Economics 349UT - Advanced Topics in Economics: American Economic Utopias'

Utopian visions are historical artifacts. Arguably, in articulating a vision of the perfect life, utopian thinkers and social experimenters always tell us something important about "the anxieties and discontents amidst which they are produced" as well as deep aspirations of their place and age (H.G Wells, 1939). We'll test that argument in this course by situating a selection of nineteenth and early twentieth century American utopian communities within the contexts of their economic and social history. The course will begin with a brief survey of utopian thought by key economic thinkers and end with a work of contemporary science fiction chosen by the class.

Prereq: 8 credits in the department at the 200-level or above.