ECON 3250

Economics of the U.S. Social Safety Net

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

This course provides an overview of the major programs that make up the social safety net in the United States. We will review the economic rationale behind social programs, identify the economic consequences of these programs, and assess the empirical research on these topics. A major emphasis of the course will be on understanding the strengths and limitations of the core methodologies used in the existing economics literature.

Prerequisites REF-FA25/Corequisites REF-FA25 PUBPOL 2000 or equivalent and PUBPOL 3100 or equivalent. Corequisites: None.

Enrollment Priority REF-FA25 Enrollment limited to: undergraduate students.

Distribution Requirements (D-AG, SBA-AG), (SBA-HE)

Last 4 terms offered (None)

Outcomes REF-FA25

• Identify and explain the reasons for government redistribution and provision of social insurance.
• Describe the ways in which social programs are implemented in reality, and analyze the potential distortions and consequences of program design using economic reasoning.
• Evaluate the empirical evidence on the impact of social programs on individual behavior and well-being by applying knowledge of statistical methodology.
• Formulate and express well-reasoned arguments for or against specific policies through written and oral presentations.

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