Ever wondered why the gap between rich and poor nations is so great, or why it's so difficult getting a foot on the property ladder, or how to outwit Starbucks? This book offers the hidden story behind these and other questions, as economist Tim Harford reveals how supermarkets, airlines, and coffee chains - to name just a few - are vacuuming money from our wallets. Written with a light, humorous touch but backed up by the latest economic research, this eye-opening book exposes the forces that shape our day-to-day lives, often without our knowing it. from back cover.
Introduction --- 1. Who pays for your coffee? --- 2. What supermarkets don't want you to know --- 3. Perfect markets and the "world of truth" --- 4. Crosstown traffic --- 5. The inside story --- 6. Rational insanity --- 7. The men who knew the value of nothing --- 8. Why poor countries are poor? --- 9. Beer, chips and globalization --- 10. How China grew rich --- Index..
