ECON 396: The Economics of Inequality

This course examines the nature and extent of income inequality primarily in the U.S. but with a comparative perspective. We will begin by describing the trends in income inequality in the United States in comparison to other developed nations. We will consider possible causes and consequences of income inequality. We will examine a range of social and economic effects on income inequality including economic growth, intergenerational economic mobility, educational outcomes as well as health and happiness outcomes. We will then describe policies focused on households in both the top and the bottom of the income distribution. In addition to introduction students to the forces behind inequality, This course offers students the opportunity to work on critical analysis skills in a small-sized course. this includes reading thoughtfully, by assessing the arguments and evidence provided by authors; thinking carefully about one's own beliefs and how they shape one's perspective on these issues; and communicating well-articulated arguments, both orally and in a written form.