GOV 94TR: The Politics of Economic Inequality

This seminar investigates the political factors contributing to rising economic inequality in the United States, other developed democracies, transition countries, and globally. The first half will focus primarily on the United States and the second half will examine inequality in comparative and global perspective.  We will review the major theories of inequality and examine the consequences of economic inequality for political equality, social mobility, and the differential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Throughout, we will relate political to economic factors that drive economic inequality, identifying commonalities and differences across countries.