ECON - 335. Political Economy

3 credit(s)
Political economy is the study of economic systems, institutions, and outcomes from the perspective of who gains and loses. Conflict over the distribution of these gains and losses, and the use of power to obtain a desired economic outcome will be the focal points of much of our analysis. As such, the methodology used in this course will differ substantially from that used by mainstream economics, which focuses primarily on efficiency and growth and ignores different concepts of economic justice and the role of distribution and power in affecting economic outcomes. To facilitate this approach, this course takes a critical look at American capitalism from contrasting theoretical perspectives, where the interaction of political, social, and cultural forces is brought to bear on economic interactions. This will allow us to develop a broader and more sophisticated perspective on how the American economy actually works, why it doesn’t always work, who it works for and against, and why it changes over time.

Prerequisite(s): ECON 202.
Attribute: (ATTR: ARTS or BUS).