Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

Academic Year 2023 – 2024

Robertson Hall

609-258-4836

Program Offerings:

Ph.D.
M.P.A.
M.P.P.
Joint Degree

Director of Graduate Studies:

Denise L. Mauzerall (Ph.D.)

Richard Rogerson (M.P.A.)

Robert Hutchings (M.P.P.)

Graduate Program Administrator:

Ann Lengyel (Ph.D.)

Madeline Hehir

Overview

The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) offers a distinctive curriculum that strikes a careful balance between theory and practice. Graduate students spend time developing analytical skills and acquiring a substantive knowledge about the world's most important domestic and international issues.

The School has a diverse faculty representing a wide range of disciplines and expertise, with 20 affiliated research centers and programs.

The School's resources enable students to earn graduate degrees without incurring indebtedness, thereby making it more feasible to pursue careers of public service in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Graduate Programs

The principal graduate program of the school is a two-year curriculum leading to the degree of Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.). Students can earn a dual degree in public affairs and law (M.P.A./J.D.) after four years of study at SPIA and a collaborating law school. The School also offers a dual degree in business (M.P.A./M.B.A) with the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

The School also has a graduate program leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in public and international affairs, as well as a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) for mid-career professionals.

Apply

Application deadline

December 15, 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (This deadline is for applications for enrollment beginning in fall 2024)

Program length

Ph.D. 5 years, M.P.A. 2 years, M.P.A. – J.D. 4 years, M.P.A. - M.B.A. 3 years, M.P.P. 1 year

Fee

$75

GRE

The General Test is optional/not required for Ph.D. applicants; required for M.P.A applicants; and not accepted for M.P.P. applicants.

Additional departmental requirements

Ph.D. – sample of written work, 25 page maximum. Applicants are required to select an academic subplan when applying.

M.P.A. – Course list. 4 page policy memo. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

M.P.A. – J.D. – Course list. 4 page policy memo. 2 page joint degree statement. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

M.P.A. - M.B.A. – Course list. 4 page policy memo. 2 page joint degree statement. Applicants are required to select a field when applying.

M.P.P. – 4 page policy memo. Applicants are required to select a field when applying. Mid-career professionals are required to have a minimum of 7 years’ experience.

M.P.A. and M.P.P. - Must have 3 letters of recommendation: preference for 1 professional letter, 1 academic reference letter, and 1 letter from a faculty member, administrator, or professional who can comment on the applicant's commitment to public service.

Program Offering: Ph.D.

Program description

The purpose of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs' doctoral program is to train top-quality researchers in critical areas of public policy. It offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Affairs in two research clusters: Security Studies; and Science, Technology and Environmental Policy (STEP). The goal is to enroll eight students per year in the program, with four in each research cluster.

Courses

Core courses and individual requirements are determined by the faculty in each cluster. Both clusters require advanced politics and econometrics training for social science research. A student in the STEP cluster must take at least eight courses in the first two years, and a minimum of three courses must come from within SPIA or from science or engineering departments, selected with approval of the primary adviser and the faculty coordinator of the STEP Ph.D. cluster. A student in the Security cluster takes 12 courses during the first two years. All students are required to maintain an overall grade average of 85 (B) or higher to remain in the Ph.D. program. Full requirements are available on the SPIA website.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Writing Requirement

Students are required to complete an original research paper of publishable quality.

General exam

The examination covers two fields identified by the student in consultation with a faculty committee and includes two written components. Students in both clusters may be required to complete an oral examination, depending on their performance on the written components. Students are expected to complete all parts of the general examination by the end of the second year.

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully completes all coursework and the general examination. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that the M.A. requirements have been met.

Teaching

A six-hour teaching assignment (precepting), usually following the general examination, is required.

Post-Generals requirements

A written research prospectus is required.

Dissertation and FPO

After a candidate successfully completes the general examination and defends the written prospectus, the Ph.D. program committee approves entry into the dissertation phase of the program.

The student prepares a dissertation for review by the faculty. Departmental acceptance of the dissertation qualifies the candidate for the final public oral examination. The Final Public Oral (FPO) examination is required by University regulations, and is conducted after the dissertation has been recommended for acceptance by the School.

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the FPO examination completed.

Program Offering: M.P.A.

