, and political economy's interdisciplinary connections. Thirty-two chapters cover the full spectrum of contemporary political economy, including classical, Marxist, post-Keynesian, institutional, evolutionary, and feminist approaches, recent studies of capital as power, modern money theory, behavioural economics, social structures of accumulation, and race, gender and class. The volume concludes by reflecting on how these theories of political economy can contribute to making a better world. Pluralist and interdisciplinary in its approach, this Handbook is a key resource for students and teachers of political economy and heterodox economics, as well as for other social scientists wanting to understand political economic processes.

Essentials of Economics in Context is specifically designed to meet the requirements of a one-semester introductory economics course that provides coverage of both microeconomic and macroeconomic foundations. It addresses current economic challenges, paying specific attention to issues of inequality, globalization, unpaid work, technology, financialization, and the environment, making the text a genuinely twenty-first century introduction to economics. Aspects of history, institutions, gender, ethics, and ecology are integrated throughout the text, and economic analysis is presented within broader themes of human well-being, and social and environmental sustainability. Theoretical expositions in the text are kept close to reality by integrating numerous real-world examples and by presenting the material in the recognized accessible and engaging style of this experienced author team. Key features of Essentials of Economics in Context include: * an inclusive approach to economics, where the economy is analyzed within its social and environmental context * an innovative chapter examining data on various economic indicators * focus on goals of human well-being, stability, and sustainability, and inclusion of core and public purpose spheres, instead of solely focusing on market activities a wealth of online materials such as slides, test banks, and answers to exercises in the book This text is the ideal resource for one-semester introductory economics courses globally. The book's companion website is available at: http://www.bu.edu/eci/education-materials/textbooks/essentials-of-economics-in-context/

Essentials of Economics in Context is specifically designed to meet the requirements of a one-semester introductory economics course that provides coverage of both microeconomic and macroeconomic foundations. It addresses current economic challenges, paying specific attention to issues of inequality, globalization, unpaid work, technology, financialization, and the environment, making the text a genuinely twenty-first century introduction to economics. Aspects of history, institutions, gender, ethics, and ecology are integrated throughout the text, and economic analysis is presented within broader themes of human well-being, and social and environmental sustainability. Theoretical expositions in the text are kept close to reality by integrating numerous real-world examples and by presenting the material in the recognized accessible and engaging style of this experienced author team. Key features of Essentials of Economics in Context include: * an inclusive approach to economics, where the economy is analyzed within its social and environmental context * an innovative chapter examining data on various economic indicators * focus on goals of human well-being, stability, and sustainability, and inclusion of core and public purpose spheres, instead of solely focusing on market activities a wealth of online materials such as slides, test banks, and answers to exercises in the book This text is the ideal resource for one-semester introductory economics courses globally. The book's companion website is available at: http://www.bu.edu/eci/education-materials/textbooks/essentials-of-economics-in-context/

The discipline of economics has been increasingly criticized for its inability to illuminate the workings of the real world and to provide reliable policy guidance for the major economic and social challenges of our time. A central problem in contemporary economics, and a problem from which many of its other failings flow, is its lack of plurality. By a lack of plurality it is meant that contemporary economics lacks diversity in its methods, theories, epistemology and methodology. It is also meant that economics has become far less interdisciplinary. From Economics to Political Economy offers an explanation as to why economics has become so determinedly non-pluralistic, and also gives considerable attention to exploring and evaluating promising strategies for reform. These strategies include developing a pluralist economics under the label of 'political economy' within other social science departments (such as departments of politics). Along the way the reader will learn about the worldwide student movement seeking greater pluralism in economics, encounter some dramatic case studies in intellectual suppression, gain a fuller sense of the nature of contemporary economics and explore the relationship between economics and other social sciences. This book is of interest to any social scientist, particularly those with interests in economics and politics.

The discipline of economics has been increasingly criticized for its inability to illuminate the workings of the real world and to provide reliable policy guidance for the major economic and social challenges of our time. A central problem in contemporary economics, and a problem from which many of its other failings flow, is its lack of plurality. By a lack of plurality it is meant that contemporary economics lacks diversity in its methods, theories, epistemology and methodology. It is also meant that economics has become far less interdisciplinary. From Economics to Political Economy offers an explanation as to why economics has become so determinedly non-pluralistic, and also gives considerable attention to exploring and evaluating promising strategies for reform. These strategies include developing a pluralist economics under the label of 'political economy' within other social science departments (such as departments of politics). Along the way the reader will learn about the worldwide student movement seeking greater pluralism in economics, encounter some dramatic case studies in intellectual suppression, gain a fuller sense of the nature of contemporary economics and explore the relationship between economics and other social sciences. This book is of interest to any social scientist, particularly those with interests in economics and politics.