An introductory textbook on economics, revised and updated to take account of the needs of today's AS and A Level students. It should also be suitable for those taking the economics syllabuses of professional bodies such as the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), or the Chartered Institute of Bankers. All the core syllabus areas are covered, and the book is re-structured to provide a framework for investigating micro- and macro-economics. The fourth edition contains new text on government policy and economics, the EU and its impact, the international aspects of economies, and markets and market failure. Key facts and terms are defined and highlighted at strategic points and there are visual, diagrammatic summaries of the information provided. There are frequent thinking points and discussion themes, and examples from real situations are used to illustrate concepts and theories.