This book explains the world of economics in simple terms. Starting with the questions put forward by the first economists it proceeds to the core of today`s economic theory and provides the reader with a straightforward introduction to what economists discovered about wealth, unemployment, growth, and inflation. The author is Professor of Economics at the University of Münster in Germany, where the original version has been a great success. Renouncing the use of any formal methods, he offers the reader a historical perspective of the main economic problems the world has to deal with today. The inclusion of many anecdotes as well as simple figures and interesting photos makes the reading of this book a source of great pleasure and benefit.