Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface -- Sample course outlines -- The context for economic analysis -- GDP per capita -- Recent growth rate of GDP per capita -- Net national savings -- Government debt -- Labor productivity -- Average annual hours worked -- Unemployment rate (percent of total workforce) -- Inflation -- Total tax revenue (percent of GDP) -- Trade balance (percent of GDP) -- Income inequality (Gini coefficient) -- Absolute poverty (below $1 per day) -- Foreign aid (official development assistance) Internet users -- Educational performance (PISA science test scores) -- Life expectancy -- Subjective well-being -- Carbon dioxide emissions per capita -- Local air quality (particulate matter concentrations) -- Concluding thoughts -- Appendix: demographic challenges -- A1: Basic demographic terms and history -- A2: Global population patterns and policies -- A3: The issue of aging populations -- A4: Demographic challenges ahead -- Index -- About the author.