Every field of study has its own language and its own way of thinking.
Mathematicians talk aboutaxioms, integrals, and vector spaces. Psychologists talk about ego, id, and cognitive dissonance. Lawyers talk about venue, torts, and promissory estoppel.
每个研究领域都有它自己的语言和思考方式。数学家谈论定理、积分以及向量空间。心理学家谈论自我、本能、以及认知的不一致性。律师谈论犯罪地点、侵权行为以及约定的禁止翻供。
Economics is no different. Supply, demand, elasticity, comparative advantage, consumer surplus, deadweight loss—these terms are part of the economist’s language. In the coming chapters, you will encounter many new terms and some familiar words that economists use in specialized ways. At first, this new language may
seem needlessly arcane. But, as you will see, its value lies in its ability to provide you a new and useful way of thinking about the world in which you live.
经济学家也一样。供给、需求、弹性、比较优势、消费剩余、最低损耗，这些术语是经济学语言的一部分。在接下来的章节里，你会遇到很多新术语以及一些熟悉的词汇，这些术语和词汇被经济学家们用在经济这一领域。起初，这些新的语言可能看起来不必要的神秘，但是，你会看到，他的价值在于他能提供给你一种新的和有用的思考方式，让你思考你生活的世界。
Economists try to address their subject with a scientist’s objectivity. They approach the study of the economy in much the same way as a physicist approaches the study of matter and a biologist approaches the study of life: They devise theories, collect data, and then analyze these data in an attempt to verify or refute their theories.
经济学家们试图从科学的角度来阐释他们的学科。他们演绎经济学和物理学家演绎物质、生物学家演绎生命一样：他们设计理论，收集数据，然后分析这些数据，试图能够证明或者反驳他们的理论。
To beginners, it can seem odd to claim that economics is a science. After all, economists do not work with test tubes or telescopes. The essence of
science, however, is the scientific method—the dispassionate development and testing of theories about how the world works. This method of inquiry is as applicable to studying a nati