ECON BC3063y (02) Senior Seminar: “ Social Exclusion ”

Instructor: Sonia Pereira

Spring 2007

Prerequisites: Permission of the Instructor and completion of all courses (except the senior requirement) required for the economics track, political economy track, or economics and mathematics majors. Exceptions to these prerequisites may be granted by the chair of the department only.

This course is centered on the concept of social exclusion. It begins byanalyzing the differences between the U.S. and other OECD countries’ interms of policies that fight social exclusion. It then analyses variousdimensions of social exclusion focusing on economic policy tools. The course follows a debate format in which one student (or two students withopposing views) gives a brief presentation of the topic which is then followed by class discussion. Topics include: housing and labor market discrimination and anti-discrimination policies, gender inequality and maternity leave, urban sprawl, the ghetto and housing policy, school reform, immigration, public health insurance, obesity and marriage and fertility. Students are required to write a term paper with a policy focus on a topic of their choice. Students may choose different approaches, such as: hands-on data work, field work, literature review, theoretical discussion and historical perspective. Guidance will be provided for all.

 Evaluation

 Students are required to read the assigned reading before class and to actively participate in class discussion. Evaluation consists of: participation in class discussion (10%), two 5-10 page policy memoranda (25%), class presentation (15%), term paper assignment (35%), presentation of the term paper (15%)

 Readings

 Most readings consist of journal articles or book chapters which will be posted on Courseworks .