The Paradox of Wealth and Poverty
HS 110A
Professor Thomas M. Shapiro
Brandeis University
Fall term, 2016
Tuesday and Friday, 12:30-1:50
This course is designed to provide students with a deeper understanding both of the structure of political economy and of why the distribution of earnings, wealth, and opportunity have been diverging in the United States and in other nations. It also is intended to provide insights into the political and public-policy debates that have arisen in light of this divergence, as well as possible means of reversing it.
Contemporary American society is in the midst of major social, economic, political and cultural transformations. The transformations affect where and how we live and work, how and with whom we interact -- even our visions of our futures and ourselves.
In this course, we consider the distribution of wealth and power, political participation, the organization of the opportunity structure, race and ethnicity, gender, and culture. We will examine patterns, trends and the ideological values in each of these areas and how transformations over time affect different members of American society. We will also delve into how members of American society view themselves, each other, and the society in which we live. Throughout our exploration of the changing economic, political and social structure we will be particularly focused on the themes of inequality and opportunity.
Readings
The following books are available at the bookstore:
David Cay Johnston, Divided: The Perils of our Growing Inequality
MacLeod, Jay, Ain’t No Makin’ It
Antjie Krog, Country of My Skull
All other readings will be available through Latte.
*THIS SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ADDITIONAL READINGS WILL BE ADDED DURING THE COURSE*.
Class Format
The course is structured around two weekly meetings; a lecture and a smaller discussion section. Attendance at both is mandatory. During the first week of class students will be divided into discussion sections. Please note attendance at lectures and section meetings is required.
Section Times and Locations:
Section 1 – Monday 10:30 to 11:50am Room, Heller G2 (TA = Anna Mahathey)
Section 2 – Tuesday 9:00 to 10:20pm Room, Heller G51 (TA = Nicholas Croce)
Section 3 – Tuesday 12:30 to 1:50pm Room, Heller G1 (TA = Nicholas Croce)
Section 4 – Tuesday 12:30 to 1:50pm Room, Mandel Classroom (TA = Anna Mahathey)
Contacts
Professor Shapiro. Students wishing an appointment may contact his assistant, Ms. Faith Paul Adams, . Professor Shapiro’s email address is . His office address is Room 357 at Heller-Brown. Appointments: Tuesdays 1:50-3:00.
TAs: Please feel free to contact your TA if you have any academic or administrative questions or concerns. You may reach them at the following email addresses. Should you have a question or concern at any point in the semester Professor Shapiro and your TA are each happy to meet with you.
TAs: Nicholas Croce:
Anna Mahathey:
Office Hours: By appointment.
Web page. The course will have a web page bulletin board, which students should check twice weekly for announcements or messages.
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see your teaching assistant.
Course Requirements
Three papers are required for this class. Attendance at lecture and section are required.
Please note detailed outlines for all paper assignment will be provided in supplementary handouts.
Two Essays Engaging Electoral Discussions
Essay 1: This assignment is a critical analysis of education and/or youth related policies presented in light of MacLeod’s Ain’t No Makin’ It. Please write a 4-5 page essay in which you analyze the current education reform debates within the context of broader themes discussed in the text. Research Question Due September 20
Paper Due October 7th
Essay 2: Focus on a particular policy area as it is impacted by race/ethnicity. You might want to take off from a theme from the Soft Vengeance video or Krog book, either about South Africa or somewhere else, or from The Hidden Cost of Being African American. Rather than a historical overview, be sure to present an argument characteristic of a critical analysis. Clearly define your policy, issue, or type of reform and document how it relates to concepts from the class material.
It will be helpful to think about the main point you are trying to make with your paper. You are being asked to demonstrate comprehension of course material by using the framework we have been outlining in class to critically analyze your policy or issue. Clearly state your points, support each of them with logical and pertinent evidence, and integrate course themes and materials into your paper.
Research Question Due October 18th
Paper Due November10th
Final Paper
We have examined a variety of different policy and programmatic responses which address widening inequality and/or the difficulties faced by many poor and working-class people in the US and around the globe. We have also elucidated both their strengths and weaknesses, evaluating their potential effectiveness. For this assignment you will be able to select an issue that you find interesting and would like to delve further into. Please select one specific example of a policy or programmatic response targeting inequality (e.g. living wage, state EITC, educational initiatives, voucher programs, housing initiatives, community capacity project, asset building project, unionization campaign, etc, etc, etc.). Throughout the semester you will be presented with numerous possibilities or you may choose an alternative.
