This course builds on API-101 to develop microeconomic and macroeconomic tools of analysis for policy problems through various policy applications. The course is broadly focused on evaluating the rationale for government intervention in the economy and evaluating the efficiency, incentive, and distributional effects of government policies through US and international applications.
Section A (Mark Shepard) Social Policy: The A section focuses on social policy (for example, health, education, social insurance, and poverty alleviation) and other public finance topics (e.g., taxation, inequality, and cost-benefit analysis).
Section B (Wolfram Scklenker) Business and Government: The B section focuses on applications to environmental and energy regulation, taxation, inequality, social insurance, trade, and macroeconomic stabilization. We evaluate the rationale for government intervention and assess efficiency, incentive, and distributional effects using US and international cases.
Section C (Juan Saavedra) Development: The C section equips students with applied economic frameworks and evidence tools to diagnose development challenges and design policy responses in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The course balances accessible macro/growth foundations (˜5–6 sessions) with a deeper micro-development core (˜15–16 sessions), emphasizing graphical models, randomized and quasi-experimental evidence, and value-for-money analysis of development policy.
Section I (Jason Furman; Robert Lawrence): International and Global Affairs: The I section focuses on economic policymaking in the open economy, with both macroeconomic and microeconomic elements. This course is tailored to the needs of MPP students interested in the International and Global Affairs (IGA) policy area of concentration. Students who enroll in API-102I are encouraged to also enroll in IGA-100 during the spring semester. Participation in this course is required for prospective IGA concentrators.
Prerequisites: API-101 or equivalent.
Students may receive credit for both API-102 and API-110 or API-112 only if API-102 is taken first.
