Course Summary
This course explores the relationship between inequality and democracy, examining the causes and consequences of economic and political inequality in different societies.Key Learning Points
- Learn about the impact of inequality on democracy and the economy
- Examine the key factors contributing to inequality
- Explore policy solutions to address inequality
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the relationship between inequality and democracy
- Identify key factors contributing to inequality in different societies
- Develop policy solutions to address inequality
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic understanding of economics and political science
- Ability to read and comprehend academic literature
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
- Video Lectures
- Assignments
Similar Courses
- Social Inequality and Stratification
- Racial Justice and Social Equality
- Globalization and Economic Development
Related Education Paths
Related Books
Description
Most countries are getting more and more unequal. But the core of democracy is political equality: that everyone should have an equal say in how their country is run. Can we really expect these things to go together? Can people have equal political power while economic inequality grows and grows? Take this course and decide for yourself.
Outline
- Economic inequality
- 1.0.1 Welcome to the course
- 1.1.2 Economic inequality around the world
- 1.2.1 Causes of inequality
- 1.3.1 When is inequality (un)just?
- 1.4.1 Inequality and Democracy: The road ahead
- 1.0.2 About the course
- 1.1.1 In this week
- 1.2.2 Case study: The rise of bosses pay in the USA
- 1.3.2 The fairness of inequality: a philosophical debate
- 1.5.1 Want more?
- 1.1.3 What about you?
- 1.2.3 Causes of inequality
- 1.3.3 Theories of justice: What do you know?
- 1.4.2 Democracy at stake
- Property and corporations
- 2.1.2 Private property as a legal construct
- 2.2.1 The business corporation as a legal construct
- 2.3.1 The superior efficiency of private property
- 2.4.1 Economic power and political power
- 2.1.1 Property and corporations
- 2.2.2 The purpose of corporations: a historical tale
- 2.2.4 Friedman on the purpose of business
- 2.3.2 The corporation – efficiency and power
- 2.4.2 Cycles of economic and political power
- 2.5.2 Want more?
- 2.1.3 Private property – what it is(n’t)
- 2.1.4 The History of property
- 2.2.3 Do you know the business corporation?
- 2.3.3 It’s all about efficiency!
- 2.4.3 Some questions about power
- Democracy
- 3.1.2 Defining democracy
- 3.2.1 Democracy for the common good
- 3.3.1 Property and power in history
- 3.4.1 Political inequality today
- 3.1.1 In this module
- 3.1.4 Characteristics of real democracies
- 3.2.2 Plato against democracy
- 3.2.4 Democracy for intrinsic reasons
- 3.3.3 Their money or their rights
- 3.4.2 Economic elite domination
- 3.4.3 Why unequal turn-out matters
- 3.5.2 Want more?
- 3.1.3 Basic ideas in democratic theory
- 3.3.2 Historical fixes
- 3.4.4 Political inequality in the UK and US
- Lobbying and campaign finance
- 4.1.2 An intro to campaigning and lobbying
- 4.2.1 The dominance of the rich
- 4.3.1 What are the arguments in favour?
- 4.4.1 Regulating campaign finance
- 4.1.1 In this module
- 4.1.3 Lobbying and campaign finance around the world
- 4.2.2 Does campaign spending work?
- 4.3.2 Corruption and political inequality
- 4.4.3 Experiments with public funding
- 4.5.2 Reading: want more?
- 4.1.4 What do you know about campaigning and lobbying?
- 4.2.3 Can you tell?
- 4.3.3 Lobbying and campaign finance: pro and con
- 4.4.2 Regulations where you live
- Capital flight and tax avoidance
- 5.1.2 Types of capital flight
- 5.2.1 The race to the bottom
- 5.3.1 Exposing secrets, closing loopholes
- 5.4.1 The capital flight trilemma
- 5.1.1 In this module
- 5.1.3 Case studies
- 5.2.2 The impact of capital flight
- 5.3.2 Getting rid of tax havens
- 5.5.2 Want more?
- 5.1.4 Classifying capital flight
- 5.2.3 Consequences of capital flight
- 5.3.3 The financial secrecy index
- 5.4.2 Responding to real capital flight
- Alternative economic institutions
- 6.1.2 Property-owning democracy
- 6.2.1 Workplace democracy
- 6.3.1 Common property regimes
- 6.4.1 A theory of transformation
- 6.1.1 In this module
- 6.1.3 Thomas Paine’s agrarian justice
- 6.1.4 Community wealth funds
- 6.2.3 Codetermination in Germany
- 6.3.3 The knowledge commons
- 6.3.4 Energy cooperatives
- 6.4.2 Pathways to an equal society
- 6.5.2 Want more?
- 6.6.1 Acknowledgements and Biographies
- 6.6.2 Final survey
- 6.1.5 Property-owning democracy
- 6.2.2 Case study: Mondragon
- 6.3.2 Basic concepts
- 6.4.3 Strategies for change
Summary of User Reviews
Read reviews for Inequality and Democracy course on Coursera. Users generally liked the course, but there were some drawbacks. One key aspect that many users thought was good was the comprehensive and engaging content.Pros from User Reviews
- Comprehensive and engaging content
- Easy to follow lectures and assignments
- Helpful and responsive instructors
- In-depth analysis of inequality and democracy
- Great resource for understanding societal issues
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course material to be repetitive
- A few users reported technical difficulties with the course platform
- The course may require a lot of time commitment
- A couple of users felt that the course was too theoretical
- Not suitable for those looking for a quick overview of the topic
Yara Salman
4.8 Raiting
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