Public Policy

People in the U.S. are aware of social differences, yet few have a precise understanding of social class, the magnitude of inequality or why it exists at all. This course examines social stratification through various political approaches, presenting arguments made by conservatives, liberals, libertarians and radicals.

Students’ theoretical knowledge of politics and economics meets reality in this course, which looks at how elected officials, bureaucrats and interest groups craft public policies that affect everything from forest management to healthcare systems — and examines the challenges that stand in the way of policymaking.

What do people mean when they say “supply and demand,” “free trade” or “opportunity cost”? What’s the difference between price and cost? This course presents theories of consumer and producer behavior and shows how these theories can be used to predict the consequences of individual, business and government actions

Does the U.S. Congress possess the capacity for independent and effective law-making, budgeting and oversight of the executive? To what extent has Congress ceded policymaking responsibility to the president? This course explores these questions and more by examining the historical development and contemporary performance of the U.S. Congress.