James d. Gwartney

Acknowledgements
The authors would like to express their appreciation to several key people who
contributed to this project, both the English language version and the adaptations and
translations for use in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
With respect to the core book, we owe a major debt to Jane Shaw Stroup, who edited
the entire manuscript and made numerous modifications that improved both the content and
readability. Signè Thomas helped with the preparation of the exhibits and provided research
assistance throughout. Numerous comments from fellow teachers, college instructors, and
economic educators are incorporated into the text. Special appreciation is due to John Morton,
Scott Niederjohn, Mark Schug, William Wood, Joe Connors, and Pam Cooper for their
contributions to the development of new supplementary materials. Additionally, Brandon
Brice, Joab Corey, Rosemarie Fike, Nathan Fowler, Fred Fransen, Mike Hammock, John
Kessler, and Kelly Markson made contributions that enhanced content relevance, introduced
new examples, and strengthened the electronic package accompanying this book. We would

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also like to express our appreciation to Tim Bartlett and Claire Lampen of St. Martin’s Press,
for their helpful comments and handling of the editorial responsibilities.
In addition to the translators and subject matter experts listed elsewhere, we also want
to thank Barbara Forbes who contributed to the project in so many ways, especially keeping us
motivated when the process appeared overwhelming. Finally, a special debt of gratitude is
owed by us and our readers to the anonymous donor who has supported the project both
financially and intellectually since its inception. Literally millions of people will have their
lives improved by his dedication to economic and political freedom.
Through the years, the authors have had approximately fifty thousand students in our
classes. Numerous discussions with students, both in and outside of class, have provided us
with meaningful insights and presented us with challenging questions. We cherish these
interactions. With luck our paths will cross with many of you who have read this book. Until
we do meet in person, we encourage you to continue to “think like an economist” in your lives
and pass along the insights you have gained to those around you. Our futures depend on it.

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