Author Description

Preparing students to become better, more informed consumer decision makers in the marketplaces of the 1990s is the focus of this edition. This text, merging expertise from the field of economics and home economics, presents a balanced approach that combines concern for individuals and families with respect for the economic forces that shape the marketplace. A clearly developed decision making model leads students, step-by-step, through an evaluation process that includes examination of choices, values and goals across the lifespan. A buying process model, based on the decision making model, is than consistently applied to all areas of a budget, including housing, transportation, energy, food, clothing, and health care as well as financial planning and investments.