This seminar will examine the causes and consequences of worldwide trends in economic inequality with an emphasis on the role of public policies. Topics include the role of the family in reproducing economic inequalities, the importance of technological, demographic and policy changes in the increase in inequality in the United States and Western Europe over the last generation and the importance of globalization to inequality in less developed countries. It will also focus on the influence of economic inequality on health, education, trust and social cohesion, the political process and economic growth. This seminar will rely heavily on student presentations, reports and classroom discussion. This course will be limited to 20 students.
