Microeconomic Analysis

Rating:
Summary: Direct, intellegent, and truely graduate level
Review: This is probably hands down the most informative gradaute level text I have encountered in economics. Dr. Varian has managed to convey the basic graduate level concepts of microeconomics without excessive wording or digressions. Therefore, it is a valuable text and "handbook" and a must for any student considering microeconomics. However, for those without a strong math background, I recommend a few basic courses in calculus and mathematical economics before reading Microeconomic Analysis.

Rating:
Summary: good introduction
Review: This textbook works wonders for graduates students in field other than economics (law, management science). It gives the concepts; it is easy to read; it is concise. So it useful for those who need to understand the concepts. For economists, Business PhD and all those who need to build on microeconomic concepts, Kreps or MasColell-Whinston-Green textbooks should be REQUIRED reading. This book is just too cursory in treating game theory, social choice, and also general/partial equilibrium. And econometrics and CAPM chapters should be books of their own.

Rating:
Summary: Good introduction, only this.
Review: This textbook works wonders for graduates students in law, management science. It is easy to read. But if you're a PhD student, this book won't be the best, you need books like Mas-Colell (Microeconomic Theory) or Debreu (Theory of Value: An Axiomatic Analysis of Economic Equilibrium). This book is just too cursory in treating game theory, social choice, and also general/partial equilibrium.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, boring wording
Review: Varian did a great job in explaining microeconomics. I just think that he could do a better job in word picking.

Rating:
Summary: A Scary Book
Review: Varian did well at his Intermediate Microeconomic Theory book but the Microeconomic Analysis is really a scaring product.I have studied Mathematical Economics by Alpha C. Chiang and also Vairan's Intermediate Micoeconomics but still I am not able to understand This book. I wish varian could be a little sympathetic towards a great number of readers like me who are not mathematics nerds and add some more pages to the book so that he does not have to consistently skip steps ( sometimes 3 steps in a go)while explaining the theory mathematically.

In short there is a complete book missing between Varian's Intermediate and Analysis books.
Hope Varian reads my comments and produces an in between book for me and a lot of my weeping class fellows.

Rating:
Summary: One grad student's opinion
Review: Varian is a very helpful book for first year grad students in economics. It's not as detailed as other texts, like Mas-Collel, Winston and Green, but it's simple and concise and as long as you can follow along with the mathematics, you'll be fine. I recommend this book as a very thorough micro text.

Rating:
Summary: A little bit too concise and sketchy
Review: Varian's book, without a major rework, is definitely starting to fade. The chapters are too short. The mathematical appendix is ill-written, and some of the chapters are ridiculous, like Econometrics. The time spent on those chapters could have been used to futher develop general equilibrium and game theory. I can almost go so far as to call this a master's level book. Mas-Colell is definitely the benchmark, but if you are still uncomfortable with the math level, then try Jehle/Reny...This book may be a little less daunting than Mas-Colell, but it contains excellent chapters on the relevant topics, a good math appendix, and even a brand new chapter on auctions and mechanism design. As for varian, there are many other better books now, so I would recommend one of those unless you want a sketch of micro theory.

Rating:
Summary: A little bit too concise and sketchy
Review: Varian's book, without a major rework, is definitely starting to fade. The chapters are too short. The mathematical appendix is ill-written, and some of the chapters are ridiculous, like Econometrics. The time spent on those chapters could have been used to futher develop general equilibrium and game theory. I can almost go so far as to call this a master's level book. Mas-Colell is definitely the benchmark, but if you are still uncomfortable with the math level, then try Jehle/Reny...This book may be a little less daunting than Mas-Colell, but it contains excellent chapters on the relevant topics, a good math appendix, and even a brand new chapter on auctions and mechanism design. As for varian, there are many other better books now, so I would recommend one of those unless you want a sketch of micro theory.