Time Schedule:
Margaret Levi
POL S 474
Seattle Campus
Interaction between politics and the economy. Impact of policy makers on economic performance. Models of partisan and political business cycles. Concepts of economic voting. Marxist theories of modern capitalist economics.
Class description
Description. Why is there poverty in the US? in the world? What should we do, if anything? What can we do? These are some of the issues we shall address this quarter.
Student learning goals
use of economic models to think about politics
the relationship between government and the economy in the US and in the developing world
writing
analytic skills
General method of instruction
Lectures that welcome questions. Readings will include: James Surowiecki. The Wisdom of Crowds Barbara Ehrenreich. Nickel and Dimed Robert Reich. Supercapitalism. William Easterly, White Man's Burdens Bruce Western. Punishment & Inequality in America Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization and Its Discontents Recommended: Freakonomics Gates, William H., and Chuck Collins. Wealth and Our Commonwealth
Recommended preparation
It would be good to have some background in micro-economics and in American and comparative politics but not essential
Class assignments and grading
Mid-term, final, and paper.
