The New School THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION • LECO 2002 •

Economic growth is the defining characteristic of this historical epoch. Attendant to this growth is an unparalleled development of resources. This course critically examines the relationship between the distribution of these resources and economic growth from a classical political economic perspective. The topics covered will include: the rise of the capitalist mode of production, globalization and uneven development, income inequality, class conflict, and the unequal distribution of environmental degradation. This course requires students to think abstractly with the use of simple economic models and to be able to critically discuss the topics covered in a seminar format. LEARNING GOALS Students will learn important concepts from classical political economy and macroeconomics and be able to understand them from a broader social and economic context. Students will learn how to place important events into a longer historical narrative that emphasizes the dynamic structure of the capitalist mode of production. In addition, this course will develop the skills necessary to ground theory in empirical research. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURS