Let's Chat About Economics

Children are economists, it s time to chat about it! Economics is the study of choices people make to be happy. Kids do this each day when they decide which shirt to wear, which TV show to watch or what to eat for lunch. In making these choices, they are using the economic principles of scarcity, supply, demand, opportunity costs and diminishing returns. Now is the perfect time to chat with your child about economics and prominent economist Dr. Arthur Laffer shows you how to get started. Written for families of elementary-age children, Let's Chat About Economics identifies and illustrates basic economic principles through familiar scenarios. This book provides a framework for adults (parents, grandparents and teachers) to discuss economics with young children and continue these observations and conversations throughout life. Children will recognize economics in action through everyday examples like shopping for groceries, planning a family trip, saving allowance and buying the latest, must-have tech gadget. When children understand the basic economic principles, they have a solid foundation of how the world works and can apply the same reasoning to make choices that serve their goals and unique purpose. Don't waste another minute, start chatting about economics with the children in your life today!

Michelle Balconi is a freelance writer and speaker focused on creating connections between children and adults through economics. She loves to chat about economics because it is the only perfectly balanced science - both factual and emotional. Before writing, Michelle worked in communications for 15 years alongside technology investors introducing first-to-market products. Michelle feels fortunate to have met so many kind and interesting people as she grew up in Florida, spent many years in California and Massachusetts and now lives in Michigan with her husband and two children. When she is not writing, Michelle loves to travel and chat it up with nearly everyone she meets.

Dr. Arthur Laffer is the founder and chairman of Laffer Associates, an economic research firm focusing on interconnecting macroeconomic, political and demographic changes. Dr. Laffer was a member of President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981 - 1989) and was noted in TIME magazine's 1999 cover story as "One of the Century's Greatest Minds." Dr. Laffer is well known for the Laffer Curve, an illustration of the theory that there exists some tax rate between 0% and 100% that will result in maximum tax revenue for governments. He is a frequent cable news contributor and the author and co-author of many newspaper articles and books including Return to Prosperity and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of States. In addition to writing and speaking about economics, Dr. Laffer enjoys spending as much time as possible with his greatgrandchild and 11 grandchildren on their family farm where they explore nature and raise animals of many types.

Mary Kinsora is a children's book illustrator currently working out of the Detroit Metro area. Having graduated from the College for Creative Studies with a bachelor's degree in illustration, she is currently working toward the creation of a new children's media company, and her own business in licensing products from her artwork. Mary is particularly interested in stories that are imaginative but help to educate and enrich children. In her free time, Mary enjoys hiking, drinking tea, spending time with her "gang of critters," and long chats with her grandmother.