Poverty and Inequality (EC 122)

Tues and Thurs 2:30-3:45pm, Donahue 637

FINAL EXAM Wednesday May4^th 1:00pm-3:50pm

Dr. Benjamin Powell

Department of Economics

73 Tremont St. (10^th Floor)

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

617-573-8023

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1-2:30pm and by appointment (Weds is a good day for an 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.

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 40%

3 Exams 60% (20% each)

Participation 5% (Bonus Credit)

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

Week of Topic Readings

January 18 & 20 Introduction Vonnegut Handout

What are Poverty and Inequality?

January 25 & 27 10 Key Elements of Economics Common Sense Econ pp. 1-33

February 1 & 3 10 Keys Cont. and Hist Perspective Conquest pp. 13-39, 66-84

February 8 & 10 7 Sources of Econ Progress Common Sense Econ pp. 33-75

February 15 & 17 Quiz and Nickel and Dimed Discussion Exam 1 Feb 17^th

Nickel & Dimed pp. 1-49

February 22 & 24 Measuring Poverty and Inequality Handouts

Nickel & Dimed pp. 51-119

Myths pp. 3-22

March 1& 3 Measuring Cont. Nickel & Dimed pp. 121-191

Myths pp. 23-90

March 8 & 10 Anti Poverty Programs Nickel & Dimed pp. 193-221

Barriers to Escaping Poverty Myths pp. 139-156

Exam 2 March 10^th

Spring Break

March 22 & 24 Cont. Conquest Chaps 11, 14, 20

March 29 & 21 3^rd World Poverty & Aid Elusive pp. xi-46

April 5 & 7 Education, Population, Loans & Debt Elusive pp. 71-138

Exam 3 on April 7^th

April 12 & 14 Africa: Who is to Blame? Video shown in class

Followed by discussion

April 19 & 21 Freedom, Poverty & Inequality, and Handouts

Development (4pm guest lecture on 19^th)

April 26 & 28 Migration Handouts

FINAL EXAM Wednesday May 4^th 1:00-3:50pm in Donahue 637