Economics of Wealth and Poverty
ECON 213
Spring 2023
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
AMST 274 |
Who are the very wealthy and how do they acquire their wealth? Why is poverty still with us after almost 50 years of antipoverty programs? What explains rising inequality in the distribution of income and wealth? These are just a few of the questions that we address in this course. The problem of scarcity and the question of production for whom are basic to the study of economics. Virtually all courses in economics give some attention to this topic, yet few study the distribution of income in depth. This course takes a close look at evidence on the existing distribution of income and examines the market and nonmarket forces behind the allocation process. Our investigation makes use of U.S. economic history, cross-country comparisons, and fundamental tools of economic analysis. Topics include normative debates surrounding the notions of equality and inequality, analytic tools for measuring and explaining income inequality, determinants of wage income and property income, the importance of inheritance, the feminization of poverty, and the economic analysis of racial discrimination. A central subject throughout the course is the role of policy in altering the level of poverty and inequality. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS ECON |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: ECON101 OR ECON110 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (AMST)(CIVI-MN)(ECON-MN)(ECON)(EDST-MN)(EDST)(HRAD-MN) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Wolff, ECONOMICS OF POVERTY, INEQUALITY, AND DISCRIMINATION
Sen, Amartya, INEQUALITY RE-EXAMINED
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Examinations and Assignments:
All class meetings will be in person. We will have several short problem sets, two in-semester quizzes on central concepts and a comprehensive final examination. Students are encouraged to attend weekly teaching assistance sessions. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
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| Instructor(s): Rayack,Wendy Times: ..T.R.. 10:20AM-11:40AM; Location: FISK302; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 30 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: 7 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 5 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 15 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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