PUBLPOL 104: Economic Policy Analysis (ECON 150, PUBLPOL 204)
The relationship between microeconomic analysis and public policy making. How economic policy analysis is done and why political leaders regard it as useful but not definitive in making policy decisions. Economic rationales for policy interventions, methods of policy evaluation and the role of benefit-cost analysis, economic models of politics and their application to policy making, and the relationship of income distribution to policy choice. Theoretical foundations of policy making and analysis, and applications to program adoption and implementation. Prerequisites:
ECON 50 and
ECON 102B.
Terms: Win, Spr
| Units: 4-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-AQR
PUBLPOL 106: Law and Economics (ECON 154, PUBLPOL 206)
Law as a tool for correcting market and cognitive failures. Design and consequences of laws, given alternative policy objectives. Welfarist approach to legal policy; deontological perspectives including Kant, Mill, and Rawls. Economic efficiency and agent rationality, effects of law on expectations and incentives, balancing costs of type I and type II legal errors. Empirical studies of law's effects. Applications: property, tort, contract, antitrust, discrimination, crime, legal procedure. Examples chiefly from U.S. law, but analytical tools of general applicability. Prerequisite:
ECON 50.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4-5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
PUBLPOL 107: Public Finance and Fiscal Policy (ECON 141)
What role should and does government play in the economy? What are the effects of government spending, borrowing, and taxation on efficiency, equity and economic stability and growth? The course covers economic analysis, statistical evidence and historical and current fiscal policy debates in the U.S. and around the world. Policy topics: Fiscal crises, budget surpluses/deficits; tax reform; social security, public goods, and externalities; fiscal federalism; public investment; and cost-benefit analysis. Prerequisites:
ECON 51,
ECON 52 (can be taken concurrently).
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
Instructors:
Suarez Serrato, J. (PI)
PUBLPOL 115: Practical Training
Qualified Public Policy students obtain employment in a relevant research or industrial activity to enhance their professional experience consistent with their degree programs. Prior to enrolling students must get internship approved by the Public Policy Program. At the start of the quarter, students must submit a one page statement showing the relevance of the employment to the degree program along with an offer letter. At the end of the quarter, a three page final report must be supplied documenting work done and relevance to degree program. Meets the requirements for Curricular Practical Training for students on F-1 visas. May be repeated for credit.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr, Sum
| Units: 1-10
| Repeatable
for credit
PUBLPOL 133: Urban Politics (AMSTUD 121Z, POLISCI 121, URBANST 111)
The major actors, institutions, processes, and policies of sub-state government in the U.S., emphasizing city general-purpose governments through a comparative examination of historical and contemporary politics. Issues related to federalism, representation, voting, race, poverty, housing, and finances.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci
Instructors:
Nall, C. (PI)
PUBLPOL 135: Regional Politics and Decision Making in Silicon Valley and the Greater Bay Area
Dynamics of regional leadership and decision making in Silicon Valley, a complex region composed of 40 cities and four counties without any overarching framework for governance. Formal and informal institutions shaping outcomes in the region. Case studies include transportation, workforce development, housing and land use, and climate change.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
Instructors:
Benest, F. (PI)
;
Hancock, R. (PI)
PUBLPOL 154: Politics and Policy in California
State politics and policy making, including the roles of the legislature, legislative leadership, governor, special interests, campaign finance, advocacy groups, ballot initiatives, state laws, media, and research organizations. Case studies involving budgets, education, pensions, health care, political reform, open primaries, infrastructure and more. Evaluation of political actions, both inside and outside of government, that can affect outcomes. One day trip to Sacramento.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
PUBLPOL 168: Global Organizations: Managing Diversity (PUBLPOL 268, SOC 168, SOC 268)
Analytical tools derived from the social sciences to analyze global organizations and projects, and applied to the tradeoffs between different designs of teams and organizations. Focus is on tribal mentality and how to design effective organizations and projects for policy implementation within and across institutional settings. This class is associated with a study trip during the Spring Break. Recommended:
PUBLPOL 102, MS&E 180,
SOC 160,
ECON 149, or
MGTECON 330.
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-EDP
Instructors:
Meyersson Milgrom, E. (PI)
PUBLPOL 184: Poverty and Policies in Developing Economies
Economic models of growth and poverty, differences in growth rates among countries, and the persistence of poverty. Models of physical and human capital accumulation, and recent theories of the importance of institutions, social capital, and political factors. The effectiveness of social policies in developing countries, emphasizing India, in the light of theories of growth and poverty, and in terms of immediate goals and long-term consequences. Policies include schooling and health, anti-poverty, banking, and political decentralization. Limited Enrollment. Prerequisites:
ECON 1 and
ECON 50.
Terms: Win
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI
Instructors:
Kochar, A. (PI)
PUBLPOL 194: Technology Policy (PUBLPOL 294)
How the U.S. federal government promotes, uses, and regulates new technologies; tensions between representative governance and the need for elite expertise in policymaking; contemporary debates over international security, energy, health, information technology, and economic competitiveness. Recommended:
POLISCI 2.
Terms: Win
| Units: 3-4
Instructors:
Slayton, R. (PI)
Filter Results: