Economics for ordinary radicals

Reason for protection: The idea of the course is still under construction. Once I am able to clarify that, I would really love help building the course.


 * Instructor: Dr. Hugetim

A survey course on:
 * mainstream economics research on concrete historical examples of alternative economic models and increasingly popular practices like fair trade certification and buying local, sympathetic to alternative practical approaches but with constructive criticism (e.g. Fair Trade Coffee - economics paper and The Secret Document that Transformed China - NPR podcast)
 * the work of economists who straddle the academic economics world and the world of radical politics (e.g. Samuel Bowles and Jean Dreze)
 * using Bowles' forthcoming textbook (how it's different)

No economics prerequisites, aimed simply at ordinary radicals interested in economics.

Historical Overview

 * Pre-modern societies (e.g. economics paper)
 * Agriculture and centralization
 * Industrial Revolution - the Great Divergence (e.g. Acemoglu & Robinson)
 * "The birth of impersonal exchange"
 * Robots, etc. (e.g. The Magic Washing Machine)

Visions Tried

 * Kibbutzim (human capital)
 * Fair Trade Coffee (supply and demand)
 * China's transition (incentives for innovation)
 * Mondragon (finance for capital)

Potential Projects

 * Harlem Children's Zone
 * Romer's new city project

Progression of topics

 * supply and demand
 * production
 * finance for capital