The Economics of Social Problems, Fourth Edition

The Economics of Social Problems, Fourth Edition

This well respected textbook has been fully updated to reflect how economic policies on housing, crime, the environment, pensions among other areas, have changed in recent years. The book offers a lucid, non-technical introduction to important economic concepts, showing how they are applied in a real world setting. The fourth edition of this classic textbook has been substantially revised to reflect changing social problems as well as recent policy developments. It adopts a common approach to each social problem, asking what are the government's efficiency and equity objectives and looking at the extent to which they can be achieved through market-based or government interventions. The use of a simple yet rigorous economic framework makes this an essential introductory textbook for those with little experience of economics who are interested in how economic tools can be used to understand and shape public policy. The fourth edition features: new chapters on climate change and pensions - a chapter on crime, featuring recent advances in measuring the costs of crime to society - substantial updating throughout - more international examples Sarah Smith is Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Market and Public Organisation at the University of Bristol, UK. Julian Le Grand is the Richard Titmuss Professor of Social Policy at the London School of Economics, UK. Carol Propper holds professorships at the University of Bristol, UK, where she co-founded the Centre for Market and Public Organisation, and at Imperial College, London, UK, where she heads the new Healthcare Management Group.