Economics for Policy Makers presents economic reasoning for those who face economic decisions whether in a company boardroom or in a negotiation between trade unions and employers, in the conduct of a country’s government or in the running of a household. Most of those who are decision makers will probably not be economists, nor will they have the option of delaying making a decision in order to take a course in academic economics. Typical texts of economics make frequent use of formulas, equations and technical jargon which can deter the non-specialist reader and which this book avoids.

Many economic decisions concern policies which affect the whole of society. Many actors are involved in their formulation: citizens, electedrepresentatives, governments, political parties, trade unions, representatives of the employers, business associations, corporations, the media, think tanks, lobbies, committees, associations, groups of citizens. But many of those involved in the process of defining policies or in negotiating contracts are uncomfortable with using the economic terminology in which the debates are often framed. Worse still, the decision maker may be unaware that he or that he or she is misusing terms he or she has not understood.

政策制定者经济学为那些面临经济决策的人提供了经济推理，无论是在公司董事会会议室，还是在工会和雇主之间的谈判中，在一个国家的政府行为或一个家庭的经营中。大多数做决策的人可能不是经济学家，他们也不会为了上学术经济学课程而推迟做出决定。经济学的典型文本经常使用公式、方程式和技术术语，这会使非专业读者望而却步，而这本书则会避免。

许多经济决策涉及影响整个社会的政策。许多行为体参与了它们的制定：公民、当选代表、政府、政党、工会、雇主代表、商业协会、公司、媒体、智囊团、游说团、委员会、协会、公民团体。但是，许多参与政策制定过程或合同谈判的人对使用经济术语感到不安，因为在这些术语中，辩论常常是被陷害的。更糟糕的是，决策者可能不知道他或她在滥用他或她不理解的术语。