Brian O'Roark – författare

At first sight, superheroes and economics seem to occupy completely different dimensions – but a clash of dimensions is a classic comic book storyline! In this first-of-its kind book, an economist and a business writer assemble an A-team of academic talent to explore the intersection of superhero mythology and economic theory in ten accessible chapters. Superheroes and Economics uncovers basic economic truths that are integral to the comic stories from some of the genres most famous names. The authors of the chapters look at ways that economic principles can add authenticity to imagined universes, and how familiar superhero stories can demonstrate concepts used by economists to forecast the behavior of markets and individuals. If Spider-Man is so smart, why isn’t he rich? What are the economic implications of a tech entrepreneur like Tony Stark actually inventing Iron Man armor? What does the 80-year career of Wonder Woman tell us about the evolving role of women in the workplace? This unique book extends the scope of comics studies to encompass social sciences. It offers a great way to introduce both fans and students to topics like opportunity cost, growth, inflation, and cost benefit analysis, as well as more advanced concepts like moral hazard, utility functions and economic growth. This text can be used to supplement economics courses using colorful examples that any pop culture fan can relate to.

At first sight, superheroes and economics seem to occupy completely different dimensions – but a clash of dimensions is a classic comic book storyline! In this first-of-its kind book, an economist and a business writer assemble an A-team of academic talent to explore the intersection of superhero mythology and economic theory in ten accessible chapters. Superheroes and Economics uncovers basic economic truths that are integral to the comic stories from some of the genres most famous names. The authors of the chapters look at ways that economic principles can add authenticity to imagined universes, and how familiar superhero stories can demonstrate concepts used by economists to forecast the behavior of markets and individuals. If Spider-Man is so smart, why isn’t he rich? What are the economic implications of a tech entrepreneur like Tony Stark actually inventing Iron Man armor? What does the 80-year career of Wonder Woman tell us about the evolving role of women in the workplace? This unique book extends the scope of comics studies to encompass social sciences. It offers a great way to introduce both fans and students to topics like opportunity cost, growth, inflation, and cost benefit analysis, as well as more advanced concepts like moral hazard, utility functions and economic growth. This text can be used to supplement economics courses using colorful examples that any pop culture fan can relate to.

As award-winning professors who research and specialize in economics education, authors Dirk Mateer, Lee Coppock, and Brian O’Roark know how to engage and motivate students. In the new third edition, Essentials of Economics continues to anticipate where students need help and provides the right nudges needed to succeed in the one-semester course. New lead media author Dr. Carla Nietfeld now scaffolds interactive, assignable learning features throughout the courseware, and the team also emphasizes AI literacy in both the text content and new teaching tools. With features that emphasize how students can build economic skills for life and a cutting-edge courseware package, this text nurtures students’ problem-solving skills and brings you best-in-class teaching techniques that have engaged thousands of students.Highlights of this edition’s new content:New coverage of recent tariffs and AI in the micro and macroeconomy help students learn more about these hot news topics, and a revised Chapter 17: “Money and the Federal Reserve,” offers a tested approach to teaching and learning the Fed’s new monetary policy tools.New interactives created by Dr. Carla Nietfeld are scaffolded throughout the courseware, expanding students’ hands-on learning and building economic intuition as they try them.NEW Economics at Work profiles showcase how recent grads are using Principles concepts in their current jobs and careers, and updated chapter openers highlight key life skills students will learn in each chapter.NEW Economics in the Media examples make economics fun and relatable, and new coverage of tariffs and AI help students apply what they’ve learned to these hot topics.Updated Office Hours videos have been reworked in an animated format, and include math reviews, as well as coverage of AI in Economics.NEW Norton AI in the Norton Illumine Ebook boosts student engagement and is grounded in your textbook’s trusted content. Norton AI uses a powerful generative AI engine with strategic guardrails to support—but not replace!—the process of learning.Updated Smartwork and InQuizitive courses now include 80 new Economics in the News questions. Additional new questions also use Dr. Nietfeld’s interactives, providing cohesion across the courseware and deepening students’ exploration of concepts.NEW spiral-bound instructor supplement, Best of the Ultimate Guide to Teaching Economics, provides tools and ideas to help instructors engage their in-person, hybrid, and online classrooms. This manual offers curated “best” tips for teaching each chapter, a new primer and activities for using AI, and support for using the 1,000+ resources on the full Norton Teaching Tools site.COMING 2027 NortonAI for Smartwork online homework builds problem-solving abilities with personalized support to guide students toward the answer and model the process of learning. For instructors, this feature provides valuable, time-saving performance summaries and other data-driven observations to reveal patterns and challenges in students’ progress.