Program description

The Master in Public Affairs (M.P.A.) offers rigorous preparation for international and domestic policy careers.

This two-year, full-time residential program cultivates among its students and graduates a lasting commitment to public service.

Through its core curriculum and a wide variety of elective courses, students learn analytical skills that address the political, economic, quantitative, behavioral and normative aspects of complex policy problems.

Each M.P.A. candidate selects a policy field in which to specialize from the school’s four fields of concentration: international relations, international development, domestic policy, and economics and public policy. Students may also earn a joint degree in public affairs and law (M.P.A./J.D.), or in public affairs and business (M.P.A./M.B.A.). Certificate programs offer additional areas of specialization in fields such as health policy; science, technology, and environmental policy (STEP); and urban policy.

Significant financial aid resources are dedicated to enable SPIA students the opportunity to receive graduate degrees without incurring loan indebtedness and to launch them into public service careers in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Courses

Students must complete 16 full-term courses in an approved plan of study, attaining an overall average in the 16 courses of 80 or better. The overall average includes actual grades in courses taken Pass/D/Fail. The curriculum of the M.P.A. program includes seven required core courses that address skills and techniques needed for the systematic study of public policy problems. The courses cover political analysis, quantitative methods, and economic and behavioral analysis.

Additional requirements

Policy Workshops
Graduate policy workshops are a unique part of the SPIA graduate curriculum.

Policy workshops provide students with an opportunity to use the analytical skills they have acquired in the first year in the program to analyze complex and challenging policy issues, usually for real clients. Each workshop consists of 8 - 10 students who work in teams to evaluate a policy challenge.

The workshops emphasize policy implementation, and it is this emphasis that distinguishes them from regular courses. The goal of the workshops is to understand a policy issue in great depth and to make policy recommendations that are both creative and realistic, given the relevant institutional and political constraints.

Policymaking in Diverse Societies half-term course
All students must take at least one half-term course that focuses on policymaking in diverse societies during the two-year course of study. A list of pre-approved courses will be made available to students each academic year.

Required summer course in Race, Power and Inequality
All students must take a summer course (SPI 500) Race, Power and Inequality which precedes all other core courses and is integrated into the four-week summer program. This is a for-credit half-term course, with mandatory PDF grading.

Integrated Policy Exercise (IPE)
In late January, before spring semester courses begin, first-year M.P.A. students are required to take part in a policy project called the Integrated Policy Exercise, or IPE.

The IPE requires students to apply the skills they acquired in the fall term core courses. They are given briefing materials to review in advance and are then required to submit a comprehensive memo in response to a set of specific policy questions. The IPE is a trial run for the first-year qualifying examination (QE1).

Qualifying Examination 1 (QE1)
In late April/early May, at the end of the second semester, students are required to take the QE1, a graded exercise that closely parallels the IPE.

The QE1 requires an integrated use of all the analytical skills acquired in the first-year core curriculum.

Qualifying Examination 2 (QE2)
Second-year students are required to take and pass a second qualifying exam (QE2) in their chosen field of concentration at the end of the second year.

Internship
Students must successfully complete an internship approved by the Internship Committee.

Program Offering: M.P.P.

Program description

The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs offers a one-year Master in Public Policy (M.P.P.) degree for mid-career professionals who are rising leaders in international and domestic public policy. This residential program is designed for mid-career professionals with seven or more years of public service experience in government agencies or nonprofit organizations in the United States and abroad.

The M.P.P. program provides rigorous training in economic, behavioral, political, and organizational analysis. Students may also choose to specialize and earn a certificate in one of the following: health and health policy (HHP); science, technology, and environmental policy (STEP); or urban policy (UP).

Courses

To qualify for the degree, M.P.P. candidates must successfully complete eight courses.

A typical M.P.P. program of study will include a specialization in one of the school’s four fields of concentration:

International Relations
International Development
Domestic Policy
Economics and Public Policy

Additional requirements

All M.P.P. students begin with a six-week summer program that includes intensive courses in microeconomics and statistics, and a policy analysis and leadership seminar.

The summer program is designed to enhance students’ preparation for graduate-level courses. The seminar aims to introduce them to the approaches they will encounter in SPIA courses during the academic year, while also helping them get to know their peers and refine their learning objectives for the year.

Program Offering: Joint Degree

Program description

Some students may wish to combine the School's program in public affairs with study for a degree in a related professional field.

