Ethics, Politics, and Economics (B.A.)

Courses

EP&E 203a / PLSC 452a / S&DS 102a, Introduction to Statistics: Political Science  Jonathan Reuning-Scherer

Statistical analysis of politics, elections, and political psychology. Problems presented with reference to a wide array of examples: public opinion, campaign finance, racially motivated crime, and public policy.  QR
TTh 1pm-2:15pm

EP&E 209a / PLSC 453a / S&DS 103a, Introduction to Statistics: Social Sciences  Jonathan Reuning-Scherer

Descriptive and inferential statistics applied to analysis of data from the social sciences. Introduction of concepts and skills for understanding and conducting quantitative research.  QR
TTh 1pm-2:15pm

* EP&E 215a or b, Classics of Ethics, Politics, and Economics  Staff

A critical examination of classic and contemporary works that treat problems of ethics, politics, and economics as unities. Topics include changing conceptions of private and public spheres, the content and domain of individual freedom, and ethical and political limits to the market. Readings from the works of Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Bentham, Mill, Hegel, Marx, Hayek, Rawls, and others.  HU, SO
HTBA

* EP&E 232b / ECON 470b / GLBL 233b, Strategies for Economic Development  Rakesh Mohan

How strategies for economic development have changed over time and how dominant strands in development theory and practice have evolved. Students trace the influence of the evolution in thinking on actual changes that have taken place in successful development strategies, as practiced in fast growing developing countries, and as illustrated in case studies of fast growth periods in Japan, South Korea, Brazil, China, and India. Prerequisites: introductory microeconomics and macroeconomics.
M 3:30pm-5:20pm

* EP&E 234a / AFST 234a, Market Liberalism, Socialist Planning, and Ideas of Development  Nicoli Nattrass

Exploration of market liberalism, socialist planning, and contestation over the role of the state in the idea of development. Study of key classical economists; Marxism and Utopian socialism; how collectivisation was applied in the Soviet Union and in the African context; and discussion of the rise of development economics, highlighting the work of W. Arthur Lewis and Amartya Sen. Prerequisite: ECON 110 or 115, or permission of the instructor.  SO
Th 1:30pm-3:20pm

* EP&E 235a / PHIL 457a / PLSC 283a, Recent Work on Justice  Thomas Pogge

In-depth study of one contemporary book, author, or debate in political philosophy, political theory, or normative economics. Focus varies from year to year based on student interest and may include a ground-breaking new book, the life's work of a prominent author, or an important theme in contemporary political thought.  HU
W 3:30pm-5:20pm

* EP&E 243a / GLBL 336a / LAST 423a / PLSC 423a, Political Economy of Poverty Alleviation  Ana De La O

Overview of classic and contemporary approaches to the question of why some countries have done better than others at reducing poverty. Emphasis on the role of politics.  SO
T 1:30pm-3:20pm

* EP&E 245a / PLSC 152a, Global Firms and National Governments  Joseph LaPalombara

Interactions between large-scale firms that make international investments and policy makers and government officials in the “host” countries. National and subnational officials who work to attract investments (or not) and who set policies regulating global firms and their investments. Focus on less-developed countries. Theories as to why firms “globalize”; case studies of controversies created by overseas corporate investments; the changing economic landscape associated with investments by countries such as China, Brazil, and India.  SO
M 1:30pm-3:20pm

* EP&E 248b / PLSC 256b, American Political Institutions  Michael Fotos

The origins and development of American political institutions, especially in relation to how institutions shape the policy process. Issues of temporality, policy feedback, and policy substance.  WR, SO
HTBA

* EP&E 250a / PLSC 354a, The European Union  David Cameron

Origins and development of the European Community and Union over the past fifty years; ways in which the often-conflicting ambitions of its member states have shaped the EU; relations between member states and the EU's supranational institutions and politics; and economic, political, and geopolitical challenges.  SO
T 3:30pm-5:20pm

* EP&E 253b / PLSC 398b, Comparative Political Economy  Frances Rosenbluth

Introduction to issues in political economy across time and place. The field's diverse theoretical underpinnings and its place in the context of political science and of the social sciences more generally; theoretical perspectives such as materialism, institutionalism, and cognition/culture/beliefs; interactions between government and the economy in democratic and nondemocratic regimes and in developed and developing countries. Enrollment limited to senior Political Science majors.  SO
HTBA

* EP&E 254a / ECON 454a / GLBL 331a, Evolution of Central Banking  Rakesh Mohan

Changes in the contours of policy making by central banks since the turn of the twentieth century. Theoretical and policy perspectives as well as empirical debates in central banking. The recurrence of financial crises in market economies. Monetary policies that led to economic stability in the period prior to the collapse of 2007–2008. Changes in Monetary Policies since the Great Financial Crisis. Prerequisite: ECON 122.  SO
M 3:30pm-5:20pm

