PUBPOL 3390

Economics of Inequality and Public Policy

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2026-2027 Catalog.

PUBPOL 3390 surveys how economists study racial inequality in the United States. We will explore questions such as: Why do minority workers earn less than their white counterparts? What explains the differences in educational outcomes between Black and white students? Is there evidence of racial bias in criminal justice? What are the causes and consequences of the school-to-prison pipeline, and what policies might address it? The course aims to help students think critically about these questions and the role of public policy in shaping racial inequality, with a focus on education, criminal justice, and labor markets. Selected readings apply economic methods to understand the causes and consequences of racial inequality in these domains. Through written assignments, class discussions, and presentations, students will engage with the frontier of economics research on these topics, learn how economists use empirical methods to identify causal relationships, and consider how evidence can inform public policy.

Prerequisites PUBPOL 2000 AND PUBPOL 2101 AND PUBPOL 3100, OR equivalent.

Enrollment Information Enrollment limited to: undergraduate students.

Last 4 Terms Offered (None)

Learning Outcomes

• Describe the historical causes and consequences of racial disparities in the US.
• Evaluate empirical research on racial disparities in the US.
• Use economic methods to assess policies designed to address racial inequality in the US.

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