Not offered 2007-2008
ECON 374T Poverty and Public Policy (W)
Since 1965, the annual poverty rate in the United States has hovered between 10 and 15 percent, though far more than 15 percent of Americans experience poverty at some point in
their lives. In this course, we will study public policies that, explicitly or implicitly, have as a
goal improving the well-being of the poor in this country. These policies include safety net
programs (Aid to Families with Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Food Stamps, Medicaid, and housing assistance), education programs (Head Start and
public primary and secondary education), and parts of the tax code (the Earned Income Tax
Credit). We will explore the design and functioning of these programs, focusing on questions economists typically ask when evaluating public policy: Does the policy achieve its
goals? Does the design of the policy lead to unintended effects (either good or bad)? Could
it be redesigned to achieve its goals in a more cost-effective manner? Through in-depth
study of these programs, students will learn how economists bring theoretical models and
empirical evidence to bear on important questions of public policy.
Format: tutorial. Evaluation will be based on six 5- to 7-page papers and on the quality of
the student's oral presentations and commentary on the work of his/her colleagues.
Prerequisites: Economics 253 or 255 or Statistics 346 or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limit: 10 (expected: 10). Preference given to majors if overenrolled.
SHORE-SHEPPARD