10.2: Political Economy - Classroom Activity
- Page ID
- 231684
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Case Study Analysis and Discussion
1. You are assigned to ONE of three groups, and your task is to analyze a real-world fiscal policy:
Group 1: The U.S. Child Tax Credit Expansion (2021) – Did it reduce poverty?
Group 2: The progressive Taxation during the 1960s – Did it improve social equity?
Group 3: Kansas Tax Cuts (2012–2017) – Did "trickle-down" economics fail?
2. Group Presentations of the Findings
- Was your policy expansionary or contractionary?
- Did it advance human rights (per Politics and Rights Review)?
- What were the unintended consequences?
While conducting your research and crafting your answers, keep in mind the requirements spelled out in the evaluation rubric below.
Evaluation Rubric
1. Depth of Analysis (8 Points)
- Excellent (7–8 pts): Responses demonstrate a nuanced understanding of fiscal policy’s role in social justice, citing specific examples from readings (e.g., "The Politics and Rights Review argues that regressive taxes exacerbate poverty, as seen in...").
- Proficient (5–6 pts): Identifies key ideas but lacks detailed connections to sources.
- Basic (3–4 pts): Superficial analysis (e.g., "Taxes should be fair" without evidence).
2. Use of Sources (6 Points)
- Excellent (5–6 pts): Directly references at least two assigned materials (e.g., "Crash Course explains contractionary policy as..., which conflicts with the human rights perspective because...").
- Proficient (3–4 pts): Mentions one source vaguely.
- Basic (1–2 pts): No citations or misrepresents sources.
3. Critical Thinking & Originality (4 Points)
- Excellent (4 pts): Offers unique insights (e.g., "While Lumen Learning focuses on economic stability, human rights critiques reveal trade-offs like...").
- Proficient (2–3 pts): Repeats ideas from class without added reflection.
- Basic (1 pt): Restates prompts without analysis.
4. Clarity & Structure (2 Points)
- Excellent (2 pts): Organized, concise, and free of errors.
- Proficient (1 pt): Some clarity issues but coherent.
- Basic (0 pts): Unclear or disjointed.
(Total Points: 20)

