Economics 316 - Seminar: Poverty and Public Policy in the United States

Since 1965, the annual poverty rate in the United States has hovered between 10% and 15%, though far more than 15% of Americans experience poverty at some point in their lives. This course studies public policies intended to improve the well-being of the poor in this country. These policies include social insurance programs like Unemployment Insurance; safety net programs like Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, and housing assistance; education programs like Head Start; and parts of the tax code including the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Prerequisites: ECO 250; and ECO 220, SDS 201, SDS 220 or SDS 291. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required.

[CE] JR/SR only; Prereq: ECO 250 and (ECO 220, SDS 201, SDS 210, SDS 220 or SDS 291)