You have two options.
 

COUNTRY PROJECT. Analysis of income inequality in country other than the United States such as Canada, Mexico, France, Great Britain, etc.
 

POMONA PROJECT. Analysis of inequality in Pomona, California as part of initiative to create a set of indicators of quality of life and community needs
 

ASSIGNMENT ONE -- DESCRIBING INEQUALITY IN ECONOMIC WELL BEING -- Due October 2, 2000 (10 points)
 

COUNTRY PROJECT -- Choose a country . Prepare tables and graphs describing changes in income inequality over some time period. Your tables and graphs should include at least one of the following: (1) a distribution of families by income categories (histogram); (2) a share of income going to each quintile or decile of the population. Check the definitions of family or household used to construct the data on income. Use these tables to write a short paper (approx. 3-5 pages, including graphs) describing the changes over the period studied.

POMONA PROJECT -- Prepare tables and graphics to describe income inequality in 1970, 1980 and 1990 in Pomona Valley. Your tables and graphics should include at least one of the following: (1) a summary measure of income inequality where each census tract is treated as an individual; (2) a comparison of median or mean incomes by race, ethnicity and family structure. Use these tables to write a short paper (approx. 3-5 pages, including graphs) describing income inequality in Pomona Valley.
 

ASSIGNMENT TWO -- EXPLAINING INCOME INEQUALITY -- Due October 27, 2000 (10 points)
 

COUNTRY PROJECT --Write a 5-7 page paper on changes in income inequality observed in Country X focusing on one of the following topics. (i) Is there an increasing premium to skill in Country X? (ii) How have macroeconomic fluctuations affected the distribution of income? (iii) What has been the impact of demographic change on the distribution of income?

POMONA PROJECT -- Write a 5-7 page paper on changes in income inequality in Pomona valley focusing on one of the following topics. (i) What has happened to the distribution of employment by sector and how has that affected wage inequality (i.e. has there been a shift from manufacturing to wholesale trade and transportation)? (ii) How have changes in demographics (race and ethnicity, family structure, immigrant status) affected the distribution of income? (iii) What has happened to educational attainment and how has that affected earnings equality?
 

ASSIGNMENT THREE -- POVERTY -- Due Nov. 13, 2000 (10 points)
 

COUNTRY PROJECT -- How many poor in Country X? Who is poor in Country X? What are the strategies, if any, for fighting poverty? What has been the impact of these policies on hours worked family formation and living standards.

POMONA PROJECT -- What are poverty rates? Who is poor (consider geography as well as race/ethnicity, family structure, age)? Identify one local economic development initiative.
 

ASSIGNMENT FOUR -- SYNTHESIZE AND COMPARE WITH THE UNITED STATES --Due Nov. 22, 2000 (10 points)
 

COUNTRY PROJECT -- Integrate your analyses in assignments 1-3 to compare and contrast changes in income inequality and poverty in Country X with changes in the United States.

POMONA PROJECT -- Integrate your analyses in assignments 1-3 to compare and contrast changes in income inequality and poverty in Pomona with what has happened in the aggregate US economy.