PED-313: The Politics of Development Policy

Semester: Fall

Credit: 1.0

Faculty: Simeon Djankov

Schedule

Day Time Location
First Day 9/6
Meet Day M/W 2:40 PM - 4:00 PM L332
Review

Description

  How do governments make decisions about development policies? Why does "slippage" often occur during implementation? How are policy reform initiatives introduced and sustained? This course analyzes the political economy surrounding major policies for economic and social development in developing and transitional countries. It emphasizes ways that political analysis can improve policy analysis, particularly regarding decision making, implementation, and the management of reformist initiatives. It assesses how political relationships and bureaucratic influences shape policy decision making and the allocation of public resources. Assignments focus on the political analysis of reforms selected by students and the strategic management of political conflicts related to policy change. It is designed primarily for students with substantial experience in international development, such as Mason Fellows, and is not appropriate as an introduction to politics and public policy in developing countries.