Economic Growth and Distributive Justice Part I - The Role of the State

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/economic-growth-part-1

Introduction

### Course Review: Economic Growth and Distributive Justice Part I - The Role of the State **Overview:** In a world where economic disparities and questions of social justice loom larger than ever, the course "Economic Growth and Distributive Justice Part I - The Role of the State" offers an essential exploration of these pivotal topics. Hosted on Coursera, this foundational class serves as a critical first step for anyone looking to engage with the complexities of inequality, the role of the state, and their intertwined relationships with economic growth. **Course Structure:** This course comprises four engaging lectures: 1. **What Do We Need a State For?** The opening lecture prompts students to reconsider the civilizational contract: not just asking what individuals owe to the state but what the state can do for its citizens. The themes of happiness and well-being anchor this discussion, setting a tone that prioritizes the human element in economic discourse. 2. **The Relationship between Efficiency and Distributive Justice** In the second week, students embark on a global exploration, looking at successful and struggling economies while unpacking the idea that equality and efficiency can coexist or conflict. This lecture is filled with vivid analogies and examples, making complex theories accessible and relatable. 3. **Demonstrating Implications of Different Ethical Theories** The third lecture dives deeper into normative frameworks by evaluating different theories of justice. Here, students encounter the concept of marginal utility and grapple with why the value of economic resources can vary drastically from person to person. This section is particularly intriguing as it challenges conventional taxation paradigms with real-world scenarios. 4. **Distributive Justice: Measurement and Implications** The final lecture in this first part addresses how we measure and evaluate societal justice levels. By focusing on policy implications and practical methodologies for maximizing well-being, it prompts students to think critically about actionable solutions to complex social issues. **Content Quality:** The course is led by Professor Margalioth, whose expertise in economics, law, and philosophy shines through. His engaging lecturing style combined with the robust content promotes an environment ripe for critical thinking and active participation. Each lecture blends theory with practice, presenting students with a variety of case studies and thought experiments that encourage deeper understanding. **Audience:** This course is highly recommended for students of economics, public policy, sociology, and anyone with a strong interest in social justice and economic theory. Whether you are a beginner or someone with more advanced knowledge of economic principles, this course adjusts its depth to meet learners where they are. **Recommendations:** 1. **Active Participation:** Engage actively in the discussions and Q&A segments to maximize your learning. Sharing perspectives can deepen your understanding of complex topics. 2. **Supplemental Reading:** Consider reading supplemental materials on economic theories and ethical frameworks to enhance your grasp of the course material. 3. **Peer Interaction:** Collaborate with fellow students to discuss lecture content. This can further enrich your perspectives, especially on contentious issues like distributive justice. 4. **Reflect on Learnings:** After each lecture, take time to reflect on what you learned and how it applies to current global economic situations. This will strengthen your understanding and retention. ### Conclusion: "Economic Growth and Distributive Justice Part I - The Role of the State" is not just an academic exploration; it's a journey into understanding the fundamental components that shape our societies. The course offers invaluable insights that challenge conventional economic thought while emphasizing the importance of just governance. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wishes to engage with the pressing economic and ethical questions of our time. Enroll and empower your understanding of the economic landscape with this thought-provoking program!

Syllabus

What do we Need a State For?

Dear students, We are delighted that you have chosen to take our course 'Economic Growth and Distributive Justice'. We hope that you will not only benefit from the broad knowledge it offers, but also (or maybe, above all) profoundly enjoy the learning process. This week's lecture, the first in the course, will focus on a question you are all familiar with, or at least, with some version of it: Ask not what you can do for the state; ask what the state can do for you. We will try to answer this question, while introducing basic ideas and terminologies related to economics, law, philosophy, psychology, sociology and more. The notion of HAPPINESS will be a major theme, as it is the ultimate answer to the question above. As part of the discussion, we will touch upon diverse issues such as: defining happiness; finding out what makes us happy; and what the state can do to maximize the individuals’ wellbeing. We will discuss market failures such as externalities and free-riding on public goods, and understand the role of the state in overcoming them. So, are you ready? Let's begin! Please take a few minutes to fill in the Welcome Survey that will help us get to know you better. The teaching team Economic Growth and Distributive Justice

Dear students, We are happy to meet you all again, in the second week of our course 'Economic Growth and Distributive Justice'. We hope you enjoyed last week's session, and encourage you to continue participating actively. This week's lecture will delve deeper into the concepts of 'Economic Growth' and 'Distributive Justice'. Prof. Margalioth will take you on a short journey around the world, exploring rich and poor countries, describing veritable miracles that have taken place in some of them, and teaching you the intuition of the ECONOMIC GROWTH MODEL. The discussion will go on to analyze the complex correlation between EQUALITY and EFFICIENCY, using colorful examples such as desert islands, plane crashes and leaking buckets. Finally, the lecture will present a number of theoretical frameworks, through which one can think about these two focal concepts. Aren't you excited? So let's begin week 2! Wishing you all a great learning experience, The teaching team Economic Growth and Distributive Justice

Dear students, Thank you for joining us on the third week of the course 'Economic Growth and Distributive Justice'. This week Prof. Margalioth will teach you the main theories of distributive justice, explain how we can choose between them, and discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses. Then he will show you why the value of a dollar is not necessarily, or perhaps, necessarily not, the same for different individuals, using a term you should already be familiar with – MARGINAL UTILITY. Then we will present an eye-opening example – of one poor guy named Bob, who has been involved in a traffic accident – to show you why the conventional ANALYSIS OF TAXATION, used by policymakers all around the world to achieve Economic Growth and Distributive Justice, should be replaced with an alternative, much better analysis - to be presented in next week's class. Let's begin week 3! Economic Growth and Distributive Justice team

Dear students, In the first part of this week's class we will discuss the policy question posed in lecture number 3, and offer a solution based on the methodology we are studying in this course. As we hope you will see, this methodology, which focuses on maximizing wellbeing, provides you (our policymakers) with clear answers. We will then move on to the question of measurement: what should we measure when assessing the level of Distributive Justice in society? So let's begin week 4! The team of Economic Growth and Distributive Justice