Economics and Epidemics
ECON 125
Spring 2014
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01
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Individuals and societies have been battling epidemic diseases throughout history using weapons bought in markets and provided by governments, churches, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). For example, mosquito nets to protect people from malaria can be bought at roadside markets in Nigeria but are also distributed by the Nigerian government and NGOs. The principal goal of this course is to teach students how to write essays that apply economic concepts to investigate the effects of major epidemics and the ways in which individuals and societies sought protection from epidemics. The course will examine the rationales for government intervention in markets to combat epidemic diseases and will emphasize the pivotal role of the production of information about the causes of epidemic disease and the effectiveness of cures. As examples of epidemics, we will read about the Black Death of 14th-century Europe, the cholera epidemic of 19th-century London, the emergence of polio in 20th-century America, and the battle against malaria in Africa today. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS ECON |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
David Herlihy, THE BLACK DEATH AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE WEST, ISBN-10:0674076133
Steven Johnson, THE GHOST MAP, ISBN-10:1594482691
Sona Shah, THE FEVER: HOW MALARIA HAS RULED HUMANKIND FOR 500,000 YEARS, ISBN-10: 0374230013
David M. Oshinsky, POLIO: AN AMERICAN STORY, ISBN-10:0195307143
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Examinations and Assignments:
Short papers, other assignments TBD |
| Instructor(s): Harrington,David Edwin Times: .M.W... 02:40PM-04:00PM; Location: SCIE139; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 0 | JR major: 0 | | |
| Seats Available: 1 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 0 | JR non-major: 0 | SO: 0 | FR: 19 |
| Web Resources: Syllabus |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 8 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 8 |
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