01 / Reading Guide
Reading Guide
Who this book is for
For mathematically prepared undergraduates who want a rigorous route through introductory economics and into standard intermediate microeconomic models. It is also useful after a descriptive survey, when supply and demand are familiar but optimization and comparative statics still need to be worked through explicitly.
Prerequisites
Know elementary calculus, algebra and graph interpretation. No earlier university economics course is required by the author, but the mathematics and model-based reasoning make this a demanding route through economic foundations.
What it covers
The author integrates principles with consumer and producer theory, market imperfections and strategic behavior. Calculus and equations are central tools, rather than optional decorations around a verbal survey. The book develops conceptual models that can be manipulated and checked, with economic applications supplying a reason to examine the assumptions.
How to use it
For each model, write the economic question, assumptions and variables before following its solution. Reproduce a graph without looking at the page and explain how it relates to the algebra. Attempt the exercises first, then use an answer to diagnose the earliest incorrect step. Finally change one assumption and say which conclusion still follows.
Edition and sources
The selected work is McAfee’s author version 2.0, whose frontmatter labels July 24, 2006 as a draft date. Caltech’s repository record also holds an earlier file and dates the original record to 2005; that is not the date assigned to this selected file. No formal publication year or ISBN is inferred. The later McAfee–Lewis FlatWorld adaptation is a separate bibliographic manifestation. Author repository
