This course will examine the patterns, causes, and consequences of poverty and inequality and the government programs that address these problems. We will examine the distribution of income, consumption, wealth, and other measures of material circumstances in the United States. We will particularly focus on the distribution of resources of those near the bottom of the various measures. We will then examine many of the government programs that are intended to ameliorate poverty and inequality. We will focus on the design and effects of cash welfare, food stamps, unemployment insurance, disability insurance, social security, and other programs as well as state and federal tax systems. Prerequisites: 311 or equivalent and 324 or equivalent.
