The Economic Naturalist - In Search Of Explanations For Everyday Enigmas

After a hiatus, I'm atlast back to my reading with this book (thankfully). The excuse I've been having is a lack of time :) (not that I've plenty of it now), but rather I think it can be attributed to my lethargy. I picked this book a couple of months back from a popular bookstore and here is more about it.

"Why is there a light in your refrigerator but not in your freezer? Why do drive in ATMs have braille in their keypads? Why are female models paid more than male models? Why do color photographs cost lesser than B&W ones? Why do cleaners charge more for women apparel than those of gentlemen? Why might an appliance retailer hammer dents into the sides of its stoves and refrigerators? Why do 24 hours convenience stores have locks? Why do women wear high heels? Why are child safety seats required in cars, but not in airplanes?........"

These are a few questions we may come across in our day-to-day lives and would've either wondered why they are that way or this detail wouldn't have come across our fleeting eyes. Robert Frank in this book, tries to give an economist view into answering the above questions and many more. Most of these questions are compiled from curious observers the author has interacted with. By answering these questions and publishing answers those folks had to give, the author does introduce certain concepts in economics like supply-demand, price sensitive consumers, opportunity and marginal costs, Adam Smith's invisible hand and wage differential theory among others.

Each chapter in the book deals with a certain aspect of economics. It starts off with supply and demand and moves onto the part of economics that deals with labor and wages. The author then answers questions related to discount pricing, ownership related economics and how culture has a bearing on some of these. Near the end of the book, Robert Frank delves into economics and relationships (like courtship and marriage) and concludes the book with 2 original questions that are quoted verbatim from the source.

Overall, a light read with a simplistic Q&A format. Though the intention of the book was to make these economic principles easy to understand for the layman, I've not been able to grasp all the concepts in the book and may need a second reading or additional research. Many of the answers are very interesting, insightful and eye opening. But there a few answers that are not convincing enough and could be argued against. It is an interesting read for an economic novice.

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