Food is so fundamental to our existence, identity, and happiness that most people are interested in it. I try to get my potential readers to think about economics by wrapping dry economic arguments in juicy food stories. Talking about food is a good way to get interested in economics.Īlthough there are user-friendly explanations, many people do not realize Inspired To learn about economics because they find the subject boring. “In a capitalist society, democracy is meaningless unless every citizen knows at least some economics.”Ĭomplex economic topics such as international trade, automation, inequality and climate change all make sense if explained in a user-friendly manner. I believe that anyone with a secondary school education can understand most of economics. I also said that the remaining 5 percent can also be understood if explained properly. In my last book, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism, I stuck my neck out and said that 95 percent of economics is common sense, only made to look difficult because of jargon, math, and statistics. Bush in the 2000 presidential election, saying he “looked like a guy I could have a beer with.” What a criteria to select someone for the most powerful political office in the world!Īfter telling you that we all need to learn economics, I know that many people find economics too dry or complicated – this is where food economics Comes in.

I remember a lot of Americans voting for George W. Otherwise, voting in elections becomes like voting in a talent show. Therefore, in a capitalist society, democracy is meaningless unless every citizen knows at least some economics. I’m not a monarchist, but what a despicable way to defend an institution that you feel is the foundation of your society. I have also met some British people who are trying to justify the monarchy in terms of the tourist revenue it allegedly generates. The economics are in jobs, mortgage payments and taxes, but also in libraries, the teaching of ancient languages in universities, and the preservation of cultural heritage. However, we all need to learn at least Some Economics, because nothing in a capitalist society is free from it. Everyone needs to learn economics.Ī lot of people think that economics is a boring, difficult subject that only professional economists need. his books include Arthashastra: The User’s Guide, Bad Samaritansand international number one bestseller, 23 Things They Don’t Tell You About Capitalism,īelow, Ha-joon shares 5 key takeaways from her new book, Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World, Hear the audio version-read by Ha-joon himself-in the Next Big Idea app.

Ha-Joon Chang is Professor of Economics at SOAS University of London and one of the world’s leading economists.

Book edible economics