The purpose of the course is to enrich students' understanding of economic policy decision- making across a wide range of issues, including budget, tax, monetary, international trade, regulation, energy, environmental and antitrust among others. Historical case studies and current policy debates will be framed by the professors and guest speakers with introductory analytical insights and relevant information. Questions raised for discussion and debate will include: how is the policy enacted, by whom, and by what authority? What were/are the goals? What tools were/are used to try to achieve them? Has the policy succeeded? At what cost? Is there a more cost effective/equitable policy and why hasn't it been adopted? Can the policies be made more systematic and predictable? How has policy evolved over time and why and how might it evolve in the future? How are the US policy-making institutions performing? Have they stayed with their proper remit or have they experienced mission creep? What do Economics, History and Political Science provide as guidance in understanding the policy process and evaluating outcomes? Primary attention will be devoted to U.S. policy making, but experiences in other countries and via international institutions and agreements will also be discussed. Students will be expected to do background reading and research to prepare for weekly class discussion. Grades will be based on seminar participation, periodic short written assignments and the final written assignment, a policy briefing memo on a subject of the student's choice to the policy principal(s) involved, e.g. the Chair of the Federal Reserve, the Treasury Secretary, the President. etc. or their analogues in other countries.
3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
The purpose of the course is to enrich students' understanding of economic policy decision- making across a wide range of issues, including budget, tax, monetary, international trade, regulation, energy, environmental and antitrust among others. Historical case studies and current policy debates will be framed by the professors and guest speakers with introductory analytical insights and relevant information. Questions raised for discussion and debate will include: how is the policy enacted, by whom, and by what authority? What were/are the goals? What tools were/are used to try to achieve them? Has the policy succeeded? At what cost? Is there a more cost effective/equitable policy and why hasn't it been adopted? Can the policies be made more systematic and predictable? How has policy evolved over time and why and how might it evolve in the future? How are the US policy-making institutions performing? Have they stayed with their proper remit or have they experienced mission creep? What do Economics, History and Political Science provide as guidance in understanding the policy process and evaluating outcomes? Primary attention will be devoted to U.S. policy making, but experiences in other countries and via international institutions and agreements will also be discussed. Students will be expected to do background reading and research to prepare for weekly class discussion. Grades will be based on seminar participation, periodic short written assignments and the final written assignment, a policy briefing memo on a subject of the student's choice to the policy principal(s) involved, e.g. the Chair of the Federal Reserve, the Treasury Secretary, the President. etc. or their analogues in other countries.