A joint M.P.A.-J.D. degree program that combines public affairs with the study of law is offered in cooperation with the law schools of New York University, Columbia, Stanford, and Yale. On occasion, joint programs with other law schools have been approved by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the cooperating law school.

The joint program shortens the time involved in obtaining the two degrees and makes possible an effective combination of the several disciplines involved in public policy analysis. Participating students spend five semesters at the cooperating law school and three semesters at SPIA, thus reducing by two semesters the normal time required to earn the two degrees. Enrollment in the joint program requires a separate application and admission to each school.

For a small number of exceptionally strong candidates, the School will accept applications for a joint program that combines public and international affairs with the study of business administration. Proposals giving a detailed rationale for such a joint program must be submitted at the time of application. At this time, Stanford’s Graduate School of Business is the only cooperating business school. A joint degree programs will normally shorten by one semester the length of time required to complete each of the individual programs.

Faculty

Dean
- Amaney A. Jamal
Vice Dean
- David S. Wilcove (acting)
Chair
- Amaney A. Jamal
Director of Graduate Studies
- Denise L. Mauzerall
Director of Undergraduate Studies
- Susan L. Marquis
Professor
- Gary J. Bass
- Roland J. Benabou
- Alan S. Blinder
- Carles Boix
- Charles M. Cameron
- Miguel A. Centeno
- Christopher F. Chyba
- Janet M. Currie
- Rafaela M. Dancygier
- Pascaline Dupas
- Kathryn J. Edin
- Christopher L. Eisgruber
- Aaron L. Friedberg
- Filiz Garip
- Noreen Goldman
- Bryan T. Grenfell
- Gene M. Grossman
- G. John Ikenberry
- Harold James
- Seema Jayachandran
- Jennifer L. Jennings
- Henrik J. Kleven
- Atul Kohli
- David S. Lee
- Frances E. Lee
- John B. Londregan
- Denise L. Mauzerall
- Nolan McCarty
- Atif R. Mian
- Helen V. Milner
- Sanyu A. Mojola
- Eduardo Morales
- Andrew Moravcsik
- Layna Mosley
- Michael Oppenheimer
- Pietro Ortoleva
- Elizabeth L. Paluck
- Grigore Pop-Eleches
- Deborah A. Prentice
- Markus Prior
- Emily Pronin
- Stephen J. Redding
- Richard Rogerson
- Cecilia E. Rouse
- Kim Lane Scheppele
- Eldar Shafir
- Jacob N. Shapiro
- Patrick T. Sharkey
- Stacey A. Sinclair
- Paul E. Starr
- Eric Tate
- Zeynep Tufekci
- James Raymond Vreeland
- Keith A. Wailoo
- Leonard Wantchekon
- Mark W. Watson
- Elke U. Weber
- Ismail K. White
- Jennifer A. Widner
- David S. Wilcove
- Deborah J. Yashar
- Julian E. Zelizer
- Owen M. Zidar
Associate Professor
- Elizabeth M. Armstrong
- Alin I. Coman
- Thomas Fujiwara
- Alexander Glaser
- Adam M. Goldstein
- C. Jessica E. Metcalf
- Jonathan F. Mummolo
- Rory Truex
- Hye Young You
Assistant Professor
- Benjamin H. Bradlow
- Tanushree Goyal
- Naima N. Green-Riley
- John R. Grigsby
- Andy Guess
- Saad A. Gulzar
- Arun Hendi
- Allan Hsiao
- Adam Kapor
- Patricia A. Kirkland
- Aleksandra Korolova
- Jonathan Mayer
- Wei Peng
- Rebecca L. Perlman
- Karthik A. Sastry
- Maria Micaela Sviatschi
- Guadalupe Tuñón
- Andreas B. Wiedemann
- Xu Xu
Associated Faculty
- Alison E. Isenberg, History
- Guy J.P. Nordenson, Architecture
Lecturer with Rank of Professor
- Robert L. Hutchings
- Ethan Kapstein
- Stanley N. Katz
- W Bentley MacLeod
Professor of the Practice
- Heather H. Howard
Lecturer
- Alicia Adsera
- Frederick D. Barton
- Barbara C. Buckinx
- Andrew Buher
- Selene Campion
- Wendy Castillo
- Alan R. Chernoff
- Ramon J. Cruz Diaz
- Lauren Davis
- Lynda G. Dodd
- Kathleen Donnelly
- Darcie Draudt-Véjares
- Edward P. Freeland
- Varun Gauri
- Arbel Griner
- Jean B. Grossman
- William G. Guthe
- Razia Iqbal
- Meg Jacobs
- Gregory B. Jaczko
- Tessie Krishna
- Daniel C. Kurtzer
- John A. Maldonado
- Elliot J. Mamet
- Anastasia Mann
- Babak Manouchehrifar
- Susan L. Marquis
- Carol L Martin
- Daniel J. Meuse
- Ashoka Mody
- Amal Mudallali
- Timothy J. Nelson
- Udi Ofer
- Deborah N. Pearlstein
- Minh-Thu D. Pham
- Juan C. Pinzon
- Dafna H. Rand
- Etienne Rosas
- Kenneth Roth
- Timothy D. Searchinger
- Thomas A. Shannon
- Arian M. Sharifi
- Alyssa B. Sharkey
- Tsering Wangyal Shawa
- Sam van Noort
Visiting Professor
- Martin S. Flaherty
Visiting Associate Professor
- Alisa C. Lewin
Visiting Assistant Professor
- Melissa M. Valle
Visiting Lecturer
- Eduardo Bhatia
- Martha B. Coven
- Mickey Edwards
- David Ehrenberg
- Brian Kelly
- Robert Malley
- Steven Strauss
- Leonor Tomero

