A deli in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Food stamps provide assistance to low income individuals and families in the United States. (Courtesy of Clementine Gallot on Flickr. CC BY.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Amy Glasmeier
MIT Course Number
11.006
As Taught In
Fall 2016
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course explores the evolution of poverty and economic security in the United States, within a global context. It examines the impact of recent economic restructuring and globalization, and reviews the current debate about the fate of the middle class, sources of increasing inequality, and approaches to advancing economic opportunity and security. In this class, students will study the topic of poverty and economic security through the lens of the lived experience of Americans: individuals, families, and households; exploring the history, geography, and forces shaping the likelihood of being poor in America.