Uncommon Sense

Becker, Gary S.; Posner, Richard A.

ISBN 10: 0226041018 / ISBN 13: 9780226041018

Published by The University of Chicago Press, 2009

About this Item

On December 5, 2004, the still-developing blogosphere took one of its biggest steps toward mainstream credibility, as Nobel Prize - winning economist Gary S Becker and renowned jurist and legal scholar Richard A Posner announced the formation of the Becker-Posner Blog. This book gathers the most important and innovative entries from the blog. Num Pages: 384 pages. BIC Classification: JFF; KC. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 60 x 90 x 29. Weight in Grams: 658. . 2009. 1st Edition. Hardcover. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780226041018

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Uncommon Sense
• Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0226041018
• ISBN 13: 9780226041018
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

On December 5, 2004, the still-developing blogosphere took one of its biggest steps toward mainstream credibility, as Nobel Prize–winning economist Gary S. Becker and renowned jurist and legal scholar Richard A. Posner announced the formation of the Becker-Posner Blog.

In no time, the blog had established a wide readership and reputation as a reliable source of lively, thought-provoking commentary on current events, its pithy and profound weekly essays highlighting the value of economic reasoning when applied to unexpected topics. Uncommon Sense gathers the most important and innovative entries from the blog, arranged by topic, along with updates and even reconsiderations when subsequent events have shed new light on a question. Whether it’s Posner making the economic case for the legalization of gay marriage, Becker arguing in favor of the sale of human organs for transplant, or even the pair of scholars vigorously disagreeing about the utility of collective punishment, the writing is always clear, the interplay energetic, and the resulting discussion deeply informed and intellectually substantial.

To have a single thinker of the stature of a Becker or Posner addressing questions of this nature would make for fascinating reading; to have both, writing and responding to each other, is an exceptionally rare treat. With Uncommon Sense, they invite the adventurous reader to join them on a whirlwind intellectual journey. All they ask is that you leave your preconceptions behind.

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.