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Fall 2007: Econ 366- Economic Development

Course Overview (Click here for the complete syllabus in PDF format)

Although economic development is sometimes equated with simple statistical indicators such as per capita income, mortality and morbidity rates, environmental pollution indices or the somewhat more sophisticated human development indices, the process of development is complex and encompasses economic, ecological, social, cultural, political and religious aspects of a society. This course will largely limit itself to economic changes that occur during development, while recognizing that this is only part of the picture. Other factors will put in an appearance in so far as they are related to the economy. The course will offer an overview of the major theoretical and empirical approaches to the problem of Economic Development including Neo-classical, Keynesian, Marxist, Gandhian, Post-Developmentalist and Eco-Feminist perspectives. We will study the implications of these theoretical approaches for classic issues such as industrialization, employment, poverty, inequality, gender and the environment. At every step we will make an effort to connect development theory with development policy and practice. Major changes in Development Economics are often a result of the real and perceived failures of previous approaches, as much as a reflection of the changes occurring in the Capitalist World-System itself. Hence, we will discuss each approach with emphasis on its historical context. In addition to academic literature we will also read some literature emanating from relevant International Institutions (such as the International Labor Organization,, UNDP, World Bank and the IMF) as well as from People’s Movements around the world that offer alternative visions/critiques of development.

 

Spring 2008: Econ 103- Principles of Microeconomics

Course Overview (Click here for complete syllabus in PDF Format)

In this course I will attempt to introduce the fundamental principles of microeconomic theory in the context of real-world issues and in the context of the history of the discipline of economics. We will learn the basics of supply and demand analysis, utility and profit maximization, market externalities and imperfections. But in addition to acquiring a firm understanding of neoclassical economic theory we will consider ecological and gender perspectives, finance, globalization and poverty as they relate to microeconomics.

 

Summer 2008: Econ 197- Whats The Economy For Anyway? The Case for a Solidarity Economy and Social Wealth

Course description: (click here for the CPE course annoucement and click here for complete course outline)

“The Economy” is often portrayed in the media and by politicians as a force of nature that we must adapt to or perish. But we, the ordinary people make our economy tick. Shouldn’t we have a say in how it is run and to what purpose? This online course raises the questions: what purpose do we want our economy to fulfill? Is it fulfilling this purpose today? If not, what can we do about it? What resources do we have available in order to effect our changes?

The course is comprised of three main parts. Part One takes a look at the performance of the current economic model, known to economists as “Neoliberalism.” Although our economic model has allowed unprecedented accumulation of wealth by a few, for the majority of us it has meant falling or stagnant wages, longer work hours, rising healthcare costs, and deterioration of our natural and social environment. We start with a look at the historical roots of neoliberalism and then try to understand the economics behind it.

In Part Two, we start talking about how some of the things that we saw going wrong in Part One can be set right. In the midst of growing inequality and corporate power, many grassroots economic alternatives have been springing up throughout the U.S. as well as the rest of the world. This is the new “Solidarity Economy.” Grounded in principles of economic democracy, social solidarity, cooperation, egalitarianism, and sustainability, it is an alternative to the Neoliberal vision of the economy. In this part of the course we will look at some examples of such alternatives as well as understand the economics behind them.

Building alternatives requires resources. But part of the neoliberal agenda is the diverting of economic resources into fewer and fewer hands. Where will the resources for alternatives come from? In Part Three we talk about a vast store of assets that communities everywhere possess and on which they can draw for constructing alternatives. This store, which we call "social wealth" consists of our cultural and ecological commons and our capacity to work for those we care about. We will also look at how the economics of the care economy or the cultural commons differs from the economics of corporations.

 

Fall 2008: Econ 105- Introduction to Political Economy

Course Overview (Click here for the complete syllabus in PDF format)

This course takes a critical look at our economy, its successes and failures from contrasting theoretical perspectives. We will try to understand US capitalism as a system and the role played in it by entrepreneurship, competition, growth, consumption and finance. We will discuss class, gender, race and ecological critiques of capitalism. What caused the current economic crisis? Where does unemployment come from? What role should the government play in the economy? Can an international consensus be reached on greenhouse gas emissions? Does immigration help or hurt American workers? Does welfare help or hurt the poor? Can poverty and inequality be eradicated? What alternatives exist to capitalism? These are some of the questions we will discuss.

 

Winter 2009: Econ 204- Intermediate Macroeconomics

Course Overview (Click here for the complete syllabus in PDF format)

This course develops conceptual foundations and analytic methods in macroeconomics. Topics include the analysis of theories of determination of national income, aggregate employment, and the price level; Monetary and fiscal policy; Inflation; unemployment; open economy macroeconomics; role of future expectations; and the current economic crisis.

 

Spring 2009: Econ 305- Marxian Economics

Course Overview (Click here for the complete syllabus in PDF format)

In Marx’s original economic vision and the work done in the Marxian tradition by scholars and activists all across the world we have a most comprehensive critical body of thought to analyze our economic system. This course offers an introduction to Marxian economic thought along the way comparing the Marxist approach to the mainstream (neoclassical) approach. Topics covered will include the history of capitalism, class, capital and exploitation, the nature of technical progress, management from the labor perspective, economic crises (including the current crisis), finance, gender and ecology. We will conclude with a brief look at the prospects for socialism today.