Course Description
Provides a broad training in policy evaluation concepts and
methods and provides the tools needed to apply quantitative
techniques to the assessment of policy decisions.
Athena Title
Gov and Nonprofit Program Eval
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- By the end of this course, students will understand the core principles of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses and what implications this framework has for assessing the impact of public policies.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to use statistical techniques to quantitatively evaluate public policy.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to evaluate policy analysis research.
- By the end of this course, students will be able to discuss methodological and conceptual debates in program evaluation.
Topical Outline
- Introduction to Program Evaluation
- Evaluation Design
- Cost-Benefit and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
- Causality versus Correlation
- Regression Analysis
- Randomization and Natural Experiments
- Application: The ACA and ARRA
- Regression Discontinuity
- Difference-in-Differences
- Propensity Score Matching
- Endogeneity and Omitted Variable Bias
- Producing Reports
- Application: Minimum Wage and Public Education
