Spring ‘08
M. Odekon
Phone: 5097
EC 319
Income Distribution and Poverty
This course explores the fundamental principles in the contemporary analysis of the distribution
of income and poverty. Topics will include: theories of the distribution of income; measurement
of income distribution and poverty; the extent of income inequality and poverty in the United
States; causes of income inequality and poverty; international aspects of inequality and poverty;
and public policy related to income inequality and poverty.
Text (available in the bookstore):
B. Schiller (BSc). 2008. The Economics of Poverty and Discrimination (10th edition)
Course Requirements:
Seminar write-ups
Final paper
Participation
40 percent
45 percent
15 percent
Students will be assigned to “seminar groups” to make presentations on the assigned readings.
Write-ups on each seminar reading should be handed in on the seminar day. The write-ups
should be around 300 words and should include:
-
What is the most important idea and/or question in the reading?
What is your response to the reading? Do you agree with the conclusions? Why or why
not?
What further questions do you have concerning the issue(s) raised?
You are required to write a final paper due April 21st. You are expected to choose a topic by the
end of the second week of the semester. The topic has to be relevant and related to the
distribution of income and poverty. You need my prior approval for the topic. To this end I will
set an appointment with each student in the third week to discuss the topic proposal.
Course Outline:
Introduction:
Data bases, domestic and international organizations and institutions, and academic journals
Lecture Module 1: The classical, Marxist, and neoclassical theories of distribution.
Readings:
David Harvey. Limits to Capital. Ch. 1
BSc: Chs. 9, 5, 6, and 12
Seminar I:
Class and income distribution and poverty
Reading Assignment:
http://www.monthlyreview.org/july2006.htm
http://www.monthlyreview.org/0906navarro.htm
M. Yates. The Injuries of Class (MR Jan. ’08)
The Sex of Class, Chs. 1 and 2
Lecture Module 2: Measurement of the distribution of income and poverty.
Readings:
BSc: Chs. 1-3
CROP (elites): 1, 7, and 8
http://www.roiw.org/2000/161.pdf
http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed083106c.cfm
http://www.blackwellsynergy.com/action/showPdf?submitPDF=Full+Text+PDF+%28297+KB%
29&doi=10.1111%2Fj.1475-4991.2005.00156.x
http://www.roiw.org/2004/543.pdf
http://129.3.20.41/eps/dev/papers/0409/0409040.pdf
Seminar II:
Income distribution and poverty in the United States
Reading Assignment:
http://www.blackwellsynergy.com/action/showPdf?submitPDF=Full+Text+PDF+%28988+KB%
29&doi=10.1111%2F0008-4085.00045
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07344.pdf
http://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/dps/pdfs/dp132707.pdf
http://www.npc.umich.edu/publications/workingpaper05/paper19/Poverty-6-9-05.pdf
http://www.urban.org/publications/410404.html
Lecture Module 3: Causes of income inequality and poverty
BSc, Chs. 5-12
http://www.irp.wisc.edu/publications/dps/pdfs/dp132807.pdf
Seminar III:
Children in poverty:
http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/230107/edmonds%20and%20pavcnik%202005.pdf
http://eau.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/18/2/481.pdf
http://www.unicef.org/sowc07/docs/sowc07_execsummary.pdf
http://www.streetchildren.org.uk/reports/Conference%20-%20Children%20and%20Poverty%20%20Revised%2027th%20May%2005.doc
http://www.nccp.org/publications/pdf/text_787.pdf
Lecture Module 4: International issues
BSc, Ch. 4
http://www.depeco.econo.unlp.edu.ar/cedlas/pdfs/doc_cedlas30.pdf
http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/ites/0901/ijee/ijee0901.pdf
Seminar IV:
International issues
Reading Assignment:
https://gupea.ub.gu.se/dspace/bitstream/2077/2853/1/gunwpe0032.pdf
http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2007/08/neoliberalism_d.html
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~lkenwor/pop2005.pdf
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1475-4991.2005.00152.x
Lecture Module 5: Public policy issues.
Readings:
BSc: Chs. 13-17
CROP (Law): 2 and 3
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1475-4991.2006.00187.x
http://www.ia.newschool.edu/docs/wkg_papers/Komarecki_2006-03.pdf