Economics 222 - Economics of Race, Policy, and Mass Incarceration

The United States has the world’s highest incarceration rate at more than five times the global median. Our country is regrettably distinguished by significant racial-ethnic and gender disparities in its carceral population. This course uses the tools of economic analysis to address three main questions: First, how did we get here, that is, how did the United States become the world’s leader in incarceration? Second, what are the economic implications and collateral consequences of racialized mass incarceration? Finally, what can we do about it, that is, can we use economic tools to examine the efficacy of criminal justice reform? Prerequisite: ECO 150.

[CE] ECO 150