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

POL 506 - Qualitative Methods (also SPI 595)

Introduction to techniques used by political scientists in "small-n" research. Discusses the types of theoretical and empirical questions that are associated with in-depth analysis of a small number of cases. The emphasis is on systematic measurements and inferential startegies, including case selection, periodization, structured comparison, analytic narrative, and the integration of qualitative and statistical methods in research design. The course also includes discussion of the mechanics of qualitative research, including field methods, in-depth interviewing, and archival research. (Doesn't prepare for Gen. Exm. in F&Q.)

POP 507 - Generalized Linear Statistical Models (also SPI 509)

The analysis of survey data using generalized linear statistical models. The course begins with a review of linear models for continuous responses and then considers logistic regression models for binary data and log-linear models for count data, including rates and contingency tables and hazard models for duration data. Attention is given to the logical and mathematical foundations of the techniques, but the main emphasis is on the applications, including computer usage. The course assumes prior exposure to statistics at the level of WWS507c and familiarity with matrix algebra and calculus.

SPI 500 - Race, Power, and Inequality

This course provides the intellectual foundations for policy students to understand race, power, and inequality issues in the United States, with some comparative international perspectives. The course examines these and other issues of identity and inequities through various disciplines, including history, politics, psychology, sociology, economics, and natural sciences. The course hopes to highlight some possible solutions to the persistent problems of inequality and racial injustice in the U.S. and abroad.

SPI 501 - The Politics of Public Policy

An analysis of the forces that shape the behavior of public organizations and individuals in organizational settings. The emphasis is on the workings of U.S. governmental agencies. Special attention is given to writing skills as they apply to the roles of advisers and decision makers in public-sector organizations.

SPI 502 - Psychology for Policy Analysis and Implementation

Basic concepts and experimental findings of psychology that contribute to an understanding of the effects of policy on human behavior and well-being. Also covered are psychological factors that affect the formulation, communication, and execution of policy. Topics include a descriptive analysis of boundedly rational judgment and decision making, a consideration of social motives and attitudes, and an introduction to the ways in which agents influence and negotiate with one another.

SPI 503 - Management of Non-Profit Organizations

The management of for-profit, governmental, and not-for-profit organizations in both developed and developing countries. Tailoring management strategies and organizational processes to different organizations in different environments is emphasized. The analysis of management cases focuses on organizational problem solving.

SPI 504 - Policy Issues and Analysis of Civil Society, Non-Profits, and Philanthropy

Examines policy issues at international, national and local levels. Provides groundwork on nonprofits, NGOs, and philanthropy that can be followed with specialized courses on management and program evaluation. Emphasis on understanding how philanthropy, nonprofit, and NGO sectors operate, their niche alongside private and public sectors, revenue sources, impact on society, and converse effects of society and its institutions; the policy making process. Explores impact of reliance on government or overseas support for Third World NGOs; faith-based service provisions: accountability and transparency; advocacy; and government regulations.

