23510 Economic Inequality

Description

In this subject, students explore the foundations of our economic understanding of inequality, distinguishing between different concepts related to inequality – including equity versus equality; inequality of outcomes versus inequality of opportunity; relative and absolute poverty, and income inequality versus wealth inequality. In capturing the problem of economic inequality students examine different measures of inequality: globally, within Australia; and between Australia’s subpopulations including among Indigenous people, different genders and other marginalised groups. Students also analyse changes in inequality over time, as well as aspects of political economy, analysing the roles played by various factors/constraints (e.g., capital, labour, technological change, globalisation, unequal access to education, financialisation, and institutional pressures) in contributing to inequality. Students also delve into practical policy solutions which might help to mitigate the sources and consequences of inequality.