Public Policy II
Objectives
This course focuses on the role of the government in the economy. The aim is to provide an understanding of the reasons for government intervention in the economy, empirically analyzing the benefits of possible government policies and the response of economic agents to the government's actions in real-word applications. The course will give students an introduction to frontier research and policy applications in economics and social science in a non-technical manner. In this context, the course will also provide an introduction to basic methods in data science, including regression and causal inference.
General characterization
Code
2747
Credits
3.5
Responsible teacher
Susana Maria Fernandes Peralta Perelman
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - Available soon
Teaching language
English
Prerequisites
n/a
Bibliography
Gruber, J. (2016) Public Finance and Public Policy , 5th edition, Worth Publishers.
Stiglitz, J. and Rosengard, J. (2015) Economics of the Public Sector , 4th edition, W. W. Norton & Company.
Teaching method
To put theory into practice, students will work in small teams to conceptualize their own policy analysis on a topic of their choosing. Policy analyses will be presented during course and should stimulate a thoughtful and informed debate about the challenges of the policy area.
Evaluation method
Final Exam: 45% (Minimum grade to pass: 8/20)
Short presentation of a published research paper (groups of 3-4 students): 20%
Opinion/dissemination article related with Public Policy (groups of 3-4 students): 15%.
Research Proposal (groups of 3-4 students): 20%
Subject matter
Introduction to Empirical Public Policy and Stylized Historical Facts
Upward Mobility, Innovation, and Economic Growth
Places matter
Children and Family Policies
Taxes on Goods and Services (Salience, Enforcement, and Incidence)
How can taxes (and other policies) be designed to discourage socially harmful behaviour?
Labour Taxation and Behavioural Responses
Wealth Taxes
Corporate Taxation
Programs
Programs where the course is taught: