"Economics is not an arcane knowledge,
but the key to understanding the world
and our daily decisions."
Talking Economics
A Conversation with the Ideas
That Shape Our Decisions
Talking Economics kicks off a trilogy that makes sense of how we buy, sell, save, and trade—through conversations with the biggest names in economics, from Adam Smith to Paul Krugman. It brings classic ideas to life while showing why they still matter today.
Across three volumes, the series proves that economics isn't just formulas and graphs—it's a way to understand the everyday choices we all face when resources are limited. No jargon, no complex math. Just clear explanations, real-world examples, and reasoning anyone can follow.
This isn't just about learning facts. It's about seeing the world differently—how resources work, why decisions matter, and where you fit in. It's your guide to making sense of today's complicated economy. Economics as a conversation, not a lecture.
Plus, there's an interactive chatbot that answers your questions on the spot and helps you explore whatever topics grab your attention.
About the author
Alberto Ades (@adesalb en ) is an economist who's spent over thirty years working in global finance. He's currently Director of Research and Strategy at NWI Management.
Ades has a PhD in Economics from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Buenos Aires.
His research has appeared in top journals like the American Economic Review and the Quarterly Journal of Economics, and he writes regularly for media outlets around the world.
Originally from Argentina, he now lives in New York.
Pedagogical Trilogy
Talking Economics I
Microeconomics
The first volume covers the basics of microeconomics—scarcity, incentives, prices, and how resources get allocated—through questions that make you think. Written in plain language and packed with real-world examples, it explores how consumers and businesses behave, how markets work, and the fundamentals of game theory. This book is for humanities students, teachers, journalists, and anyone curious about economics that doesn't have formal training. Economists will get something out of it too.
What to know before reading Volume I:
Talking Economics II
Macroeconomics
The second volume turns to the central themes of macroeconomics: economic growth, business cycles and unemployment, inflation, fiscal and monetary policy, public debt, and central banking. Using the same format of dialogues and imagined interviews, Socrates, Glaucon, and leading economists guide readers in connecting theory with the real dilemmas of modern economies. An indispensable resource for students, teachers, journalists, and anyone interested in understanding how macroeconomics works.
What to know before reading Volume II:
Talking Economics III
International Economics
The third volume wraps up the Talking Economics trilogy by diving into international economics and global finance. Through the same dialogue format, Socrates, Glaucon, and major economists tackle international trade, exchange rates, the balance of payments, capital flows, financial crises, central banks, and new monetary technologies like cryptocurrencies.
Essential for understanding how global decisions and tensions affect national economies. Perfect for students, teachers, journalists, and anyone trying to make sense of our connected world.
What to know before reading Volume III:
What they're saying about
Talking Economics
Silvana Tenreyno
A fresh take on economics that's both serious and clear—you don't have to choose between the two.
(Professor at the London School of Economics, former member of the Bank of England' Monetary Policy Committee)
Ricardo López Murphy
Brings back real thinking—no jargon, no fluff.
(Economist, Member of Parliament, former Minister of Economy of Argentina)
Federico Sturzenegger
It doesn't replace economic theory—it makes it human, relevant, and easy to grasp.
(Economist, author, and Argentina's Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation)
Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo
Talking Economics brings back what's missing from today's debates: clear, compelling arguments.
(Historian, author, and Member of the Spanish Parliament)
Luciana Vázquez
Teaches without lecturing, explains without dumbing down, and gets you thinking without making you feel lost.
(Journalist at La Nación, author, and host of La Repregunta)
Claudio Irigoyen
Essential reading for anyone trying to make smart decisions in today's uncertain economy.
(Chief Economist for Latin America, Bank of America)
Arminio Fraga
Finally—a book that explains complex economics clearly without leaving out what matters.
(Economist, investor, and former President of the Central Bank of Brazil)
José Luis Daza
Learn economics the way it should be taught: through real conversation.
(Economist and Secretary of Economic Policy)