SPI 505 - Financial Management in the Corporate and Public Sectors

Investment, valuation, and financing of the corporation, focusing on the application of economic theory and the analytical tools to the solution of financial problems. The interrelations between investment and financing policies and their dependence on security valuations are stressed.

SPI 506 - The Sociology of Organizations

Formal organizations are key to understanding most facets of modern life. This course examines organizations as complex social systems, which reflect and shape their broader social environments. The first half explores why organizations look and act the way they do: Why are they so bureaucratic? How do they influence one another? Why are they so often resistant to change? The second half of the course focuses on the consequences of organizational practices: How do they shape work, inequality and diversity? How do they mediate the effects of public policies? How do they become instruments of political change?

SPI 507B - Quantitative Analysis for Policymakers

Data analysis techniques, stressing application to public policy. The course includes measurement, descriptive statistics, data collection, probability, exploratory data analysis, hypothesis testing, simple and multiple regression, correlation, and graphical procedures. Some training is offered in the use of computers. No previous training in statistics is required. The course is divided into separate sections according to the student's level of mathematical sophistication. The basic level assumes a fluency in high school algebra as a minimum, while the advanced level assumes a fluency in calculus.

SPI 507C - Quantitative Analysis for Policymakers (Advanced)

SPI 508A - Econometrics for Policymakers: Applications (Half-Term)

Provides hands-on experience in the application of econometric methods to policy issues. Various aspects of empirical research in economics will be covered including 1) development of testable hypotheses, 2) appropriate use of data, 3) specification and estimation of econometric models. The course will be taught using a set of cases in which students apply quantitative methods covered in WWS 507b to data in order to answer specific policy questions. Emphasis will be placed on interpreting and writing about results.

SPI 508B - Econometrics for Policymakers (Half-Term)

Provides a thorough examination of statistical methods employed in public policy analysis, with a particular emphasis on regression methods which are frequently employed in research across the social sciences. Emphasizes intuitive understanding of the central concepts, and develops in students the ability to choose and employ the appropriate tool for a particular research problem, and understand the limitations of the techniques. Prerequisite: 507b.

SPI 508C - Econometrics for Policymakers (Advanced)

The main tools of econometric analysis and the way in which they are applied to a range of problems in social science. The emphasis is on using techniques and understanding and critically assessing others' use of them. There is a great deal of practical work on the computer using a range of data from around the world. Topics include regression analysis, with a focus on regression as a tool for analyzing nonexperimental data and discrete choice. An introduction to time-series analysis is given. There are applications from macroeconomics, policy evaluation, and economic development.

SPI 508D - Econometrics and Public Policy (Accelerated)

The main tools of econometric analysis and the way in which they are applied to a range of problems in social science. Emphasis is on using the techniques and understanding and critically assessing others' use of them. There is a great deal of practical work on the computer using a range of data from around the world. Topics include regression analysis, with a focus on regression as a tool for analyzing nonexperimental data and discrete choice. An introduction to time-series analysis is given, as are applications from macroeconomics, policy evaluation, and economic development.

SPI 511B - Microeconomic Analysis for Policymakers

Courses 511 and 512 provide systematic exposition of principles and techniques of economic theory most useful in analyzing economic aspects of public affairs. The courses are divided into separate sections according to a student's previous experience with economics and his or her level of mathematical sophistication. The basic level assumes a fluency in high school algebra and a basic knowledge of calculus concepts, while the advanced level assumes a fluency in calculus and some previous exposure to economics. 511d assumes a strong preparation in economics, is more technical than 511c, and has an applied orientation.

SPI 511C - Microeconomic Analysis for Policymakers (Advanced)

Courses 511 and 512 provide systematic exposition of principles and techniques of economic theory most useful in analyzing economic aspects of public affairs. The courses are divided into separate sections according to a student's previous experience with economics and his or her level of mathematical sophistication. The basic level assumes a fluency in high school algebra and a basic knowledge of calculus concepts, while the advanced level assumes a fluency in calculus and some previous exposure to economics. Courses 511b and 511c are offered fall 2000. Courses 512b and 512c are offered spring 2001.

