We begin this history of capitalism by examining human economic activity from our ancient ancestors to the present in order to understand why and how capitalism developed and why it appeared so very recently. We will also examine some of its major proponents including Smith, Keynes, Friedman, and Hayek, and some of harshest critics including Marx, Klein, and Piketty. The mechanisms of liberal and neoliberal capitalism are compared to alternatives and variations such as mercantilism, centrally planned economy, communism, socialism, welfare capitalism, dirigisme, state capitalism, crony capitalism, and corporate capitalism. Global Capitalism’s institutions and its impact on poverty and wealth distribution will be examined. And, by the end of the course, you’ll understand why we invented money, as well as terms such as, laissez faire, class struggle, race to the bottom, Occupy Wall Street, free-trade, and of course, economic globalization.

Online; Spring: CRN 21070

No prerequisite; counts in International Studies for the Globalization concentration. Or for University Studies: HPA, UHIB, and WI.

For questions, email Ms. Theresa Jackson jacksont@uncw.edu