Some Quotes from the First Edition


"This book is superb in conveying the excitement of learning economic principles by doing. Students actually experience the incentive effects of markets organized under different institutional rules and the exercises provide a bridge from this experience to basic principles of theory. This approach to education is inspiring for teacher as well as student because each experiment is a discovery for both."

Vernon Smith, University of Arizona


"I agree with the authors that principles can be taught more memorably, enjoyably, and successfully by using experiments, rather than in the conventional lecture format...a really revolutionary change in the way economics is introduced."

Alvin E. Roth, University of Pittsburgh


"Bergstrom and Miller have taken a refreshing approach to combatting what is not only a problem I face each semester but that of every teaching economist. I have observed many instructors struggling and looking for ways to get students' hands "dirty" so that they can get a better feel for what this discipline is all about... You would never expect for a moment that a technical education teacher could teach his students the rudiments of being a mechanic without once lifting the hood. This book provides students with the "under-the-hood" experience that they so badly need."

Richard Gosselin, Houston Community College


"The key to using experiments effectively is not just well designed experiments, but the right follow-up material to draw out the key points/lessons in the exercises. This book is very good at this throughout..."

John Kagel, University of Pittsburgh


"The authors have accomplished something rather interesting and valuable: to educate and motivate a curiosity and interest in economics via their experiments and to teach a considerable amount of theory along the way. In doing so they tap into the natural curiosities of bright people interested in economics, or just interested in academically oriented pursuits, in general. Their book would inspire even the most skeptical student that there are many many interesting applications and situations where economic principles are valuable to our understanding and predictions about the world."

Jennifer Parker Wissink, Cornell University


"An economics class based entirely upon lecture is about as stimulating as an astronomy lecture in which you don't get to look through a telescope."

Mark Isaac, University of Arizona


"I hate principals because they make you do stuff."

Sarah Taylor, Falk Primary School, Pittsburgh, PA


John H. Miller , miller@zia.hss.cmu .edu.