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The Economic Approach - by  Gary Stanley Becker (Paperback) - 1 of 1

The Economic Approach - by Gary Stanley Becker (Paperback)

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Highlights

  • Now in paperback, a revealing collection from the intellectual titan whose work shaped the modern world.
  • About the Author: Gary S. Becker (1930-2014) was University Professor at the University of Chicago with a joint appointment in both the economics and sociology departments.
  • 184 Pages
  • Business + Money Management, Economics

Description



Book Synopsis



Now in paperback, a revealing collection from the intellectual titan whose work shaped the modern world.

As an economist and public intellectual, Gary S. Becker was a giant. The recipient of a Nobel Prize, a John Bates Clark Medal, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom, Becker is widely regarded as the greatest microeconomist in history.

After forty years at the University of Chicago, Becker left a slew of unpublished writings that used an economic approach to human behavior, analyzing such topics as preference formation, rational indoctrination, income inequality, drugs and addiction, and the economics of family.

These papers unveil the process and personality--direct, critical, curious--that made him a beloved figure in his field and beyond. The Economic Approach examines these extant works as a capstone to the Becker oeuvre--not because the works are perfect, but because they offer an illuminating, instructive glimpse into the machinations of an economist who wasn't motivated by publications. Here, and throughout his works, an inquisitive spirit remains remarkable and forever resonant.



Review Quotes




"The Economic Approach is a fascinating collection of Gary S. Becker's unpublished works with additional, insightful commentary on both his life and the works contained in this book. . . .The Economic Approach succeeds in giving readers at different educational levels in economics an understanding of how economics can be used as a method of inquiry into all kinds of human behavior. . . .While Becker's finished works and the published works of many other economists also cover these topics, this book's unique contribution is revealing Becker's thought process through his still-in-progress writings. . . .Highly recommended."-- "Choice"

"The Economic Approach is superb from start to finish. A wonderful tribute to a pathbreaking intellect."--Douglas A. Irwin Dartmouth College

"Gary Becker is one of the greatest economists of all time. The Economic Approach is perhaps the best place to start dipping into his work."--Tyler Cowen George Mason University

"We have been granted a lucky bonus after studying the finished books and papers that Becker published. . . .The Economic Approach gives us a glimpse of the way Becker's thoughts evolved when faced with a knotty problem: here we have sketches of the models that he so solidly built with the help of calculus. Statistical intuition is implicit. He was making them ready for empirical observation and testing."-- "Economic Affairs"

"What a tremendous book! Becker was a giant, with an extraordinary combination of intense focus and curiosity, and you can see his genius here. Be prepared to be surprised and illuminated--and to have some fun in the process."--Cass R. Sunstein author of "Too Much Information"



About the Author



Gary S. Becker (1930-2014) was University Professor at the University of Chicago with a joint appointment in both the economics and sociology departments. He was the author of many books, including Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis and The Economics of Discrimination. He collaborated with Richard Posner on the Becker-Posner Blog, which formed the basis for their book Uncommon Sense: Economic Insights, from Marriage to Terrorism. Becker was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1992 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007. Julio J. Elias is professor of economics, director of the master of economics, and executive director of the Joint Initiative for Latin American Experimental Economics at the University of CEMA, Argentina. Casey B. Mulligan is professor in the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics and program director at the Initiative on Enabling Choice and Competition in Healthcare at the University of Chicago. Kevin M. Murphy is George J. Stigler Distinguished Service Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics and the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago.
Dimensions (Overall): 9.0 Inches (H) x 6.0 Inches (W) x .49 Inches (D)
Weight: .65 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 184
Genre: Business + Money Management
Sub-Genre: Economics
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Theme: Theory
Format: Paperback
Author: Gary Stanley Becker
Language: English
Street Date: March 26, 2026
TCIN: 1012222722
UPC: 9780226849157
Item Number (DPCI): 247-34-3437
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Estimated ship dimensions: 0.49 inches length x 6 inches width x 9 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.65 pounds
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