Most people in business deal with markets. Many buy and/or sell for their companies, so agreeing on prices and quantities is part of everyday life. Others work in support of these activities. In a market-based economy, all of their livelihoods depend on their companies' success in buying and selling.

It's no surprise, then, that the behavior of markets-prices, quantities, market shares-is of almost universal interest wherever businesspeople gather. An understanding of markets should be part of preparing for a career in any business, including the public sector, which so often has to...