Poverty and Inequality (SF-158-A-07/FA)

Tues/Thurs 8:30-9:45am, Sawyer 1134

FINAL EXAM Thurs December 13th 8:00-9:50am

Dr. Benjamin Powell

Department of Economics

1 Bowdoin Sq. (6^th Floor)

bpowell@suffolk.edu (best way to reach me)

617-573-8023

Office Hours: Tues and Thurs 2-3pm and by appointment

This course will examine the causes of poverty and inequality and critically evaluate potential economic, governmental, and charitable/NGO solutions for the alleviation. The basic analytical “toolkit” of economics will be used throughout the course though no prior knowledge of economics is assumed. In addition to economics we will consider philosophical, historical, political, sociological, legal, racial, and gender aspects of poverty and inequality.

The course will be broken into three parts. In the first part of the course you will learn the basic economic ideas, consider what poverty and inequality are and how we measure them. The second part of the course will study poverty and inequality in the U.S. and evaluate efforts at eliminating them. Finally the third part will examine poverty and inequality in today’s globalized economy. World Bank poverty alleviation programs in Africa will be a major focus of this final component of the course.

Grading

Final Exam 20%

3 Quizzes 30% (10% each)

3 Papers 45% (15% each)

Participation 5%

There will be a quiz and paper assigned to match each segment of the course. The final exam will be comprehensive. Paper topics will be assigned in class at least two weeks before they are due.

Required Books

Common Sense Economics by James Gwartney, Richard Stroup, and Dwight Lee

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Myths of the Rich and Poor by Michael Cox and Richard Alm

The Elusive Quest for Growth by William Easterly

The Conquest of Poverty by Henry Hazlitt (Print Copy or free online at http://www.mises.org/books/conquest.pdf)

Academic Integrity

Any student caught cheating on an exam or plagiarizing will receive a grade of “0” on the assignment. I also reserve the right to report the offending student to the Dean of Students. Consult your student handbook for further information.

Tentative Schedule

Date Topic Readings

Sept. 6^th Introduction

Sept. 11^th/13^th What are Poverty and Inequality? Conquest pp. 13-39, 66-84

Vonnegut Handout

Sept. 18^th/20^th 10 Key Elements of Economics Common Sense Econ pp. 1-33

Sept. 25^th/27^th 10 Key cont. Quiz 1 on Sept 27^th

Oct. 2^nd/4^th 7 Sources of Econ Progress Common Sense Econ pp. 33-75

Nickel & Dimed pp. 1-49

Oct. 9^th/11^th Measuring Poverty and Inequality Handouts

Nickel & Dimed pp. 51-119

Myths pp. 3-22

Oct. 16^th/18^th Measuring Cont. Nickel & Dimed pp. 121-191

Myths pp. 23-90

Oct. 23^rd/25^th Anti Poverty Programs Nickel & Dimed pp. 193-221

Myths pp. 139-156

Handouts

Oct. 30^th/Nov 1^st Programs Cont. Conquest Chaps 11, 14, 20

Handouts

Nov. 6^th/8^th Barriers to escaping Poverty Handouts

Quiz 2 on Nov. 8^th

Nov. 13^th/15^th 3^rd World Poverty & Aid Elusive pp. xi-46

Nov. 20^th Africa: Who is to Blame? Video shown in class

Nov. 27^th/29^th Education, Population, Loans & Debt Elusive pp. 71-138

Dec. 4^th/6^th Freedom, Poverty and Inequality Handouts

Quiz 3 on Dec. 6th

Dec. 13^th Thurs 8am-9:50am Final Exam Sawyer Room 1134.