This course provides an introduction to the analysis of economic inequalities and the interplay between inequality and economic growth. It deals with three sets of core questions: 1) How does inequality vary across countries and evolve over the path of development? 2) What are the theories that can explain the degree of economic inequalities and its dynamic? 3) How do policies affect inequalities, and what types of policies can foster equitable growth?
Spring 2019 Syllabus: here
Lectures on Tuesdays 5.00pm-8.00pm, in 4 LeConte
Sections on Mondays and Wednesdays. Section announcements and material available on bCourses.
Course material (including exams, solutions, grade statistics) for previous year available here.
Part I: Core concepts
Lecture 1: Introduction
Lecture 2: What is income?
Lecture 3: What is capital?
Lecture 4: Inequality between labor and capital
Lecture 5: Inequality between individuals
Part II: Global growth and its distribution
Lecture 6: Global income inequality dynamics
Lecture 7: Trends in inequality between countries
Lecture 8: Trends in inequality within countries
Lecture 9: The United States in international perspective
Part III: Labor income inequality
Lecture 10: Labor income inequality: the role of market forces
Lecture 11: Labor income inequality: the role of institutions
Lecture 12: Gender inequality in the labor market
Lecture 13: Racial economic disparities
Part IV: Capital inequality
Lecture 14: Private and public capital
Lecture 15: Global wealth inequality
Lecture 16: Models of the wealth distribution
Lecture 17: r>g
Lecture 18: Inherited versus self-made wealth
Lecture 19: Tax evasion and inequality
Part V: Regulating inequality
Lecture 20: Optimal labor income taxation
Lecture 21: Optimal capital taxation
Lecture 22: Taxation in a globalized world
Lecture 23: Review and conclusion
Final exam: May 17. Solutions.