John Jay Department of Economics, CUNY

Welcome to the John Jay Department of Economics!

John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York (CUNY) offers both undergraduate and MA programs in economics. The John Jay Economics Department is committed to a progressive, policy-oriented approach to economics, and to the study of a diversity of schools of thought. We are one of the few departments in the United States that is committed to heterodox approaches, embracing Marxian, Post Keynesian and feminist economics.

This is the unofficial site for the MA program in Economics. For the official department site, and for information on the undergraduate program, click here.

Latest News

Kathyrn Loeb Reviews “Capital City: Gentrification and the Real Estate State”

Kathyrn Loeb Reviews “Capital City: Gentrification and the Real Estate State”

Loes reviews Samuel Stein’s (2019) book, which uses New York City as a case study for gentrification and urban development.

Admissions are now open!

To apply for Fall 2025, your application needs to be submitted by July 31st, 2025
Professor Ian Seda-Irizarry: “Redefining the political in colonial Puerto Rico”

Professor Ian Seda-Irizarry: “Redefining the political in colonial Puerto Rico”

The struggle for life is taking new and interesting twists in Puerto Rico. The last few months have seen an escalation in the confrontation between those that want to preserve the status quo and those that wanted to explore alternative roads with the November 5th election.
Professor J.W. Mason: “Democrats Lost on the Economy. What Voters Felt That the Politicians Missed.”

Professor J.W. Mason: “Democrats Lost on the Economy. What Voters Felt That the Politicians Missed.”

While wages have outpaced inflation, the end of pandemic-era welfare policies has left many feeling financially worse off. Voters’ concerns aren’t just “vibes”—they reflect real material changes in their economic well-being.
Professor Christian Parenti: “Why RFK Must Take on the CIA”

Professor Christian Parenti: “Why RFK Must Take on the CIA”

Robert F. Kennedy emphasized physical courage as a stepping stone to the greater challenge of moral courage. If confirmed, his son will need both to take on powerful industries and institutions in his quest to “Make America Healthy Again.”
Professor Lygia Sabbag-Fares presents on “Capitalismo Dependente E Gênero”

Professor Lygia Sabbag-Fares presents on “Capitalismo Dependente E Gênero”

Lygia Sabbag-Fares participates in a panel on ” Value Theory and Social Reproduction of Capital” 
How Left Economists Have Challenged Economic “Common Sense”

How Left Economists Have Challenged Economic “Common Sense”

Andrej Markovčič (John Jay MA alumnus) interviewed Arthur MacEwan and Zoe Sherman, editors of Dollars & Sense magazine on the history of “popular economics” for Jacobin Magazine.
J. W. Mason Associate Professor

Professor Zhun Xu: “China as a Socialist Inter-National Project”

Professor Zhun Xu presented his research at the 14th International Initiative for Promoting Political Economy (IIPPE) Conference in Istanbul.