Modern economic issues

pt. 1. The economic approach to public policy ; Assessing the American economy ; Economists' views of the future ; Productivity and productivity growth ; Inflation ; Unemployment ; Economic inequality ; International trade and outsourcing ; Trade imbalances and saving ; Government budget deficits ; Taxes and the income tax code ; Social Security

pt. 2. An aging population and the birth dearth ; Health care ; Energy ; Pollution ; Global climate change ; Low wages and the minimum wage ; Poverty and families ; Pay gaps by sex and race ; Immigration ; Labor unions ; Underperforming schools ; The high cost of higher education

pt. 3. Wal-mart ; Corporate "greed," fraud, and mismanagement ; Conspicuous consumption ; Mail delivery ; Organ shortages ; Baseball ; Terrorism ; Helping poor countries ; Urban sprawl ; Gambling ; Overeating ; Concluding thoughts.