ECON 300 - U.S. Economic History

Unit(s): 4

This course investigates the growth and development of the American economy from colonial times to the present and also examines the most important commentary on contemporary issues of economic and social policy and justice. The curriculum emphasizes America’s role as the first frontier economy to industrialize and its role as the only pre-WWI industrial economy with a frontier, as well as the growth of the giant industrial enterprise and wealth-accumulation over the last hundred years. Students read and discuss John Maynard Keynes’ General Theory, Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom, Ayn Rand’s Capitalism and the Catholic Bishops’ Economic Justice for All because most commentary on contemporary issues of economic and social policy and justice derive from these works.

College of Arts and Sciences