This course surveys the causes and manifestations of income and wealth inequality. We begin by studying the measurement and definition of inequality and mobility and their changes over time. We then examine how skill, education, and health map onto income and wealth over a person's lifetime and transmit from generation to generation. While we review inequality in a global context, most discussion is grounded in the historical and current social and institutional conditions of the United States, focusing on race, gender, and class. Lastly, we look at the driving forces behind the large rise in inequality in recent decades: changes in technology, globalization, demographic shift, and migration. We will hone our skills in handling large datasets, extracting information from data, and visualizing it. Meets the Equity and Power: EPUS requirement.

Prerequisite: Economics 100; or Economics 101 and Economics 102 (must take Economics 100 or both Economics 101 and Economics 102).

Degree requirement — Equity and Power: EPUS

1 unit — Yang

Offerings

Term	Block	Title	Instructor	Location	Student Limit/Available	Updated
Spring 2025	Block 8	Economics of Inequality	Guanyi Yang	TBA	25 / 25	11/21/2024