The Social Safety Net, Poverty and Income Inequality

4 credits · Graduate

We will examine the nature and extent of poverty and inequality in the U.S., its causes and consequences, and the effects of government programs and policies. The first unit covers the measurement of poverty and inequality and reviews the evidence for the trends in the U.S. and other developed countries. The next unit covers the causes of poverty and inequality, particularly the influences of the labor market and education. The course also surveys the government policies and programs such as taxes, government transfers, active labor market policies, and labor market institutions such as unions and minimum wages. Throughout the course, policy context is highlighted, in terms of reviewing prior reforms and the potential prospective changes.