Great intro, but outdated.

The overall presentation of economics is nicely done, but unfortunately completed in 2006. The last decade has been massively important to modern economic theory. For that reason I cannot recommend. The housing crisis, new expansive monetary policy (Federal Reserve changes), bailouts, stimulus, all need complete coverage for a Modern Economic Issue lecture series.

17 people found this helpful

Outdated

The insights give to us on these modern issues feel awkward and outdated as they are lacking the important developments and events of the last 13 years.

5 people found this helpful

Pre-Recession Information

While Audible says it was released in 2013, the information is from before the Great Recession. The information presented is obsolete and doesn't take into account one of the most economically significant events in recent world history. Consider yourself warned.

3 people found this helpful

economics

would like to see same lectures updated a little, to reflect current events but otherwise excellent.

1 person found this helpful

Fantastic. Balanced, yet provocative.

I've listened to almost all of the economics Great Courses and this might be the best one. I just finished listening to it a second time. I wish Robert Whaples did more courses. His survey of economists' opinions is a great supplement to the data and arguments he provides for the respective issues. Every lecture is packed with data and powerful arguments backed by economic theory. The Walmart lecture was very enlightening. Prof. Whaples disabuses the listener of the many misconceptions about the company and provides the economists' consensus analysis regarding its huge benefit to society. He convinced me that the Postal Service needs to be privatized, the inflation rate is egregiously overstated year after year by the CPI, and the U.S. poverty rate is in need of serious revision. I learned so much from this course. Prof. Whaples really makes you think about things that you don't often think about. I'm going to have to keep returning to it to retain all the information. After listening to this course you'll want to investigate all of these issues further. I can't recommend this course highly enough.

3 people found this helpful

Very dated (from 2007)

It’s 2022, and this audiobook – which is otherwise good – is chock-full of references and statistics from 2000-2007, which might as well be from 100 years ago. Audible shouldn’t keep it in its catalog if the publisher and author aren’t committed to updating and revising it.

Outstanding book

I’ve read a lot of books on economics and finance. This is one of the absolute best I’ve read. It starts out a little slow, but Professor Whaples does an absolutely masterful job investigating most major contemporary economic concerns in an objective, dispassionate manner. I finished the book wondering why someone (from either party) in Washington D. C. doesn’t hire him away from academia to be an advisor. Extremely well done. Only buy this book if you prefer to understand the world we live in.

Statistics are from 2005

While I enjoyed the lectures it would have been improved by more updated statistics.

Great book about US economics

The book was great! Good narrator, and important issues. I miss the international perspective though, and important questions about the validity of capitalism was quickly breezed through. I was expecting a bit more on 0% growth, environment, politics, and ethics.

An excellent course

Professor Whaples is one of those rare teachers who rattle off facts and figures in such an interesting way you figure it's just conversation!

I would heartily recommend this course. Keep in mind that it came out before the crash, so it appears too optimistic. The teaching company really ought to add a lesson on this huge fact!

In light of our country's economic woes, it's helpful to see where we were before it, and what was done to make the situation worse.