Shaping smart policies that harness markets to serve the public good

The Business and Government Policy (BGP) concentration prepares students to navigate and lead at the intersection of the public and private sectors. Grounded in rigorous economics, political science, and management training, the concentration equips future leaders to design and implement policies that harness markets for the public good. Students study regulation, corporate governance, innovation policy, public-private partnerships, and the role of business in addressing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and technological disruption.

Through analytical coursework, real-world case studies, experiential learning, and engagement with practitioners from business, government, and civil society, BGP students graduate ready to lead in complex, cross-sector environments—whether as policymakers, social entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, or advisors aligning business incentives with societal outcomes.

BGP Courses & Faculty

BGP Concentration Requirements*

BGP concentrators must complete two required courses and four credits from the list below.

Required
Course NumberCourse TitleInstructors
BGP-100The Business-Government Relationship in the United StatesRoger Porter
BGP-150YSeminar: Business and GovernmentJohn Haigh
Electives (4 credits required)
Course NumberCourse TitleInstructors
API-121Recessions, Growth, and Macroeconomic PolicyKaren Dynan
API-126American Economic PolicyJeffrey Liebman
Lawrence H. Summers
API-135Economics of Climate Change and Environmental PolicyRobert J. Stavins
API-141FinanceAkash Deep
API-148Advanced Risk Management and Infrastructure FinanceAkash Deep
API-165Energy and Environmental Economics and PolicyJoseph Aldy
API-170Managing Climate Change Risks: Information, Incentives, and InstitutionsJoseph Aldy
API-302Analytic Frameworks for PolicyRichard Zeckhauser
API-303Game Theory and Strategic DecisionsPınar Doğan
API-318Thinking Analytically in an Uncertain WorldDan Levy
API-905YSeminar in Environmental Economics and Policy
BGP-204Food PolicyWolfram Schlenker
BGP-215MBig Tech and the Importance of Competition: Public Policy in the 2020sJohn Haigh
Jonathan Sallet
BGP-235MPrivate Capital for Public Purpose: Impact Investing and Its SiblingsDavid Wood
BGP-264Capital Markets RegulationHal Scott
BGP-610The Political Economy of TradeRobert Lawrence
BGP-625Globalization: Past, Present and Future ChallengesRobert Lawrence
Lawrence H. Summers
DEV-209Management, Finance, and Regulation of Public Infrastructure in Developing CountriesHenry Lee
DEV-215Public Finance in International PerspectiveAnders Jensen
DPI-678MProduct Management and Society: Building Technology in the Public InterestKathy Pham
IGA-415MFinancing the Clean Energy TransitionEly Sandler
Daniel Shrag
IGA-538Technology, Privacy, and the Trans-National Nature of the InternetJim Waldo
MLD-411MIntroduction to Budgeting and Financial ManagementLinda Bilmes
Brian Iammartino
MLD-420MFederal Budget PolicyHowell Jackson
MLD-427Strategic Finance for Nonprofit LeadersJames Honan
MLD-601Operations ManagementMark Fagan
MLD-605Systems Thinking and Supply Chain Management: Climate, Poverty and Human RightsMark Fagan
MLD-830Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Private and Social SectorsRichard Cavanaugh
MLD-831Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Private and Social Sectors (Business Plan Workshop)Richard Cavanaugh
MLD-836MSocial Entrepreneurship/Social Enterprise Deep Dive: How to Operationalize & Scale for Social ImpactJim Bildner
SUP-210Policy Responses to Aging and Declining PopulationsDouglas Elmendorf
SUP-578U.S. Healthcare Industry and Regulatory PolicyLeemore S. Dafny

*Concentration requirements are subject to change. 

Joseph Aldy Photo

Joseph Aldy

Appointment
Teresa and John Heinz Professor of the Practice of Environmental Policy

Luis Armona Photo

Luis Armona

Appointment
Assistant Professor of Public Policy

Christopher Norio Avery Photo

Christopher Norio Avery

Appointment
Roy E. Larsen Professor of Public Policy

Iris Bohnet Photo

Iris Bohnet

Appointment
Co-Director, Women and Public Policy Program
Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government

Jonathan Borck Photo

Jonathan Borck

Appointment
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Gregory Bruich Photo

Gregory Bruich

Appointment
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Akash Deep Photo

Akash Deep

Appointment
Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Pınar Doğan Photo

Pınar Doğan

Appointment
Senior Lecturer in Public Policy

Karen Dynan Photo

Karen Dynan

Appointment
Professor of the Practice of Public Policy, HKS; Professor of the Practice of Economics, FAS

Douglas Elmendorf Photo

Douglas Elmendorf

Appointment
Lucius N. Littauer Professor of Public Policy; Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor

Jason Furman Photo

Jason Furman

Appointment
Frank and Denie Weil Director of the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government
Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy

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Gita Gopinath

Appointment
Professor of Public Policy, HKS; Gregory and Ania Coffey Professor of Economics, FAS

John Haigh Photo

John Haigh

Appointment
Co-director, Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government
Lecturer in Public Policy

Deborah Hughes Hallett Photo

Deborah Hughes Hallett

Appointment
Adjunct Professor of Public Policy

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Nandita Krishnaswamy

Appointment
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Roger Porter Photo

Roger Porter

Appointment
IBM Professor of Business and Government

Carmen Reinhart Photo

Carmen Reinhart

Appointment
Minos A. Zombanakis Professor of the International Financial System

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Samuel Richardson

Appointment
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Wolfram Schlenker Photo

Wolfram Schlenker

Appointment
Ray A. Goldberg Professor of the Global Food System

Hal Scott Photo

Hal Scott

Appointment
Adjunct Professor of Public Policy

Robert Stavins Photo

Robert Stavins

Appointment
A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development

James H. Stock Photo

James H. Stock

Appointment
Professor of Public Policy, HKS; Harold Hitchings Burbank Professor of Political Economy, FAS

Fatema Sumar Photo

Fatema Sumar

Appointment
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Charles Taylor Photo

Charles Taylor

Appointment
Assistant Professor of Public Policy

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David Wood

Appointment
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

Richard Zeckhauser Photo

Richard Zeckhauser

Appointment
Frank Plumpton Ramsey Professor of Political Economy

Harvard Kennedy School faculty disseminate their research in working publications and papers that contribute to public knowledge and fuel policy innovation. This list features recent BGP faculty publications, including journal articles, books, edited volumes, research papers, and public testimony.

Featured BGP Student Story

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