This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Calendar

Lec # Topics key dates

1

Introduction to the Course

Why bother taking this class?

  

2

Fish Banks Simulation

We begin with an in-class simulation illustrating the public problems that can arise through private actions in the market place.

  

3

Fish Banks Simulation (cont.)

  

4

What are "Public Policies?"

What is this thing we call "public policy" and why does it exist? Is there more to the "public interest" than the aggregation of self-interests or finding solutions to common problems? What is a public problem? What did we experience in the Fish Banks simulation? What could have been done to improve the outcome?

  

5

Designing Government?

Governments come in infinite varieties. If we could design a government from scratch, what characteristics would we like to see? How should it be organized? What "institutions" would we want to create? The American Model of governance serves as the foundation for this discussion and the rest of the course. We look at the design, distribution of authority, and relationships among legislatures, executive agencies, and the courts in the context of American federalism.

  

6

Models of Public Policy Decision Making

In thinking about formulating public policy, we begin by approaching the task as an exercise in technical problem solving. What is the problem? What are the most promising solutions? We then expand our thinking to include other -- sometimes powerful -- considerations that influence the choice of solutions.

1st draft of paper 1 due

Write a 1000 word op-ed essay on the lessons of the Fish Banks simulation for the Boston Globe

7

National Security Policy - Foreign Threats

Providing security from external threats is the historical role of government. We examine "who" makes national security policy.

  

8

National Security Policy - Domestic Threats

Does the "technical approach" really capture all the important elements of good public policy? We examine the basic concepts of security and liberty exploring how they are used to argue, validate, and legitimize policy claims. We introduce the idea of policy tradeoffs.

  

9

Trade and Development Policy

We move on to the basic concepts of equity, fairness, and efficiency exploring how they are used to argue, validate, and legitimize policy claims.

Revised paper 1 due

Revise your original paper as per the comments from your instructor

10

Trade and Development Policy (cont.)

  

11

Environmental Policy: Pollution and Environmental Justice

When civil rights and environmental protection clash.

  

12

Environmental Policy: Pollution and Environmental Justice (cont.)

  

13

Environmental Policy: Endangered Species

The history of the endangered species act is a history of collisions among public interests and between public interests and private interests. How did this law come to be? What does it tell us about government intent and law making?

  

14

Environmental Policy: Endangered Species (cont.)

Paper 2 due (1600 words)

15

Energy Policy

Government can provide information (mileage, safety).

  

16

Health Policy

  

17

Health Policy (cont.)

  

18

Health Policy (cont.)

  

19

Social Policy

  

20

Social Policy: Allocating Rights

Government can create rights. Civil rights, property rights, privacy rights are conveyed by the government to its citizens. These rights shape and constrain policy and may be tested as times change.

Paper 3 due

Health policy issue (1600 words)

21

Social Policy (cont.)

  

22

Crime Policy: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Using public resources for the greatest public benefit.

Paper 4 due

Street level bureaucracy memo to improve service delivery, 1600 words

23

Public Health and Risk Assessment

How safe is too safe? What Price Safety?

  

24

Evaluating Educational Policy

Can market competition improve education? What works?

Policy exercise final paper due