This course is concerned with the examination of some of the methodological and normative assumptions involved in the formulation and implementation of public policy. The significance of these issues will be discussed in connection with concrete problems such as punishment, affirmative action, welfare legislation, reproductive liberty, and the right to life. Inquiries into the practice of public policy focus on actual policies in one substantive area, usually economic policies managing inflation. The basic substantive, methodological, and normative concerns of contemporary public policy. Students should have already been exposed to the major methods used in quantitative analysis, including multivariate statistics, computing, and an introduction to management science techniques.
Builds skill in mustering quantitative reasoning to argue actively public policy positions.
Implementation and impact of legislative, administrative, and judicial policies in particular policy areas. Exposes members of the campus community to the wide variety of public policy research currently in progress on this campus. Seminar participants review and comment upon presentations of research reports. Exposes members of the campus community to the wide variety of public policy research currently in progress on this campus. Seminar participants review and comment upon presentations of research reports.