"Economics affects all our lives. As consumers we try to make the best of our limited incomes. As workers - or future workers! - we take our place in the job market. As citizens of a country our lives are affected by the decisions of our government: decisions over taxes, decisions over spending on health and education, decisions on interest rates, decisions that affect unemployment, inflation and growth. As dwellers on the planet Earth we are affected by the economic decisions of each other: the air we breathe, the water we drink and the environment we leave to our children are all affected by the economic decisions taken bv the human race. Economics thus deals with some of the most challenging issues we face. It is this that still excites me about economics after many years of teaching the subject. I hope that some of this excitement rubs off on you." John Sloman