Heretical Economics

About the Book

Heretical Economics examines important economic questions of the day such as the effect of government spending and deficits, fluctuations in the construction of housing, the economic effects of immigration, and a variety of others. It explains why many common beliefs - for example, that federal deficits burden future generations, the crisis of 2008 resulted from the greed of Wall Street, and residential segregation results from the action of unscrupulous landlords - are mistaken It shows why urban growth is concentrated in outlying areas, commuters cling to their automobiles and college football coaches are paid more than their university’s president. The book attempts to clarify economic issues in non-technical, conversational language. It is directed to intelligent lay persons who are interested in but are not conversant with economic thinking.

About the Author

Richard F. Muth became an economist quite unexpectedly when a former professor offered him a job as a teaching assistant. After serving as a deck officer in the US Coast Guard, he studied for his Ph. D. at the University of Chicago and received his degree in 1958. He taught at a variety of universities, among them the University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, Stanford and most recently Emory. Among his former students are John Elway, Hall of Fame quarterback, and John Lipsky, former First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. His other books include Cities and Housing, Urban Economic Problems, and Public Housing. Besides his family and economics his interests include the Hebrew bible, Italian opera of the 19th century and the St. Louis Cardinals.