: Publication

An understanding of economic principles is essential to sustainable decision-making. This text provides a foundation in economics where concepts are presented in a tangible, clear and relevant manner, making economics accessible and the sustainable rational agent an attainable reality for the twenty-first century.

Economic Principles: A Primer (3rd edition) evaluates the assumptions of economic principles incorporated within economic models of 19th and 20th century, and provides readers with an understanding of the relationship between prevailing social values, behaviors and eventual economic outcomes. Through promoting an understanding of the relationship between stakeholders and sustainability, the text defines through economic principles, the responsibility that all economic agents potentially bear in the depletion, exploitation and degradation of resources. With narratives that foster active discussion, the text is a catalyst for integrating sustainability thinking within economics and is an essential tool for promoting an integrated sustainability curriculum throughout an educational system.

Introduction: What is economics and why do we study it?

Chapters:

1. History of economic thought
2. Scarcity and abundance
3. Supply, demand and the development of market systems
4. Elasticity
5. Trade-offs, opportunity cost and cost benefit analysis
6. Consumer and producer theory
7. Externalities and common goods
8. Social welfare and government intervention
9. Measuring economic growth
10. Monetary policy
11. Fiscal policy
12. Macroeconomic indicators
13. Economics of sustainability

Ebook available!

Madhavi Venkatesan earned a PhD, MA, and BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University, a Masters in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University, and a Masters In Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. She has contributed to numerous books and journal articles on the subject of sustainability and economics. In 2017, she was awarded the Fulbright CySip Distinguished Lectureship to the Philippines and has been the recipient of other grants and awards related to her interests in sustainable economic development. Her present academic interests include the integration of sustainability into the economics curriculum.

Prior to re-entering academics, Madhavi held senior level positions in investor relations for three Fortune 250 companies. In this capacity she was a key point of contact for investors and stakeholders and was instrumental in the development of socially responsible investing strategies and corporate social responsibility reporting. She started her financial services career after completing her post-doctoral fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis.

Madhavi resides on Cape Cod, Massachusetts with her son and their two dogs, Oscar and Oliver.