* EP&E 286a / ECON 475a, Discrimination in Law, Theory, and Practice  Gerald Jaynes

How law and economic theory define and conceptualize economic discrimination; whether economic models adequately describe behaviors of discriminators as documented in court cases and government hearings; the extent to which economic theory and econometric techniques aid our understanding of actual marketplace discrimination. Prerequisites: introductory microeconomics and at least one additional course in Economics, African American Studies, Ethnicity, Race, and Migration, or Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.
W 9:25am-11:15am

EP&E 295a / PLSC 344a, Game Theory and Political Science  Ian Turner

Introduction to game theory—a method by which strategic interactions among individuals and groups in society are mathematically modeled—and its applications to political science. Concepts employed by game theorists, such as Nash equilibrium, subgame perfect equilibrium, and perfect Bayesian equilibrium. Problems of cooperation, time-consistency, signaling, and reputation formation. Political applications include candidate competition, policy making, political bargaining, and international conflict. No prerequisites other than high school algebra. Political Science majors who take this course may not count ECON 159 toward the major.  QR, SO
HTBA

* EP&E 298a / ECON 481a, Empirical Microeconomics  Guillermo Noguera

Introduction to empirical microeconomics and its methodologies. Academic research in the field explored using tools from economic theory and econometrics. Topics include approaches to identification, environmental effects on health, and the economics of crime, gender, and race. Prerequisites: intermediate microeconomics and econometrics.  SO
T 9:25am-11:15am

* EP&E 306a / PLSC 228a, First Amendment and Ethics of Law  Karen Goodrow

This course addresses the First Amendment and freedom of speech, focusing on the ethical implications of restrictions on free speech, as well as the exercise of free speech. Course topics and discussions include the “fighting words” doctrine, hate speech, true threats, content regulated speech, freedom of speech and the internet, and the so-called “right to be forgotten.” By the end of the course, students recognize the role free speech plays in society, including its negative and positive impacts on various segments of society. Students also have an understanding of the competing interests arising from the First Amendment’s right to free speech, and can analyze how these competing interests are weighed and measured in the United States as compared with other countries.  SO
HTBA

* EP&E 312a / PLSC 297a, Moral Choices in Politics  Boris Kapustin

A study of how and why people make costly moral choices in politics. Figures studied include Thomas More, Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Václav Havel, and Aung San Suu Kyi.  SO
HTBA

EP&E 315b / PLSC 317b, Constitutionalism  Giulia Oskian

An introduction to the political philosophy of constitutionalism combined with a trans-historical and comparative study of constitution-making processes including the US, France, Mexico, Germany, Italy, and India.
HTBA

EP&E 321b / ECON 325b / SAST 281b, Economics of Developing Countries: Focus on South Asia  Zachary Barnett-Howell

Analysis of current problems of developing countries. Emphasis on the role of economic theory in informing public policies to achieve improvements in poverty and inequality, and on empirical analysis to understand markets and responses to poverty. Topics include microfinance, education, health, agriculture, intrahousehold allocations, gender, and corruption. Prerequisites: introductory microeconomics and introductory econometrics.  SO
MW 2:30pm-3:45pm

* EP&E 324b / PLSC 244b, Journalism, Liberalism, Democracy  James Sleeper

The news media's role in configuring the democratic public sphere, from the early synergy of print capitalism and liberalism through the corporate consolidation of mass media and the recent fragmentation and fluidity of "news." Classical-humanist and civic-republican responses to these trends.  SO
HTBA

* EP&E 325b / PLSC 304, Business Ethics and Law  Robin Landis

This seminar is intended to provide frameworks for the analysis of ethical issues that may arise in the context of business decisions, including such aspects as the role of ethics, competing values and interests, and tools for making principled decisions. The course also covers, as appropriate, some aspects of law as they relate to business ethics. Previous courses in philosophy and ethics may be helpful.  SO
HTBA

* EP&E 328b / PLSC 347b / S&DS 172b, YData: Data Science for Political Campaigns  Joshua Kalla

Political campaigns have become increasingly data driven. Data science is used to inform where campaigns compete, which messages they use, how they deliver them, and among which voters. In this course, we explore how data science is being used to design winning campaigns. Students gain an understanding of what data is available to campaigns, how campaigns use this data to identify supporters, and the use of experiments in campaigns. This course provides students with an introduction to political campaigns, an introduction to data science tools necessary for studying politics, and opportunities to practice the data science skills presented in S&DS 123, YData.
Prerequisite: S&DS 123, which may be taken concurrently.  QR  ½ Course cr
Th 9:25am-11:15am

EP&E 329a / DEVN 198a / GLBL 444a / HIST 122a / PLSC 405a, Power and Politics in Today’s World  Ian Shapiro

