TOM LARSON

ECONOMICS 350

Office: STF 908

     WINTER 2006

(323) 343-2938/2930

 

Office Hours: MW 2:30 – 4:30

e-mail: use the course web site                                          

 

 

ECONOMICS OF POVERTY & INEQUALITY

 

Required Texts: The Economics of Poverty and Discrimination, Bradley Schiller, 9th Edition.

Discrimination, Robert Cherry (on reserve).

Rebuilding South Central Los Angeles, Myths, Realities and Opportunities, Executive Summary, Tom Larson & Miles Finney (online).

Articles: U.S. Earnings Levels and Earnings Inequality, Levy and Murnane

Stunning Progress, Hidden Problems, Paul Jargowsky

The Trajectory of Poor Neighborhoods in Southern California, 1970-2000, McConville and Ong

What Has Economics to Say About Racial Discrimination?, Kenneth Arrow.

Assessing Affirmative Action, Harry Holzer and David Neumark.

The Impact of Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Law on Black Employment, Jonathan Leonard.

Recommended: It Takes A Nation, Rebecca Blank (on reserve).

 

READING ASSIGNMENTS & COURSE OUTLINE

 

WEEK

TOPIC/READING

 

 

 

I. POVERTY AND ITS CAUSES, INCOME INEQUALITY

 

 

  1

Defining Poverty & Inequality. Counting the Poor, Schiller Chapters 1, 2 & 3. Levy and Murnane, Homework 1

  2

HOLIDAY (MLK),

  3

Causes of Poverty, Schiller Chapter 4.Quiz 1 Friday, Schiller Chapter 3, Online, Homework 2

  4

Family, Work and Poverty, Schiller Chapter 5, 7.

 

The Minimum Wage and Poverty,.

  5

Education and Income, Schiller Chapter 9. Quiz 2, Schiller Chapter 9

 

Discrimination, Cherry, Chapters 1-5, Arrow.

  6

Midterm, Discrimination, Schiller, C 10, C 11.

  7

Poverty in Los Angeles, McConville and Ong, Jaworsky

 

The Inner-city and South Central Los Angeles (Larson & Finney, online), Schiller, C 8; Cherry, C9. Homework 3, Quiz 3, Schiller C 8

 

 

 

II. PUBLIC POLICIES TO COMBAT POVERTY & DISCRIMINATION

 

 

  8

Welfare Programs, Homelessness, Schiller, C 12, Homework 4.

  9

Employment Programs, Schiller, C 14., Quiz 4, Schiller Chapter 14

10

Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, Schiller, C 15, 16, Holzer.

 

There will be a midterm, a final, a term paper, four homework assignments and four quizzes (online). Course participation will also be graded. 

 

Class Web Site: http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/aa/ess/webct. At this page you can create your WebCT account.  On your first visit, you will need to locate the course listing so it can be added to your WebCT account. At the top of the screen, click on Add course. Select the current term and then select, under category, the College of Business and Economics. Once at the College of Business and Economics page, select Econ350tl from the course list.  Once at Econ350tl, click on the plus sign to self-register for the course.

You will need internet access and a web browser (preferably Netscape or Firefox, or Internet Explorer).

The web site contains a variety of features, including online quizzes, course syllabus, course notes, discussion topics, etc.  You should familiarize yourself with the website as soon as possible. 

 

 

There will be a midterm (25% of total grade), final (30%), term paper (20%), 4 quizzes (5%) and 4 homework assignments (15%). In addition credit will be given for course participation (5%), which will largely consist of attendance and discussion (either in class or via the course website).

Homework: homework is due one week from when it is assigned.

Midterm: Combination of essay and MC questions.

Final: in class on March 15 (Wednesday), 7:30-10:00 PM.

 

Grades:         90-100: A

  89-90: B

  65-79: C

  55-64: D