Parkin brings critical issues to the forefront. Each chapter begins with one of today's key issues, and additional issues appear throughout the chapter to show the real-world applications of the theory being discussed. When the chapter concludes, students read between the lines to think critically about a news article relating to the issue, demonstrating how thinking like an economist can bring a clearer perspective to and deeper understanding of today's events. Students will begin to think about issues the way real economists do and learn how to explore difficult policy problems and make more informed decisions in their own economic lives.