Although everyone worries about the economy, few of us have the basic facts straight, such as: How serious are its ups and downs? Has America really fallen behind Japan and Germany? How are women, minorities, and the poor faring? Does the US tax and spend more or less than other nations? This guide gives answers to such questions in clear and authoritative language, easily grasped by noneconomists. The authors address topics such as productivity, wages, corporate profits, consumer debt, national savings, poverty, business cycles, and dollar exchange rates - and how our individual lives are affected by particular conditions in the broader economy. More than one hundred full-colour illustrations, each accompanied by a brief text, present the fundamental facts.