*Trillion Dollar Economists*

That is the new book by Robert E. Litan and it is the single best attempt to answer the question of what good economists have done the world (I am also a big fan of Alex’s earlier edited volume, Entrepreneurial Economics on this topic, the Litan is more current).  The subtitle is How Economists and their Ideas have Transformed Business.

Every chapter is clear and convincing, and the topics include optimization, regression, Moneyball, experimental economics, auctions, consulting, matchmaking (romantic and otherwise), finance, deregulation, the telecommunications revolution, Hal Varian at Google, prediction markets, and much more.

Definitely recommended.