The goal of this independent study is to examine economics policies around the world.

1.     Globalization

• Friedman, The World is Flat.       
• Friedman, Hot, Flat and Crowded  
  • For your reaction paper you can answer Discussion Guide questions posted on the above website
• G. Steingart, The War for Wealth. The True Story of Globalization, or Why the Flat World Is Broken
• Russell Roberts, The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism
• Dani Rodrik,  Has Globalization Gone Too Far? – free online

 2.     Global financial crisis

• Kevin Phillips, Bad Money: Reckless finance, failed politics, and the global crisis of American capitalism.
• Ferguson, The Ascent of Money
• The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of The World  -film based on Ferguson’s book, free online

3.      Inequality: causes and consequences

• Jared Diamond, Guns, Germs and Steel
• Guns, Germs and Steel film– free online, National Geographic, why some countries rich, some poor?
• Wilkinson and Pickett, The spirit Level: Why greater equality makes societies stronger
• G.Tyler, What went wrong? How 1% hijacked the American Middle class and what other countries got right

4.   US in the global economy

• Thomas Friedman, That Used to be US
  • talk based on this book
• Ferguson, The great degeneration: How institutions decay and economies die
• Kevin Phillips, American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century
• John Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
  • Confessions of an Economic Hit Man – Part I  – Perkins talks about his book
  • Confessions of an Economic Hit Man – Part II

5.    Global development

• The growth report – what are strategies for successful growth?
• Acemoglu, Robinson, Why Nations Fail: the origins of power, prosperity and poverty

6. China

• Ted Fishman, China Inc. How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World
• Getting rich – free documentary about China
• China or Bust – free documentary about outsourcing
• China: The orient excess  – superrich in China, documentary
• The Ka-Ching dynasty – millionaires in China, documentary
• “Martin Jacques: Understanding the Rise of China” – TED talk
• China The New Superpower? – TED talk
• Shanghai: a picture two decades apart
• Covering China Past and Present – WSJ – Chinafile
• Things China makes – the Atlantic
• China resources at mruniversity – topics and links

7.  Country studies, choose any country or region

• Documentary BBC – A History of Syria (2013)
• Inside the Saudi Kingdom (BBC Documentary)
• Welcome to the slum of India | BBC Documentary
• South Korea documentary
• Kapur on INDIA BECOMING: A Portrait of Life in Modern India
• Steeling Africa – why poverty? – documentary

8. Environment 

• Brown, Plan B 4.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization  -free online

9.    Technology 

• D.Friedman, Future Imperfect  – free online book

Writing a reaction paper

1. Summarize the book you have read.
2. What is the author’s main message? What central question is the author trying to answer?
3. Why is this issue important? Give examples, numbers and quotes to illustrate your point.
4. What interesting facts have you learned from this book?
5. What part of the issue is controversial?  Why?
6. What is your stand on the controversial issue(s)?
7. How is the issue raised in the book relevant today?  What current news and events illustrate its importance? Do your own mini internet research on this topic. Use examples, numbers, and quote your sources.  Be sure to emphasize the economics side  (NOT psychology or politics) of your topic.

• research Publications at center for global development