Martin Kolmar – författare

This textbook provides a comprehensive and unique introduction to modern microeconomics. It adopts an integrative approach, positioning the main findings of economics in a broader context. It critically reflects on theories from a philosophical standpoint and compares them to approaches found in the social sciences, while at the same time highlighting the implications for the design of legal systems and business practices.

Intended for undergraduate students, the book presents brief examples and comprehensive case studies to help them grasp the real-world implications of the theories. As such, it is suitable for an applied, yet technically precise approach to teaching microeconomics, as well as for a critical review of the economic mainstream. Starting from the question as to why and how societies organize economic activity, it analyzes the potential and limitations of various types of market with regard to alleviating scarcity and achieving distributive objectives, from an institutional perspective.

This second edition systematically expands on decision theory by including chapters on traditional decision theory under risk and uncertainty, and on behavioral economics, as well as a chapter presenting findings from the neurosciences, evolutionary psychology, and narrative psychology. Furthermore, there are theoretical additions, along with updated case studies and examples – from trade wars to pandemics and the climate crisis.

A new edition of the companion workbook features a wealth of exercises, ranging from basic multiple-choice questions to challenging mathematical problems and case studies, is also available.

This Second Edition updates the companion workbook to match the new edition of the textbook Principles of Microeconomics. Each chapter features a wide variety of exercises, ranging from basic multiple-choice questions to challenging mathematical problems and case study scenarios. 

The textbook pursues an integrative approach to modern microeconomics by critically reflecting on the main findings of economics from a philosophical standpoint and comparing them to approaches found in the social sciences. It adopts an institutional perspective to analyze the potential and limitations of different market types, and highlights implications for the design of the legal system and business practices throughout. In addition to traditional rational-choice models, important findings from behavioral economics and psychology are also presented.

This text provides a comprehensive and unique introduction to modern microeconomics. It pursues an integrative approach by putting the main findings of economics into a broader perspective; theories are critically reflected on from a philosophical standpoint and by comparing them to approaches found in the social sciences, while implications for the design of the legal system and business practices are highlighted throughout. In addition, the book presents brief examples and comprehensive case studies to facilitate an understanding of the theories’ real-world implications.Starting from the question as to why and how societies organize economic activity, the book adopts an institutional perspective to analyze the potential and limitations of different market types with regard to alleviating scarcity and achieving distributive objectives.It not only covers traditional rational-choice models, but also systematically introduces readers to important findings from behavioral economics and psychology.A companion workbook is available which features a wide variety of exercises, ranging from basic multiple-choice questions to challenging mathematical problems and case study scenarios. 

This is the companion workbook for the textbook Principles of Microeconomics. Each chapter features a wide variety of exercises, ranging from basic multiple-choice questions to challenging mathematical problems and case study scenarios.  The textbook pursues an integrative approach to modern microeconomics by critically reflecting on the main findings of economics from a philosophical standpoint and comparing them to approaches found in the social sciences. It adopts an institutional perspective to analyze the potential and limitations of different market types, and highlights implications for the design of the legal system and business practices throughout. In addition to traditional rational-choice models, important findings from behavioral economics and psychology are also presented.

Das Buch bietet eine in dieser Form einzigartige und gründliche Einführung in die Mikroökonomik. Die Ausgangsfrage lautet, warum und wie Menschen ökonomische Aktivitäten organisieren. Ausgehend hiervon wird dann eine institutionenökonomische Perspektive entwickelt, mit deren Hilfe die Möglichkeiten und Grenzen unterschiedlicher Typen von Märkten (Vollständige Konkurrenz und Externe Effekte, Monopol, Oligopol) zur Verringerung von Knappheit und zur Erreichung anderer Ziele untersucht werden. Das Buch umfasst traditionelle Modelle des Rationalverhaltens, integriert darüber hinaus aber auch Erkenntnisse der Verhaltensökonomik und der Psychologie auf systematische Weise. Der Ansatz des Buchs ist durch zwei Besonderheiten gekennzeichnet. Erstens entwickelt es einen integrativen Ansatz, welches die zentralen Ergebnisse der ökonomischen Forschung in einen grösseren Erkenntniszusammenhang einbettet. Dabei werden Folgerungen für die Gestaltung des Rechtssystems ebenso wie für die Entwicklungvon Unternehmensstrategien systematisch entwickelt, und die Theorien werden einer kritischen philosophischen Reflexion unterzogen und mit Vorstellungen anderer Sozialwissenschaften verglichen. Zweitens legt das Buch einen Schwerpunkt auf kurze sowie umfassende Fallstudien, die ein Verständnis der Bedeutung der Theorien für unser Verständnis der Praxis erleichtern.