Please construct an 8-11 page case study of your particular example. Your paper should address the following; document the problem your policy/program addresses situating it within course themes and frameworks, establish how this initiative is an effort to assuage inequality, outline the response you have selected in detail and evaluate it in light of all that you have learned this semester. Marshal evidence to support your claims and establish trends. You may use course materials and outside sources to back up your points and suppositions.
Topic Due by November 22 Final Paper Due December 12
Grades
Please note any papers not completed on time are subject to automatic grade reduction. If you feel you need an extension please discuss with your TA prior to paper due date. Grades will be calculated on the following basis:
Critical Essay 1: 20 percent
Critical Essay 2: 20 percent
Policy Paper: 35 percent
Participation: 25 percent. (This includes, participation, presentations and attendance at
both weekly assigned section meeting and lectures.)
Course Outline
*ALL READINGS ARE DUE FOR FRIDAY LECTURES*
Part One: Introduction
Week 1.
Fri. August 26 Course Overview
Tues. September 2 The Big Split...Inequality and Striking It Rich
EVERYONE MEETS IN MANDEL G3 FOR LECTURE.
DISCUSSION SECTIONS BEGIN THE WEEK of September 6th
Johnson, Introduction and Insights on Inequality
Week 2.
August 30. The Big Split...Inequality and Striking It Rich
Johnson, Overview Section
SEE LATTE FOR SECTION AND ROOM ASSIGNMENTS
Week 3.
September 6. Gaps, Poverty and Opportunities
Johnson, Income Inequality Section
.
Tues. Discussion Sections Meet!
Section Times and Locations:
Section 1 – Monday 10:30 to 11:50am Room, Heller G2 (TA = TBA)
Section 2 – Tuesday 9:00 to 10:20pm Room, Heller G51 (TA = TBA)
Section 3 – Tuesday 12:30 to 1:50pm Room, Heller G1 (TA = TBA)
Section 4 – Tuesday 12:30 to 1:50pm Room, Regular Classroom (TA = TBA)
Week 4.
September. 13 Trends and Consequences in Context
MacLeod, Jay, Ain’t No Makin It, chapters 1-6
Tues. Discussion
Part Two: Why is this happening?
Week 5.
Sept. 20:
MacLeod, Jay, Ain’t No Makin It, chpts 7- 11
Tues. Inequality of Opportunity
ESSAY 1 TOPIC DUE uploaded to Latte by 5:00.
Week 6.
Sept 27 Education For What?
MacLeod, Jay, Ain’t No Makin It, chpts 12- 15
Johnson, Education Section
Tues. Wed.
Week 7.
Oct. 4 View From Somewhere Else
Krog, Country of My Skull – Chapters 1-7
NO Tues. Discussion Section
ESSAY 1 DUE upload on Latte
Week 8.
Oct. 11 Wealth, Poverty, and Inequality in South Africa
Krog, Country of My Skull – Chapters 8-14
Tues. Discussion Section
Week 9.
Oct. 18 Perspectives on Globalization and Development
Krog, Country of My Skull – Chapters 15-end
Sharma, Shalendra. (2008.) “The Many Faces of Globalization: A Survey of Recent Literature.” New Global Studies 2:2, Article 4.
Tues. Discussion Section
ESSAY 2 TOPIC DUE October18 - email to your TA
Week 10.
Oct. 25 Discrimination and its Ghosts
Reading: Consult Latte website
NO Tues. Discussion Section
Part Three: Policy Responses
Week 11.
Nov. 1 Race in America
Tues. Discussion Section
Reading: Johnson, Debt and Poverty Section
Week 12.
Nov. 8 Making Work Pay
Holt, Steve. “The Earned Income Tax Credit at Age 30: What We Know” from The Brookings Institute. 2006. pgs 1-29
Wartzman, R., “As Officials Lost Faith in the Minimum Wage, Pat Williams Lived It,” Wall Street Journal, July 19, 2001
.
Tues. Discussion Section
Essay 2 due November 8, upload on Latte to TA
Week 13.
November 15 Shifting Risk: Public to Private?
Mankiw, G. N. “We Can’t Ignore the Law of Supply and Demand,” The Boston Globe, June 24, 2001;
Bluestone and Ghilarducci, “Wage Insurance for the Working poor;” Levy Economics Institute, Public Policy Brief;
Card and Krueger, Myth and Measurement, chapters 1 and 2.
Week 14
November 22
Tuesday sections meet.
Final Paper Topic Due, November 22, email to TA
Fri. Nov. 27 NO CLASS (THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY)
Week 14
November 29 Moving Forward
FINAL PAPER DUE DEC 11th (upload on Latte)
Week 15
December 6
Tuesday Discussion Sections Only
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