Seminar in American Politics: Money in American Politics

Did lobbying corrupt the implementation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) intended to provide financial relief to small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis? Did campaign contributions from the real estate industry exacerbate housing bubbles in the early 2000s, leading to the eventual mortgage default crisis in 2008-09? This course will help students critically assess claims made about the role of money in American politics in public discourse and policy debates. Students will learn about cutting-edge social science research, and interact with guest speakers in government, non-profits, and the private sector where feasible.