LABR 607 - Labor and the Economy (3 Credits)

Prerequisite: None
This class is designed to provide anyone working for a union, NGO, workers’ rights organization or for social change a solid foundation in economics: basically, it is labor economics for practitioners and activists. The course offers an overview of capitalism as an economic system, focusing on the principles and logic that underlie American capitalism in particular. Students will explore the roles of production and profits; competition and concentration; technology; and control and conflict in the workplace. The course is set up for students to expand their literacy regarding the main labor issues related to the economy, such as employment, wages (including minimum wage and living wage), labor market discrimination, globalization and trade. We will consider the mainstream, or neo-classical, theory that explains how the economy functions, as well as examine some alternative theories.