SPI 512B - Macroeconomic Analysis for Policymakers

Courses 511 and 512 provide systematic exposition of principles and techniques of economic theory most useful in analyzing economic aspects of public affairs. The courses are divided into separate sections according to a student's previous experience with economics and his or her level of mathematical sophistication. The basic level assumes a fluency in high school algebra and a basic knowledge of calculus concepts, while the advanced level assumes a fluency in calculus and some previous exposure to economics. Courses 511b and 511c are offered fall 2000. Courses 512b and 512c are offered spring 2001.

SPI 512C - Macroeconomic Analysis for Policymakers (Advanced)

Courses 511 and 512 provide systematic exposition of principles and techniques of economic theory most useful in analyzing economic aspects of public affairs. The courses are divided into separate sections according to a student's previous experience with economics and his or her level of mathematical sophistication. The basic level assumes a fluency in high school algebra and a basic knowledge of calculus concepts, while the advanced level assumes a fluency in calculus and some previous exposure to economics. Courses 511b and 511c are offered fall 2000. Courses 512b and 512c are offered spring 2001.

SPI 515B - Program and Policy Evaluation

Course explores ways to judge the efficacy of policies and programs, to assess the benefits and costs of policy or program changes, to develop and implement research-based program improvement strategies, and to use program accountability systems for evaluation purposes. Students study a wide range of research tools, read and discuss a wide range of evaluation papers and reports, and complete an applied evaluation project. Pre-req:WWS507b/c or instr. permission.

SPI 515C - Program and Policy Evaluation: Impact Evaluation Tools

Introduces evaluation using advanced quantitative techniques. Explores ways to develop and implement research-based program improvement strategies and accountability systems; judges effects of policies and programs; assesses benefits and costs of changes. Uses domestic and international examples. Introduces a range of evaluation tools and designs by applying tools empirically with Stata, using data from several large-scale impact evaluations. Pre-reqs: 507c & 508c or instructor's permission.

SPI 519A - Negotiation, Persuasion and Social Influence: Theory and Practice (also PSY 528A)

Examines the principles of negotiation in organizational settings and provides firsthand experience in simulated negotiations. Theoretical and empirical research on the variables that affect success in negotiations is discussed. Students engage in a series of bargaining exercises between individuals and teams, and results are analyzed in detail by the class. Course is taught in two versions, 519a for MPA's, 519b for MPP's.

SPI 521 - Domestic Politics

An introduction to the political analysis of policy making in the American setting. The course includes theoretical and empirical analyses of political institutions, including executives, legislatures, and bureaucracies. It also examines the political environment in which these institutions operate, with special attention given to the role of public opinion, interest groups, and elections.

SPI 522 - Microeconomic Analysis of Domestic Policy

A series of major issues of policy designed to illustrate and develop skills in particularly important applications of microeconomics. Topics include education and training, the minimum wage, mandated benefits, affirmative action, the theory of public goods and externalities, and the basic theory of taxation. Prerequisite: 511b.

SPI 523 - Legal and Regulatory Policy Toward Markets

Employs the methods of microeconomics, industrial organization and law, and economics to study circumstances where market failures warrant government intervention with policies implemented through the law or regulatory agencies. Topics include antitrust policy toward business practices and vertical and horizontal combinations; policy approaches toward R&D and intellectual property; reliance on tort law, disclosure law, and regulatory standards to mitigate information and externality problems pertaining to health, safety, and performance risks; and the implications for pricing, entry, and investment of different forms of public utility reg

SPI 524 - The Political Economy of Central Banking

An extension of 512c, the course covers economic growth, the roles of R&D, education, and institutions in long-run development, fiscal and monetary policy in the long run, unemployment, short-run fiscal and monetary policy, economic fluctuations, the budget, and the statu of the US economy. Course aims to show how modern theoretical and quantitative methods can be useful in analyzing macroeconomic policy issues. Focus is on a series of specific topics of current policy interest. Prerequisite: 512c.

SPI 525 - Public Economics and Public Policy

Analyses government involvement when there are "market failures." Topics include: externalities, with applications to policies that alleviate congestion and reduce environmental damage; natural monopolies, with applications to telecommunications infrastructure and electricity regulation and pricing; efficiency and equity aspects of excise and income taxes; and alternative social security structures and reform proposals in the U.S. and other countries.