Comparative Economic Systems

Catalog description

Is communism dead? Is capitalism the only real economic system left? This course explores the various economic systems that are used to distribute resources, i.e., to decide "who gets what" in a nation's economy. The course considers the differences between alternative distribution mechanisms, what it means to transition from one system to another, and how these economic decisions are affected by political and national realities. Because there are so many international alternatives to be explored, each semester focuses on an economic region of the globe: Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Africa, or Latin America. This course, where appropriate, is available for credit in international studies or area studies programs.