Economics of Race Gender

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources and how economic agents interact. However, interactions between economic agents do not always lead to equity, with economic outcomes varying by gender and race. This course uses analytical tools from applied microeconomics to examine economic outcomes by gender and race. Specifically, we will examine differences in the labor market, housing and credit markets, criminal justice system, healthcare industry, and education. In this course students will develop their methodological skills and substantive knowledge. Students will learn to evaluate econometric techniques such as field experiments, and quasi-experimental designs used in causal estimation. We will explore foundational theoretical frameworks such as Becker's model of discrimination, household bargaining models, and models of statistical versus taste-based discrimination. While the course focuses primarily on the United States, we situate the research in a global context.