Origins, Persistence, and Consequences of Inequality

Undergraduate / Graduate

The continued rise of economic inequality in the U.S. has spurred heated debate among economists and policymakers over the past several years. This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of social science perspectives on inequality, including its causes, persistence, and effects. It also introduces students to different frameworks for discussing inequality and how societal forces contribute to increasing inequality. Additionally, the course helps students connect broader societal trends with specific government policies. By covering key vocabulary, concepts, theories, and debates related to economic inequality, the course lays a solid foundation for further studies in economics. Upon completion of the course, students should possess a deeper understanding of the facts about inequality and social mobility, as well as a grasp of the complexity of the problem and challenges inherent in addressing these issues through governmental policies. Specifically, students are anticipated to be able to: - Articulate economic terminology and methods for measuring inequality, - Perform calculations to assess and illustrate income/wealth inequality, and economic mobility, - Analyze the root causes, mechanisms, and consequences of economic inequality, - Demonstrate a nuanced comprehension of the policy and political ramifications associated with inequality.