Course Objectives

The primary general objectives we seek to accomplish this semester are as follows:

• Characterize what makes “capitalism” distinctive from “socialism”. 
• Define the spectrum of economic systems from rigidly-planned socialism (N. Korea) to a pure free market capitalism (e.g. Singapore).
• Become thoroughly acquainted with the ideas of Ayn Rand through her magnum opus, Atlas Shrugged, and its link to the “objectivist school”.
• Understand how the great economic minds of the past reasoned through how an economy does and should work.
• Become familiar with the economic policies of the state of WV especially in regards to how they deviate from the ideals of capitalism.
• Similarly, study how the U.S. as a nation has implemented many policies (e.g. social security, public education, calls for more regulation of the financial industries, etc.) that do not comply with a pure capitalism / objectivist view. 
• Describe the current economic systems in several representative countries.  Countries to be compared are:  USA, Canada, W. Europe (UK, FR, Ger.), China, India, Russia (and other countries in transition from socialism to capitalism), Japan, Chile (S. America) and possibly others as time permits.
• Give each student multiple opportunities to express their ideas and what they are learning through oral presentations and written reports.

 

 

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