N.格雷戈里曼昆（N. Gregory Mankiw），哈佛大学经济学教授。作为学生，他曾在普林斯顿大学和麻省理工学院学习经济学；作为教师，他讲授过宏观经济学、微观经济学、统计学和经济学原理。多年前他还在长滩岛当过一个夏季的帆船教练。曼昆教授是一位高产的学者和一位学术与政治争论的经常参与者。他的著作发表在《美国经济评论》（American Economic Review）、《政治经济学杂志》（Journal of Political Economy）和《经济学季刊》（Quarterly Journal of Economics）等学术杂志，以及《纽约时报》（The New York Times）、《华尔街日报》（The Wall Street Journal）等热门报刊上。曼昆教授还是美国国家经济研究局（NBER）的研究人员，国会预算办公室和波士顿、纽约联邦储备银行的顾问，美国教育考试服务中心（ETS）经济学先修课程考试研发委员会成员。20032005年，他曾担任美国总统经济顾问委员会主席。
preface Economics is a study of mankind in the ordinary business of life. So wrote Alfred Marshall, the great 19th-century economist, in his textbook,Principles of Economics. Although we have learned much about the economysince Marshalls time, this definition of economics is as true today as itwas in 1890, when the first edition of his text was published.Why should you, as a student at the beginning of the 21st century, embark onthe study of economics? There are three reasons.The first reason to study economics is that it will help you understand theworld in which you live. There are many questions about the economy that mightspark your curiosity. Why are apartments so hard to find in New York City? Whydo airlines charge less for a round-trip ticket if the traveler stays over a Saturdaynight? Why is Johnny Depp paid so much to star in movies? Why are living stan-dards so meager in many African countries? Why do some countries have highrates of inflation while others have stable prices? Why are jobs easy to find insome years and hard to find in others? These are just a few of the questions that acourse in economics will help you answer.The second reason to study economics is that it will make you a more astuteparticipant in the economy. As you go about your life, you make many economicdecisions. While you are a student, you decide how many years to stay in school.Once you take a job, you decide how much of your income to spend, how muchto save, and how to invest your savings. Someday you may find yourself runninga small business or a large corporation, and you will decide what prices to chargefor your products. The insights developed in the coming chapters will give youa new perspective on how best to make these decisions. Studying economics willnot by itself make you rich, but it will give you some tools that may help in thatendeavor.The third reason to study economics is that it will give you a better understand-ing of both the potential and the limits of economic policy. Economic questionsare always on the minds of policymakers in mayors offices, governors mansions,and the White House. What are the burdens associated with alternative forms oftaxation? What are the effects of free trade with other countries? What is the bestway to protect the environment? How does a government budget deficit affectthe economy? As a voter, you help choose the policies that guide the allocation ofsocietys resources. An understanding of economics will help you carry out thatresponsibility. And who knows： Perhaps someday you will end up as one of thosepolicymakers yourself.Thus, the principles of economics can be applied in many of lifes situations.Whether the future finds you reading the newspaper, running a business, or sit-ting in the Oval Office, you will be glad that you studied economics.N. Gregory Mankiw December 2010
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