ECON 238 - Poverty and Inequality in the United States

Credits: 3
Planned Offering: Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit

Prerequisites: ECON 101 and 102. This course takes an economic approach toward investigating recent trends in poverty and inequality in the U.S., focusing on evaluating alternative explanations for who becomes (or remains) poor in this country. Factors considered in this investigation include labor-market trends, educational opportunities, family background, racial discrimination, and neighborhood effects. Aspects of public policy designed to alleviate poverty are discussed, as well as its failures and successes. As part of the required service-learning requirement, students serve in local organizations in order to gain personal experiences that can inform their understanding of course material. Staff.