DPLS 759sp07 - Leadership and Economics

DPLS 759 - Leadership and Economics
Spring 2007                               3 Credits

Professor:  David Whitfield, Ed.D.

Class Logistics

       Office:  By Appointment
       Home Phone: 360. 866.9794
 
Room RC 130: Saturdays:  8-12        

Class dates:  Jan 13, 20; Feb 3, 17; Mar 3, 10; 31; Apr 14

Course Description:

Economics is the study of how societies produce and distribute the material world—one definition.  The application of economic principles to the solution of current problems or issues with emphasis on capitalism and economies in the Americas, plus economies in a global context will be the focus.   It looks at specific current problems or issues as indicated in this syllabus. Emphasis will be on the consequences of human actions, specifically, the actions of leaders at both macro and micro levels.  Included will be a theory of the consequences of choices, costs of choices, and their implications on U.S. and other economies.  This course also looks at the long term effects of acts or policies: fiscal, foreign, and strategic, and the consequences of said policies.  Finally, it will examine the criticality of economic fallacies as they relate to the economic survivability of the American economy, and how those fallacies affect other economies.

TEXTBOOKS

Required Texts 

1. Anonymous. (2004). Imperial hubris: Why the west is losing the war on terror. Washington, D. C.: Brassey’s, Inc. ISBN: 1-57488-849-8 (alk.paper)
2. Levitt, S. D. d& Dubner, S. J. (2006). Freakonomics: A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything. New York:  William Morrow. ISBN-13: 978-0-06-123400-2 (rev. ed.)
3. Callahan, G. (2002).  Economics for real people: An introduction to the Austrian school. Auburn, Alabama: The Ludwig von Mises Institute.  ISBN: 0-945466-35-8
4. Peterson, P. G. (2004). Running on empty: How the democratic and republican parties are bankrupting our future and what Americans can do about.  New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.  ISBN: 13: 978-0-374-25287-8.

Course Objectives:

1. Introduce you to the concept that comprises basic economic literacy;
2. Explore, critique, and document some of the current problems or issues as they relate to the survivability of the US as an economic power;
3. Present major economic ideological perspectives to illuminate policy debates;
4. Explore the concepts of “poverty” in the United States and other geographical areas;
5. Facilitate your independent exploration of a national or international economic topic;
6. Help strengthen your analytical skills and communications skills through course readings, written assignments, class discussions, and presentations;
7. Explore the relationship between war and economics; and,
8. Explore the effects of human action, specifically leader behavior as it relates to economic matters.

Course Requirements:

Read the texts and other relevant material to improve your economic literacy.

Select at least one of the current economic problems, e.g., “Worms in America’s Apple,” and produce a scholarly paper, with history, statistics, implications, and suggested solutions.  See paper requirements below.

Choose an economic topic/issue, link up with at least three other class members and make a presentation to the class.  See note below on Group Presentations.

In addition, you will be asked to read one book on national or international economic policy, written for a general audience, and prepare a paper and class presentation.

Finally, participate in class discussions to contribute to understanding of reading material and current economic events in the US and the world at large.

Evaluation:

Final Grade will be based on:

• Written assignments 
• Group presentations
• Class Participation 

Select at least one of the “Worms”/issues below:

1. Write a scholarly paper indicating the history, statistics, implications, suggested solution (s) for economics in general and for society in particular of the “Worm” you choose. This may be a part of your group presentation.  Using APA, your paper will not exceed 10 double-spaced, pages, not including references. In this class, scholarly papers have an introduction, a body, conclusions, and recommendation/solutions.  30%
   * Apathy/Complacency
   * Mediocre School Systems
   * Continuous Discrimination
   * Functional Illiteracy
   * Innumeracy
   * Hegemony (loss of)
   * Terrorists
   * Corporate/Other Graft
   * AIDS
   * Corporate Greed
   * Fiscal Policy
   * World War II Thinking
   * Drugs
   * Aryan Nation
   * Immigration
2. Read one book on economics—this may include Freakanomics—written for laypersons, produce a scholarly critique (paper) to include thesis, comparing and contrasting at least two economic policies (either foreign or domestic), implications (economic, educational, social, political, etc.). Your paper will be at least 8 double-spaced pages, not including references.  30%
3. Group Presentations:  This is a scholarly presentation consisting of handouts, PowerPoint, or whatever tools you deem necessary.  The presentation will either be for a decision, persuasion, informational, with at least one “Take-Away.”  30%

NOTE:  As part of Class Participation:  10%, please prepare for each topic/issue by bringing data/statistics, information, stories, etc., and be prepared to share with the class for discussion.  Include in your discussion leadership implications.  Plus, at least 3 class summaries, meaning that after each class, e-mail the instructor a 1- to 2-page summary (high points) of the class(es) of your choice.

Reading List

Anonymous. (2004). Imperial hubris: Why the west is losing the war on terror. Washington, D. C.: Brassey’s, Inc. ISBN: 1-57488-849-8 (alk.paper)

Berman, K. & Knight, J. (2006). Financial Intelligence: A manager’s guide to knowing what the numbers really mean. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Bennis, W., Spreitzer, G. M., & Cummings, T. G. (2001). The future of leadership: Today’s top leadership thinkers speak to tomorrow’s leaders. San Francisco, CA:  Jossey-Bass.

Callahan, G. (2002).  Economics for real people: An introduction to the Austrian school. Auburn, Alabama: The Ludwig von Mises Institute.

Chomsky, N. (2003. Hegemony or survival: America’s quest for global dominance. New York: Metropolitan Books.

D’Aveni, R. A. (2001).  Strategic supremacy: How industry leaders create growth, wealth, and power through spheres of influence. New York, NY: The Free Press.

Derber, C. (2002). People before profit. New York, NY: Picador.

Drucker, P. F. (1999). Management challenges for the 21st century. New York: HarperCollins.

Fialka, J. J. (1997).  War by other means: Economic espionage in America. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.

Hazlitt, H. (1979). Economics in one lesson: The shortest and surest way to understand basic economics. New York: Three Rivers Press.

Hoffman, R. E., Schwartz, M. S. (2001). Business ethics: Readings and cases in corporate morality, Fourth Edition.  Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.

Kotlikoff, L. J. & Burns, S. (2004). The coming generational storm: What you need to know about America’s economic future. London, England: The MIT Press.

Marable, M. (2002). The great wells of democracy: The manning of race in American life. New York: BasicCivitas Books.

Nanus, B. (1992). Visionary leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Peterson, P. G. (2004). Running on empty: How the democratic and republican parties are bankrupting our future and what Americans can do about it. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Rosen, R., Digh, P. Singer, M. & Phillips, C. (2000). Global literacies: Lessons on business leadership and national cultures.  New York, NY: Simon & Schuster.

Schiller, B. R. (1989). The economics of poverty & discrimination. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:  Prentice-Hall.

Tapscott,D. Ticoll,  D. (2003). The naked corporation: How the age of transparency will revolutionize business. New York, NY: Free Press.

Toffler, A. & Toffler H. (1995). Creating a new civilization: The politics of the third wave. Atlanta, GA: TurnerPublishing, Inc.

Yergin, D. & Stanislaw, J. (2002). The commanding heights: The battle for the world economy. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Zakaria, F. (2003). The future of freedom: Illiberal democracy at home and abroad. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

The 9/11 Commission report: Final report of the national commission on terrorist attacks upon the United States (2004). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company