F202Z Fall 2024 Current Economic Events and Their Effect on You

F202Z Current Economic Events and Their Effect on You
Tuesdays, 9:40—11:05, Sept. 24—Nov. 12
Eight sessions
Instructor: Elliot Dubin
This course will examine and discuss the major recent economic events and their impact on households and how the reaction of households to these events can affect the economy. The major topics that will be discussed include, but will not be limited to: (1) Immigration: What are the benefits and what are the costs? (2) International Trade and Industrial Policy: Who benefits from trade and who loses? (3) Growing inequality in income and wealth: Is it necessarily a bad thing? (4) The economic impact of increasing Federal debt (5) Financing the costs of higher education: Would canceling student debt help increase access to higher education? (6) Social Security and Medicare: How will the looming huge deficits in these trust funds affect you; e.g., cuts in benefits, raises in taxes, or a combination of both? (7) Inflation and Disinflation: Its causes and effects and the policies needed to moderate it. Students will have the opportunity to suggest other topics.
Elliott Dubin was the director of Policy Research at the Multistate Tax Commission. Currently, he is a member of the Board of the VA 529 Plan and treasurer of the nonprofit Hartwood Foundation.