This course explores poverty and inequality in the U.S., with a particular emphasis on the role of places in shaping the experience of poverty and the public response to it. Topics may include residential choice across and within metropolitan areas, residential segregation by race and income, urban labor markets, peer
and neighborhood effects, crime and incarceration, local public finance, and the
interactions of poverty with public health, family structure, and education. Some
time will be spent thinking about how to assess empirical evidence and developing a working knowledge of econometric techniques used in the readings.
Format: seminar/Discussion. Requirements: frequent short writing assignments,
oral presentations, computer lab exercises, active participation in class discussion, and a final research paper.
Prerequisites: Economics 251 and Economics 253 or 255 or equivalent. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 19). Preference will be given to senior Economics majors.