Required Texts:

Charles Sackrey and Geoffrey Schneider. 2005. Introduction to Political Economy. Fourth Edition. 

Antonia Juhasz: 2005. The Bush Agenda: Invading the World One Economy at a Time. 

Nancy Folbre. 2001. Invisible Heart: Economics and Family Values.

 Format: The class will consist of lecture and discussion. Students are required to attend all classes and are responsible for material presented in class as well as the readings. You are expected to have read each assignment prior to the class during which it will be discussed. At the end of each class students will submit a 3”x 5” index card with a question or comment written on it. These questions and comments should address the topic discussed that day.

Course Description: This course is both a survey of the major economic philosophers who make up the history of political economy and a discussion of the application of their ideas to critical questions and issues that confront contemporary market societies. Issues of consumerism, race, class, gender, the consequences of commodification, wage and job discrimination, macroeconomic instability, health care, foreign policy and the public sector will be discussed. On the evening of March 20th the class will facilitate a discussion of Antonia Juhasz's book, The Bush Agenda at Hermit Hill Books in Poultney. Members of the community who have pre-registered and (hopefully) read the book will participate in the discussion of this controversial work. 

Course Objectives

• Develop a working understanding of a market economy and be able to express an informed view of both how it efficiently produces and distributes commodities and how it functions less well in matters of social and distributive justice.

• Demonstrate an ability to apply the ideas of major political economic philosophers to contemporary social and economic problems.

• Write coherently about your views on the issues facing your generation and the global community that have their roots in economic causes, demonstrating an ability to support those views with relevant and authoritative sources.

• Create an active dialogue within the classroom that brings the students' political and economic concerns into focus using the readings as catalysts for that purpose.

• Develop an ability to read carefully both the required texts and information from mainstream and alternative media; to listen carefully to the language and voices of your peers, your instructor, friends, relatives and others from whom you have found your ideas (musicians, artists, writers, politicians, teachers, hairstylists -- whoever). Synthesize and incorporate the resulting noise into a distinct and thoughtful point of view about your economy and society.

Evaluation

Grades will be based on:                                                                                                                               

1. Midterm Exam                       30%
2. Final Exam                             30% 
3. 1-2 Page papers (approx. 5)    20%                
4. Comment cards                        5%
5. Participation (& bkstr talk)      15%

Class Etiquette: A class is not the equivalent of a television program. It is a professional performance staged for the benefit of active participants, and as such, it demands a certain amount of formality from all concerned. This means that you should arrive on time, and not distract the professor or your classmates by coming in after the class has already begun. If you need to use a restroom, eat, or get a can of soda or cup of coffee, do so either before or after class, but do not leave the classroom to do so (exceptions to this general rule, of course, apply in case of illness). Do not read the newspaper or a textbook for another class while you attend mine. Sleeping in class is either a sign of illness or extreme fatigue, in which case you should be in bed; or a gesture of complete indifference, in which case you should not be enrolled in the course.  

Topics and Readings