A comparative study of power and politics since the Cold War. Topics include the decline of trade unions and increased influence of business; growing inequality and insecurity; changing attitudes towards democracy and authoritarianism; and the character and durability of the new international order. We start with the impact of the USSR’s collapse, both in former communist countries and the West, focusing on reordered relations among business, labor, and governments. Next we take up the Washington Consensus on free trade, privatization, and deregulation, and agendas to fight terrorism, prevent human rights abuses, and spread democracy. Then we turn to the backlash that followed the financial crisis, as technocratic elites lost legitimacy, the global war on terror became mired in quagmires, and humanitarian intervention and democracy-spreading agendas floundered. The new politics of insecurity is our next focus. We examine the populist explosions of 2016 and the politics to which they have given rise. This leads to a consideration of responses, where we discuss the policies most needed when congenital employment insecurity is going to be the norm, and the political reforms that would increase the chances of those policies being adopted. Introductory courses in twentieth-century European, American or global history, comparative politics, or political economy are helpful but are not required.  HU, SO
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

* EP&E 334b / PHIL 455b, Normative Ethics  Shelly Kagan

A systematic examination of normative ethics, the part of moral philosophy that attempts to articulate and defend the basic principles of morality. The course surveys and explores some of the main normative factors relevant in determining the moral status of a given act or policy (features that help make a given act right or wrong). Brief consideration of some of the main views about the foundations of normative ethics (the ultimate basis or ground for the various moral principles). Prerequisite: a course in moral philosophy.  HU
M 1:30pm-3:20pm

* EP&E 339b / PLSC 273b, The Ethics of Journalism  Jacob Weisberg

An examination of key issues about the rights and responsibilities of the press. Topics include truth and verification, bias and objectivity, the handling of government secrets, the use of misrepresentation and deception, privacy, and the protection of sources. Case studies including WikiLeaks and the Pentagon Papers will supplement readings from critics such as Walter Lippmann, George Orwell, Janet Malcolm, and Neil Postman.
HTBA

* EP&E 353b / PLSC 305b, Critique of Political Violence  Boris Kapustin

Methods of conceptualizing political violence that are prevalent in contemporary political philosophical discourse. Use of theoretical-analytical tools to examine the modes violence assumes and the functions it performs in modern political life as well as the meanings and possibilities of nonviolence in politics.  SO
HTBA

* EP&E 380a / PLSC 313a, Bioethics, Politics, and Economics  Stephen Latham

Ethical, political, and economic aspects of a number of contemporary issues in biomedical ethics. Topics include abortion, assisted reproduction, end-of-life care, research on human subjects, and stem cell research.  SO
HTBA

* EP&E 390a / EVST 212a / PLSC 212a, Democracy and Sustainability  Michael Fotos

Democracy, liberty, and the sustainable use of natural resources. Concepts include institutional analysis, democratic consent, property rights, market failure, and common pool resources. Topics of policy substance are related to human use of the environment and to U.S. and global political institutions.  WR, SO
Th 9:25am-11:15am

* EP&E 421b / PLSC 320b, Ethics, Law, and Current Issues  Karen Goodrow

Examination of how freedom of speech and bias influence the criminal justice system, focusing on wrongful convictions and administration of the death penalty. Understanding the role of potential bias at various levels and the competing interests of protecting speech, due process, and the innocent. Topics include limitations on speech, practical effects of speech, the efficacy of the death penalty, actual innocence, gender/race/economic bias and its effects on the justice system, as well as best practices for improving our sense of justice.
HTBA

* EP&E 471a or b, Directed Reading and Research  Peter Swenson

For individual reading and research unrelated to the senior essay. Students must obtain the signature of the faculty member supervising their independent work on an Independent Study Form (available from the Ethics, Politics, and Economics registrar's office). This form must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies at the time the student's class schedule is submitted.
HTBA

* EP&E 478b / PHIL 450b, The Problem of Evil  Keith DeRose

The challenge that evil's existence in the world poses for belief in a perfectly good and omnipotent God. The main formulations of the problem of evil; proposed ways of solving or mitigating the problem and criticism of those solutions. Skeptical theism, the free-will defense, soul-making theodicies, and doctrines of hell.  HU
T 3:30pm-5:20pm

* EP&E 490a / CGSC 426a / PHIL 426a / PSYC 422a, The Cognitive Science of Morality  Joshua Knobe

Introduction to the emerging field of moral cognition. Focus on questions about the philosophical significance of psychological findings. Topics include the role of emotion in moral judgment; the significance of character traits in virtue ethics and personality psychology; the reliability of intuitions and the psychological processes that underlie them.  HU
M 1:30pm-3:20pm

* EP&E 491a or b, The Senior Essay  Peter Swenson

. A one-term senior essay