Economics books

Economics books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.

• An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NatioAdam Smith

  An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

  Adam Smith

  The founding text of modern economics, covering division of labor, markets, and national wealth.

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• The Worldly PhilosophersRobert L. Heilbroner

  The Worldly Philosophers

  Robert L. Heilbroner

  A readable history of economic thinkers from the classical period through Keynes, useful as an overview.

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• The General Theory of Employment, Interest and MoneyJohn Maynard Keynes

  The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money

  John Maynard Keynes

  Argued that total demand can stay below full employment, and it shaped macroeconomic policy in the decades after.

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• Why Nations FailJames A. Robinson

  Why Nations Fail

  James A. Robinson

  Explains long-run differences in national prosperity through political and economic institutions.

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• FreakonomicsStephen J. Dubner

  Freakonomics

  Stephen J. Dubner

  A widely read example of applying economic reasoning and data to unusual questions.

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Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.

Reading lists

• Economic history
• Behavioral economics
• Inequality and poverty
• Globalization and trade
• Development economics
• Capitalism and its critics
• Money and central banking
• Financial crises
• Environmental economics and degrowth
• Economics for everyone

More economics books