Economic Inequality

Course Description

Summary

Economic inequality is often described in terms of uneven distribution of income and wealth. Yet, more importantly, it reflects uneven access to opportunities, advantages, and life chances. Why do some people enjoy a higher standard of living and better quality of life than others? Are such inequalities fair and just? What role do history, policy, and institutions play in sustaining or reducing inequality? These are the central questions that will motivate this advanced research seminar in Economics.

We will take a two-pronged approach in addressing these questions. On the conceptual side, we will draw on theories of welfare economics, economic development, and economic sociology to describe patterns and investigate causes of inequality. We will also examine perspectives in political economy and political philosophy to consider normative questions of distributive justice: when, if ever, inequality can be justified, and what societies owe their members in terms of fairness and opportunity.

On the empirical side, we will engage with household survey datasets drawn from diverse countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Tanzania to measure inequality, study its drivers, and examine how social structures shape distributive outcomes. We will explore the key concepts in the course verbally and through written expositions and use mathematical formulations to express the ideas in formal terms, working directly with datasets. Some familiarity with spreadsheet-based data analysis is expected for this purpose. Prior knowledge of statistical theory/applications will be advantageous.

This seminar is designed for students in their third and fourth years of college. Students in their second year may join with prior approval of the instructor.

Course Requirements

The course has two main requirements:
[a] Active class participation grounded in careful reading of assigned materials, and
[b] An empirically-driven research project supported by related homework assignments.

Attendance is mandatory. Students are expected to come to class prepared, having engaged closely with the readings, and to contribute thoughtfully to discussions. In addition, students will carry out empirically grounded research to examine the nature and causes of inequality using household survey datasets. All datasets will be provided by the instructor; however, please note that the instructor retains oversight and custodianship of these datasets. Any use, citation, or distribution of the data without prior written approval from the instructor would constitute a breach of trust and violate the terms of use.

Costs

No additional purchases are required. All necessary course materials will be accessible online through platforms such as Google Drive, Populi, and others. All datasets will be provided to students, but the instructor has the privilege of overseeing them. Unauthorized use or citation without prior approval constitutes a breach of trust. [However, students will need access to a computer, internet, Zoom and Google Hangout platforms, Excel spreadsheets, and PDF readers.]