Course Schedule

Course Schedule for Both Sections*

Class

8/27

Introduction

	Introductions
	Review syllabus & assignments
	Assign teams & cases
	Team building exercise

Blackboard readings

M: 1 - 43, 90 - 174 (Rec)

9/3

No Class - Labor Day

9/10

What is Policy Analysis?

	Policy Analysis - Art vs. science
	Policy analysis as rational decision making
	Steps in the policy analysis process
	Working for client
	Putting the "public" in policy analysis
	Ethical issues & value conflicts
	Policy analysis as a profession

Blackboard readings

Read all of Bardach

P & S: 1 - 65

M: 175 - 196, 229 - 256 (Rec)

9/17

Collecting, Interpreting, & Analyzing Data on Policy Problems

	Problem definition
	Thinking creatively
	Types and sources of data
	Importance of using numbers
	Evaluating data & information
	Displaying information

Blackboard readings

B: 47 - 70

P & S: 66 - 175

M: 44 - 89 (Rec)

Required individual memo for Case #13

9/24

Superfreakonomics Discussion

	Evaluating data & information
	Displaying information
	Time to get your freak on and discuss Superfreakonomics

Blackboard readings

Read all of Superfreakonomics

Problem memo assn. for your policy project paper

10/1

Library Tour

	Be sure to show up to your assigned session
	Librarians will be available to assist with research needs for your policy analysis projects after the main session

Library tour session 1: 5:00 - 7:00 in RL 1022

Library tour session 2: 7:00 - 9:00 in RL 1022

10/8

No Class - Fall Break

10/15

Public Policy Process

	Steps in the policy process
	Agenda setting and the democratization of policy analysis
	Policy analysis as an extension of rational decision making
	Role of policy analysts in the policy process
	Steps in process of policy analysis

Blackboard readings

Memos and presentations for Case #15

10/22

10/29

Rationales for Public Policy

	What govt. does & why it does it
	Social equity
	Public goods vs. private goods
	Market failures
	Externalities
	Monopolies
	Information asymmetries

Blackboard readings

Memos and presentations for Case #11 (10/22)

11/5

Identifying Alternatives

	Finding alternatives
	Lesson drawing & best practices research
	Diffusion of innovations
	Incentives and rational behavior
	Policy instruments

Blackboard readings

P & S: 215 - 242

Alternatives memo assn. for your policy project paper

11/12

Evaluative Criteria

Efficiency

Equity

Economic, financial, technical, political feasibility

Optimization & constraints

Blackboard readings

P & S: 176 - 214

M: 197 - 228 (Rec)

11/19

Evaluating Alternatives

	Goals vs. policies
	Comparing outcomes not alternatives
	Goals, alternatives, outcomes matrices
	Sensitivity analysis
	Forecasting
	Trend extrapolation
	Decision trees
	Operations research & linear programming

Blackboard readings

P & S: 243 - 374

Memos and presentations for Case #14

11/26

Benefit-Cost Analysis

	B-C Analysis vs. cost effectiveness analysis
	Opportunity costs
	Tangible vs. intangible costs Discount rates & time
	Valuing inputs & outcomes
	Present vs. future value

Blackboard readings

P & S: 243 - 313

Memos and presentations for Case #12

12/3

No class - Available to discuss policy projects and exams by appointment from 12/5 - 12/7

12/10

Final policy project is due at 6:30 PM

12/10

Take Home Exam is due at 6:30 PM

B = Bardach, A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis; M: Mintrom, People Skills for Policy Analysts (Recommended); P & S = Patton & Sawicki, Basic Methods of Policy Analysis and Planning; Blackboard contains a collection of articles for each topic that are required as well.

*Class schedule is subject to change.

Students should check the schedule frequently for announcements made via the web or by email.

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Page last modified 08/17/11

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