In this booklet, one of a series intended to apply economic principles to major social and political issues of the day, it is proposed that speculation is often misunderstood, particularly in the operation of the futures markets. These are markets in which obligations to consummate sales and purchases at some time in the future are traded at a price specified today. Part 1 of the booklet offers a simplified analysis of some of the elementary economics of transactions involving time. Part 2 analyzes the nature of futures and options markets, and discusses the reasons for their existence, their evolution, and some of the basics involved in their operations. Part 3 is an account of the entities subject to futures and options trading, such as commodities, bonds, shares of corporations, and foreign exchange, and describes the most prominent features of the futures and options markets related to such entities. Finally, Part 4 discusses the social usefulness of futures markets, a few of the common criticisms, and the role of government regulation. (IS)