LARTS 415 Wealth & Poverty: An Introduction to Economics
Students will consider and discuss the critical world of economics through the prism of their own experiences and expectations. Together, we will consider our roles as entrepreneurs, as consumers, as buyers and sellers within local, national, and global markets, investigating not only our place within those markets, but also the role of governments and of international competition [symbolized by the emergence of China’s economy]. We will also discuss the social forces that both influence and are influenced by global economics, including such issues as the environmental impact of economic development, the growing problem of income inequality, and the boom-bust crises of the past decades. Finally, we will explore economic theory, reflecting on the work of crucial thinkers who have examined the complex world of markets and society, including Adam Smith, Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, and Milton Friedman.