CRG

Class, Race, and Gender in the U.S. Economy

Econ250/ES250
WINTER 2010
Last Updated January 11, 2010

PHIL MARTINEZ, Instructor

Phone: 463-5158 e-mail: martinezp@lanecc.edu
Office: CEN 419C

Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00, or by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces students to the measurement, analysis, and economic consequences of social stratification within the market, based upon class, race, ethnicity, and gender differences. There is no pre-requisite for the course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon the successful completion of the course students should be able to:

identify the methods used to define and measure economic discrimination, based upon the categories of class, gender, ethnicity, and race;

evaluate the degree of discrimination in the labor market via standard statistics and studies;

explain mechanisms through which the market removes economic discrimination;

explain mechanisms by which the market maintains or promotes economic discrimination.

REQUIREMENTS: Attendance is critical. Economics is a difficult class to learn purely by reading the text. Regular attendance will be necessary to receive assignments on a timely basis. Students who miss classes tend to produce significantly lower scores. Examinations must be taken at the scheduled time. Make-up exams will only be given under exceptional circumstances, and you must notify me before you miss the exam.

GRADES: Grades for the course will be determined based upon in class content and actiivities, as well as, outside of class content and activities. Besides normal homework, reading, and exam assignments, there will be approximately one hour per week of outside of class content and activites.

The components of the course grade are:

PARTICIPATION in classroom group activities, discussions, quizzes, ...   10%
TWO TAKE-HOME EXAMS, one mid-term and a final;                                70%
OUT OF CLASS ACIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS                                                    20%
EXTRA CREDIT as assigned in class & explained on course webpage        10% maximum

All other grade options (Pass/No Pass, Incomplete, Audit, Drop) are the responsibility of the student. The last day to drop classes is the Friday of the 8th week of classes.

DISABILITY SERVICES: If you need academic support or services due to a documented disability you may be eligible for academic assistance through Disability Services. Contact Disability Services in the STUDENT SERVICES Building,, Bldg. #1, or call 463-5150 or TTY 463-3079.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

COURSE OUTLINE

I.   Introduction
   1) Purpose of Course: Honorable Discussion
   2) Statement of the Problem
    3) Conceptual Framework: The Economics of Stratification
   4) Structural vs. Individual Explanations
    5) Labor Economics: Basics of Supply & Demand in the Labor Market

II.   Class
   1)   Experience of Class
   2)   Statistical Disparities
   3)   What is “class”?
    4)   Different Images of Class

III.   Race
   1)   Experience of racial discrimination
    2)   Statistical Disparities & Economic Evidence of Racial Discrimination
   3)   Models of Racial Discrimination
IV.   Ethnicity
    1)   Experience of ethnic identity and economic discrimination: What is “race”?
    2)    What is “whiteness”?
   3)   Statistical Disparities

V.   Gender
   1)    Women’s working experience:
   2)   Statistical Disparities & Economic Evidence of Gender Discrimination:
   3)    Models of Human Capital, Occupational & Earnings Differences

VI.   The Over-Determination of Stratification (Time Permitting)

Focus may vary by term:

Immigration Criteria, or
Stratification in the Katrina Disaster

1)    The Role of Class Criteria
2)    The Role of Race Criteria
3)    The Role of Ethnicity
4)    The Role ofGender

VII. Remedies (Time Permitting)
    1)    Minimum Wage, Taxation, “Welfare” & “Wealth-fare”
    2)   Affirmative Action
    3)   Diversity, Assimilation & Integration

*This syllabus may change at the discretion of the instructor.