Making Sense Out of Dollars
- Author: Brian Schellabarger
- Paperback: 60 pages
- Publisher: Lulu.com (December 11, 2007)
- Language: English
- Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
- Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
Description:
Making Sense Out of Dollars is designed to help the average American understand the basic principles of economics that make this country work. Most people don't have the patience or the time to sit through the complex theoretical textbook approach that's traditionally used to teach economics. Topics covered include the stock market, inflation, the U.S. Dollar, the national debt, the federal reserve, and more. Even if you think you already know these concepts, you'll find additional insights by reading these pages. The book can be read and understood in an evening and uses a combination of basic diagrams and real-world, simplistic examples to help make complex topics easy to understand. Students, parents, and anyone else with a desire to understand the impact of the evening headlines will benefit from this book.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Supply and Demand
Chapter 2: The U.S. Dollar: The King of Currencies
The Dollar: Once backed by gold; now backed by nothing.
What is an Exchange Rate?
Calculating the value of the dollar using the Dollar Index
Why do we care what the world thinks of the dollar?
Why the world cares about the dollar
What factors influence the value of the dollar?
Chapter 3: Inflation
Explanation of Inflation
How Inflation is Measured
How Does Inflation Affect Me?
Protecting your Hard-EARNED money Against Inflation
What Causes Inflation?
Printing Money
Trade Deficits
Hyper-Inflation, Stag-flation, and other scary terms
Chapter 4: The Federal Reserve
Who or What is the Federal Reserve?
How the Federal Reserve Came To Be: A Brief History Lesson
The Federal Funds Rate and the Federal Discount Rate
Carefully Regulating the Nation’s Money Supply
Why You (and The Fed) Care about Interest Rates
Chapter 5: The National Debt
Overview of the National Debt
How Big is the National Debt?
Why is this a problem?
Who do we Owe All This Money To?
Isn’t Debt Just the Nature of Government?
Chapter 6: The Stock Market
Private Companies Vs. Public Companies
Stock Exchanges
For Every Buyer There’s a Seller
The Dow and Other Indexes
Mutual Funds and ETF’s
Making Money When the Market Goes Down
Options
Chapter 7: The Debt-Fueled Economy
Why Debt Makes the Economy Tick
Derivatives: How Banks LEverage Debt
Why Does Debt Matter in a Global Economy
Customer Reviews
A must read for anyone who wants to understand economics better, February 2, 2008
Although I consider myself a reasonably intelligent person, I have always been clueless about Economics. Oh, I could balance the checkbook, but I didn't understand the Economic news I heard on TV, or read in the paper. I was embarassed about this, but didn't know where to find the info I wanted.
This book was a huge help to me. I'm no longer in the dark!
A few of the issues discussed: The US dollar and how it used to be backed by gold and now is backed by nothing. Why that is important!
Inflation, what is it, what causes it, how does it affect me"
Who or what is the Federal Reserve? Now I get it!
The ever mysterious (to me) Stock Market is also discussed.
The language is clear and easy to understand, but is not "dumbed down" either. This book should be required reading for all High School students! (And adults who missed it in High School.)
