Economics of Social Policy (333-0-20)

Instructors

Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach

Meeting Info

Annenberg Hall G02: Mon, Wed 9:30AM - 10:50AM

Overview of class

Students use core economic concepts and empirical tools to analyze the design and effects of social policies. Topics include the social safety net (welfare, food stamps, earned income tax credit), and social insurance (health insurance, Social Security, unemployment insurance). We explore economic foundations of individual decision-making and how theory predicts individuals will respond to the incentives embedded within social policies. We will pay particular attention to the nature and detail of existing social policy, and explore some of the relevant empirical literature on a set of policy topics.

Registration Requirements

Prerequisites: ECON 202 and SESP 210 or equivalent.

Learning Objectives

Use economic frameworks to analyze social policy; read and critically evaluate economic research; communicate economic concepts in a policy memo format.

Evaluation Method

Policy memo(s); problem sets; midterm exam; final exam

Class Materials (Required)

Jonathan Gruber Public Finance and Public Policy Fifth Edition ISBN-13: 978-1464143335, ISBN-10: 1464143331

Class Materials (Suggested)

N/A

Class Notes

N/A