The effects of economic decision making are far-reaching. Economics is more than just business—the course of government, society, and more has been determined, to a large degree, by economic players. This comprehensive volume takes a three-pronged approach to introduce readers to the essentials of economics: after providing an overview of basic economic concepts, it chronicles the development of economics as a discipline and then launches into an examination of the various economic systems in existence. Key economic thinkers and critical concepts are spotlighted in sidebars throughout the text to provide readers with a complete foundation in this vital social science.