What’s going on with the economy? What are the economics of climate change and health care? Can the government help? If so, when and how? And why do economists disagree on such basic questions? In this seminar, we will try to answer these and other key contemporary economic questions—or at least understand how economists of various political and methodological stripes think about them. We will read pop-economics books (e.g., Freakonomics; Economics in One Lesson; Animal Spirits), periodicals, and blogs. Students will apply new "econ-think" skills in regular writing assignments and a series of in-class debates. 3 hrs sem.