Critical Approaches to Economics

Stephen A. Marglin - Harvard University (smarglin@fas.harvard.edu)

Class time: T/Th 1pm - 3:30

Classroom: 0G at Polo didattico San Basilio

Course Description

This course critically examines the assumptions of modern economics and how these assumptions mold the ideas and conclusions of the discipline.  A recurrent question is the appropriate scope of the market.  Examples, drawn from both microeconomics and macroeconomics, will emphasize issues likely to be relevant over the coming decades: trade liberalization, health care, social security, and global warming.

 

Prerequisites: Calculus will not be used, and there is no mathematics prerequisite.  This course is open to students who have completed a principles course in economics at the level of Social Analysis 10 or equivlatent.

Required Readings: 

- William Baumol and Alan Blinder, Economics: Principles and Policies, 11th Edition.  (Other editions will also be fine)

- Course Package

Grading: to be confirmed

Office time and location

My office will be at Ca' dalla Zorza; office hours to be confirmed. The tutorial for this course will be held on Wednesdays (first meeting Wednesday June 30) at 4pm in 0G at Polo Didattico San Basilio.