The Economics of Populism and Polarization

The recent rise of populism has been unprecedented in history. At the same time, the U.S. is described as increasingly polarized by mass media. What accounts for this? How do these two concepts relate to each other? This course will use tools from microeconomics and applied econometrics to study the origins and implications of populism and political polarization, exploring how economic, cultural, and political factors interact. Students will complete weekly readings, a presentation, a discussion, and a final paper. Classes will be as interactive as possible.