K2SP 3045 - Global inequality and sustainability

This Master’s-level course offers an exploration of contemporary applied policy research on global economic inequality and strategies for its mitigation. We review trends in income and wealth inequality, discuss issues associated with their measurement, and focus on the broader implications of inequality for environmental and political sustainability. Key areas of study include inequality and climate change, political cleavages, taxation, and the role of redistribution within countries and between them.

Students are expected to have completed a Bachelor's degree in social sciences. Prior knowledge of economics is useful, but not compulsory.

A course consists in a lecture given by the instructor, followed by an open discussion with students, based on their memos. Group work (pairs of two) will be carried out in the context of the final essay.

Students will be asked to submit 6 memos during the semester. A memo is a written document summarizing students’ main take aways from a week’s set of readings. Memos are an opportunity to take stock of readings as well as raise questions and engage critically with the topic of the class. Memos should be short, i.e. no less than 250 words and no more than 500 words. Students can submit their memos for any of the 12 sessions. Memos will be due by 10pm on the day before the class to which they pertain and will be submitted on the Moodle platform. Memos will count for 25% of the grade.

Students will be asked to write a 3000-word policy paper in pairs to demonstrate their ability to identify a specific policy gap related to an ongoing process (e.g. current minimum corporate tax negotiations, or discussions on climate finance for the Global South). The essay will count for 50% of the grade.

Students are also expected to participate in class discussions. In-class participation will count for 25% of the grade.

10-30 pages reading will be required to prepare each session.