How do the major economic issues that dominate today's news impact the average citizen? Professor Robert Whaples has designed a primer in 21st century economics for the noneconomist. Whether dealing with the traditional topics most of us are used to seeing in an economics course-Social Secutiry, inflation, unemployment, taxation-or issues perhaps surprising, such as gambling, major sports franchises, and even overeating-Professor Whaples offers insights about how the American economic really works and how the consequences of policy decisions can have a longer reach than we might imagine.