From spiraling gas prices to jobs being exported overseas to real estate booms and busts, economic forces affect our daily lives in many profound ways. Understanding how these forces work - and how they influence individuals, families, businesses, and communities - is becoming an imperative for every citizen. "The Greenwood Guides to Business and Economics" are designed to improve business and economic literacy by demystifying these topics, making them accessible to students, researchers, educators, and general readers. The seven volumes were selected by an Editorial Board of distinguished leaders in business, academe, and think tanks. They cover all major components of the U.S. and international economies, from the stock market to the corporation, globalization to entrepreneurship, illustrating each with basic definitions, explanations, and examples drawn from contemporary practice. These Guides will become an indispensable resource for any library classroom, or individual reader looking to advance their business knowledge and succeed in today's complex economic environment.