Z: **Archived from Fall 2007**: American Economic History: Economics 113

Paper Topic 3: Baker's The United States since 1980

Dean Baker writes the economic history of the United States since 1980 from a rather strident and somewhat shrill left-wing point of view. Do you buy it? That is, decide whether you are more in agreement or disagreement with the political views that Dean Baker uses as an interpretive lens to understand U.S. economic history since 1980. Then, in 1000-2000 words, either:

1. argue--with examples and illustrations--that Dean Baker convincingly makes the case for his interpretation.
2. argue--with examples and illustrations--that Dean Baker's political interpretive lens is hopelessly flawed because it omits or misrepresents absolutely key factors and phenomena.

No hedging please! Pick a side!

Paper Topic 1: Bellamy's Looking Backward

Edward Bellamy is a Boston social reformer writing at the very end of the ninteenth century. Even though the America of his day is much richer than the America in which he was born, he sees major flaws in American society. He also, however, sees a great deal of hope.

React to Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward in 500 words (i.e., papers of less than 450 words or more than 800 words will received grouchy readings). Consider some of the following:

• What are the major flaws that Bellamy sees in America of his day?
• What does Bellamy think of markets?
• What does Bellamy think of immigration?
• What does Bellamy think of technology?
• What does Bellamy hope the future will hold in the way of technology?
• What does Bellamy hope the future will hold in the way of social organization?
• What does Bellamy hope the future will hold in the way of economic institutions?
• What are Bellamy's major fears?
• Which of his hopes and fears have been realized over the course of the past century?

Due at the midterm on October 1.

Additional Books for 113

Additional books for Econ 113:

• Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward
• Peter Temin, Did Monetary Forces Cause the Great Depression?
• Eichengreen, Globalizing Capital
• Baker, The United States since 1980

Paper Topic 2: Eichengreen's Globalizing Capital

Barry Eichengreen's Globalizing Capital presents the best short history of the international monetary system in existence. Consider either how the U.S. economy and its role in the international monetary system has affected the rest of the world, or how the international monetary system in the rest of the world has affected the United States. Discuss either of:

1. How the stability and growth of the rest of the world were affected by U.S. actions affecting the international monetary system, and what changes of policy when in America could have made things better (or worse) than they were in reality.

2. How U.S. economic growth has been aided or retarded by what is going in the rest of the world's international monetary system, and what changes of policy when in the rest of the world could have made things better (or worse) than they were in reality.