Devil's Advocate Economics: The Other Side of the Stories

With economic and social issues, we all have ideas of what is correct. A closer inspection reveals that things may not be as we thought, and invites questions. The answers may be contrary to prior opinion. Should we strive for fairness and equality, or will doing so create some unintended consequences? Is it possible that people that are viewed negatively – illegal immigrants, big-game hunters, price gougers, and ticket scalpers – create more economic benefits than costs? Is discrimination an oversimplified and over-blamed boogeyman of convenience? Do the rich actually pay MORE than their fair share of taxes? What happens if we tax the rich too much? Devil’s Advocate Economics examines these questions and more, inviting readers to think about the other side of the story. The other side may not be the popular or well-publicized result, but the conclusion reached by examining incentives, consequences of policy, data about behavior, and the general well-being of individuals. This updated second edition has new chapters discussing the topics of the Electoral College, affirmative action, and how easily we are fooled as consumers.