Economics has the capacity to offer us deep insights into some of the most formidable problems of life & offer solutions to them too Combining a global approach with examples from everyday life Partha Dasgupta describes the lives of two children who live very different lives in different parts of the world in the Mid-West USA & in Ethiopia He compares the obstacles facing them & the processes that shape their lives their families & their futures He shows how economics uncovers these processes finds explanations for them & how it forms policies & solutions Along the way Dasgupta provides an intelligent & accessible introduction to key economic factors & concepts such as individual choices national policies efficiency equity development sustainability dynamic equilibrium property rights markets & public goods ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable