Quick Answer: Mankiw & Taylor and Sloman are the two dominant introductory economics textbooks at UK universities. Mankiw & Taylor is preferred at most English universities for its clear structure and applications focus. Sloman is the leading alternative, particularly at newer universities. Both are excellent — check your university reading list first.
Mankiw & Taylor Economics (5th UK edition) is recommended at Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Warwick, UCL, and most Russell Group economics departments. Sloman Economics (11th edition) is widely used at Aston, Nottingham Trent, and other universities. Check your department reading list — the answer is usually explicit.
📋 In This Comparison
Overview: The Two Leading Economics Textbooks
Economics, 5th UK Edition
| Authors: | N. Gregory Mankiw & Mark P. Taylor |
| Edition: | 5th UK/EMEA Edition (2020) |
| Publisher: | Cengage Learning EMEA |
| Pages: | 832 pages |
| ISBN: | 9781473768543 |
Prices updated: 2026-08-11
Economics, 11th Edition
| Authors: | Sloman, Garratt & Guest |
| Edition: | 11th Edition (2021) |
| Publisher: | Pearson Education |
| Pages: | 1,008 pages |
| ISBN: | 9781292405339 |
Prices updated: 2026-08-11
Mankiw & Taylor Economics
Economics by N. Gregory Mankiw (Harvard University) and Mark P. Taylor (University of Warwick) is the UK and European adaptation of Mankiw’s celebrated US text. First published in 2006 and now in its 5th UK edition, it has become the dominant introductory economics text at British universities, used at over half of Russell Group economics departments.
Ten Principles of Economics: The book opens with Mankiw’s famous “Ten Principles of Economics” that have been a touchstone of introductory economics teaching for three decades. These principles recur throughout the text, providing a coherent framework for thinking about economic problems.
UK and European adaptation: Taylor’s contribution is the Europeanisation of the text — UK and European policy examples, pound-denominated figures, coverage of the EU, eurozone, and post-Brexit economic environment. The 5th edition includes extended coverage of complexity theory, institutional economics, and feminist economics in response to the post-2008 curriculum reform movement.
Writing style: Mankiw & Taylor is renowned for its conversational, accessible writing. Mankiw explicitly writes for students who have never studied economics before, and the UK edition maintains this style. The result is a textbook that explains complex ideas clearly without sacrificing rigour.
Structure: The book covers both microeconomics and macroeconomics in a single volume, making it a genuinely comprehensive introduction. Part I covers principles and tools; Parts II–V cover markets, firm behaviour, and welfare; Parts VI–VIII cover macroeconomics including money, inflation, and open-economy macroeconomics.
“Mankiw is what our whole first-year macro and micro course is built around. The ten principles give you a mental model that you keep using throughout your degree. It just makes sense from day one.”
— Tom, Year 2 Economics, London School of Economics
Sloman Economics
Economics by Sloman, Garratt & Guest is now in its 11th edition and remains the leading alternative to Mankiw for UK introductory economics courses. Originally authored by John Sloman (University of Bristol), the book has been continuously updated and is particularly strong on active learning features and student engagement.
Active learning approach: Sloman is built around student engagement — frequent “pause and think” questions, case studies referenced throughout the text, and a companion website with additional exercises. This makes it particularly well suited to independent study alongside lectures.
Greater breadth: At 1,008 pages the 11th edition is more comprehensive than Mankiw & Taylor (832 pages), covering a wider range of economic issues including development economics, environmental economics, and globalisation in more depth. Some students find this greater depth helpful; others find the extra length daunting.
UK focus: Like Mankiw & Taylor, Sloman uses UK examples and data throughout, with extensive coverage of UK macroeconomic policy and British economic history. The 11th edition has been updated to cover post-COVID recovery and post-Brexit UK trade.
MyLab Economics: Sloman is bundled with Pearson’s MyLab Economics platform — an online assessment and learning tool. Some universities require MyLab access as part of the course. If yours does, check whether you need the MyLab bundle version before buying a standard copy.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Mankiw & Taylor | Sloman |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 832 pages — more concise | 1,008 pages — more comprehensive |
| Writing style | Conversational, principle-driven | Accessible, active learning focus |
| Micro/Macro split | Balanced — equal coverage | Slightly stronger macro section |
| Heterodox coverage | Added in 5th ed (feminist, complexity) | Strong throughout — wider pluralism |
| Online resources | MindTap (Cengage) | MyLab Economics (Pearson) |
| UK universities | Oxford, LSE, Warwick, UCL, Cambridge | Aston, Nottingham Trent, Bradford |
| Used copies available | Yes — widely available on AbeBooks | Yes — widely available on AbeBooks |
Which UK Universities Use Each
Mankiw & Taylor at:
- University of Oxford
- London School of Economics
- University of Warwick
- University College London
- University of Cambridge
- University of Edinburgh
- University of Bristol
- Durham University
Sloman at:
- Aston University
- Nottingham Trent University
- University of Bradford
- University of Huddersfield
- Leeds Beckett University
- University of Salford
Our Verdict
📖 The Verdict
Buy Mankiw & Taylor if your university recommends it (most Russell Group departments do), or if you want the more concise, principle-driven introduction used at the top UK economics schools.
Buy Sloman if your university reading list specifies it, or if you want a more comprehensive book with stronger active-learning features and greater heterodox coverage.
💰 Save Money on Either Book
Both Mankiw & Taylor and Sloman are available as used copies on AbeBooks for £15–30, compared to £45–55 new. The 5th edition of Mankiw (2020) and 11th edition of Sloman (2021) are the current editions — one edition behind is generally fine for coursework, but check with your lecturer first.
| Textbook | Waterstones | Amazon | AbeBooks | Blackwells | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics – Mankiw & Taylor (4) | £59.99 | £15.64 Used | Check → | Check → | Check → |
| Economics – Sloman (11) | £34.00 | £67.99 £38.90 | Check → | Check → | Check → |
Prices updated from retailer feeds. Always verify before purchasing. We earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Is Mankiw & Taylor or Sloman better for UK economics students?
Mankiw & Taylor is recommended at most Russell Group economics departments including Oxford, LSE, Warwick, UCL, and Cambridge. Sloman is widely used at Aston, Nottingham Trent, and similar universities. Check your department reading list first — the correct book is almost always specified there.
Is the Mankiw UK edition different from the US Principles of Economics?
Yes — Mankiw & Taylor Economics is a substantial adaptation of the US text. Mark Taylor (University of Warwick) has Europeanised the content, replacing US examples with UK and European ones, adding coverage of the EU and eurozone, and updating macroeconomic data for the UK context. The US ‘Principles of Economics’ is a different book.
Can I use an older edition of Mankiw or Sloman?
Generally yes, with caution. The 4th edition of Mankiw & Taylor (2017) and 10th edition of Sloman (2018) cover the same core material. Economic data and policy examples will be outdated, and some newer topics (post-Brexit, COVID economics) will be absent. Check with your lecturer before buying an older edition.
Which has better coverage of macroeconomics — Mankiw or Sloman?
Both offer thorough macroeconomics coverage. Sloman’s 11th edition is slightly more comprehensive on macroeconomic policy debates and development economics. Mankiw & Taylor is considered stronger on international macroeconomics and monetary theory. For standard first-year macro courses, both are equally suitable.
Last Updated: Last Updated: July 2026 | Author: Textbooks.co.uk Editorial Team
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