Excel Fundamentals
This short course surveys fundamental Microsoft Excel concepts and functionality applicable to SIPA courses and in professional settings. Topics include interacting with spreadsheets, understanding references and functions, writing formulas, building basic models, controlling formatting and presentation and creating basic charts. The course is targeted at students with limited or no prior Excel experience.
- SU 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Kenyon S Saverance
Info - 0 points
Excel Fundamentals
This short course surveys fundamental Microsoft Excel concepts and functionality applicable to SIPA courses and in professional settings. Topics include interacting with spreadsheets, understanding references and functions, writing formulas, building basic models, controlling formatting and presentation and creating basic charts. The course is targeted at students with limited or no prior Excel experience.
- SU 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Kenyon S Saverance
Info - 0 points
Advanced Techniques in Excel
Prerequisites: Instructor-Managed Waitlist & Course Application.
This short course explores techniques that enable sophisticated problem solving and data analysis in Microsoft Excel. Topics include implementing advanced logic using complex formulas and intermediate calculations; managing complexity with Excel's auditing features; importing, parsing and cleaning raw data; pulling data together using lookup functions; and summarizing and analyzing data with conditional aggregate functions and PivotTables. This course does not focus on specific policy or financial applications, but instead explores general concepts and techniques that can be flexibly applied to different solutions in Excel.
- M 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
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Instructor:
Kenyon S Saverance
Info - 0 points
Financial Modeling in Excel
This one-day seminar, conducted by the reputable training firm Training The Street, explores best practices and efficient techniques for building finance-related spreadsheets.
The lectures will use a real company as a case study and direct participants to blend accounting, corporate finance, and Excel skills to create a dynamic, three-statement financial model. The completed product has five years of projections, three years of historical data, and supporting schedules, including working capital, debt, equity, depreciation, and amortization.
Other advanced topics include understanding and controlling circularity errors, troubleshooting, sensitivity analysis, and discounted cash flow valuations.
The course is best suited for students with exposure to basic accounting and corporate finance concepts. It stresses efficiency in using Excel and awareness of common pitfalls when developing financial models.
- S 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Kenyon S Saverance
Info - 0 points
Professional Development
Professional Profile
Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see
SIPA U4041
through
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Marina A Metalios
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Professional Profile-Intl
Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see
SIPA U4041
through
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Thierry E Verheije
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Professional Profile
Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see
SIPA U4041
through
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.
- W 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
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Instructor:
Jodi L Caplan
Info -
Instructor:
Patricia Samwick
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Professional Profile-Intl
Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see
SIPA U4041
through
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.
- W 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Holly White
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Professional Profile
Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see
SIPA U4041
through
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.
- R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
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Instructor:
Sharon E Epperson
Wikipedia Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Professional Profile-Intl
Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see
SIPA U4041
through
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.
- R 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
- M 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- T 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
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Instructor:
Soffia Alarcon-Diaz
Info -
Instructor:
Chun Yee Yip
Info -
Instructor:
Soffia Alarcon-Diaz
Info -
Instructor:
Chun Yee Yip
Info -
Instructor:
Regina Angeles
Info -
Instructor:
Sadaf G Sajwani
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Professional Profile
Navigating the employment market and successfully pursuing job and internship opportunities requires effective tools and search strategies. At all professional levels, job candidates must be able to clearly describe their unique professional qualifications and how they will contribute value to the hiring organization. This 2-session course is designed to facilitate a heightened awareness of career goals and develop the essential ingredients for an effective job search campaign: resume, pitch, online presence, and networking and interviewing skills. Participants will construct a professional resume appropriate to their target industry or organization and submit it for review and feedback. A distinct version of the course for international students covers the nuances of networking and job search in the US and provides CPT and OPT guidelines. Students should enroll in the version that aligns with their background and may attend sessions only in the course section for which they are registered. This course is a required component of the two-course (0.5 point, total) SIPA Professional Development requirement; the other component may be chosen from among a menu of five electives (see
SIPA U4041
through
SIPA U4045
). Students should complete both components of the PD requirement in their first semester.
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Joanne L Heyman
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Global Workplace
Understanding the Global Workplace
: In the contemporary workplace, teams are comprised of leaders and contributors from myriad cultural backgrounds. Each person’s way of viewing and being in the world shapes their approach to teamwork, leadership, and interpersonal relations in general. This 1-session course examines how diverse experiences and perspectives are critical to the growth and productivity of teams and organizations. Participants will gain insight into unconscious biases and other impediments to teamwork in the workplace and learn interpersonal skills that foster effective collaboration, conflict management, and productive team outcomes.
- M 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Tanya Odom
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Public Speaking at Work
Effective Public Speaking at Work:
Common workplace interactions such as leading or contributing to meetings and delivering presentations are critical components of professional life. Yet, for many professionals, public speaking is highly stressful. This 1-session course will introduce you to public speaking skills that produce effective results in the workplace, including how to structure, frame, and organize a presentation and deliver it with impact. You’ll learn the key elements of an effective presentation and how to communicate your message convincingly by analyzing your audience and determining its needs. Participants will have an opportunity to practice important verbal and non-verbal delivery techniques – and begin to overcome the fears of speaking up and speaking out.
- W 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- W 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Janet S Balis
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Negotiation in Workplace
Negotiating Everyday Collaborations in the Workplace:
Effective negotiation is a key skill for leaders and contributors worldwide at all professional levels in organizations and workplaces. This 1-session course is designed to promote understanding and build problem-solving skills that can lead to strength and competency in this vital activity of everyday work life. Participants will be able to define negotiation and articulate the key tension that exists in all negotiations; prepare for negotiations using a research-based framework; and articulate their strengths and weaknesses as negotiators, as well as ways they can improve negotiation outcomes.
- R 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
- M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Yaron Prywes
Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
Networking for Mid-Career
Networking for Mid-Career Advancement:
Workplace environments have always been bastions of operative professional relationships, explicit and tacit. Historically, research has demonstrated the value and benefits of networking, both in finding jobs during early career and advancing within an organization during later career. In this 1-session course, you will learn what networking can and cannot accomplish; how to network effectively and respectfully; balancing the “getting” and “giving” aspects of networking; and an actionable framework for conducting effective career-advancement networking strategies. Students will learn how to cultivate and sustain professional relationships that can continue to be beneficial over time.
- W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- W 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Daniel White
Wikipedia Info - 0.2 points
Professional Development
MBTI Comm & Teamwork
Using the MBTI to Enhance Communication & Teamwork:
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a well-known personality assessment instrument widely administered worldwide in organizational and workplace settings. It does not measure skills or aptitudes but personality preferences – the qualities that combine to make us unique individuals. In this 1-session course, students will learn the benefits of using the MBTI in professional settings and developing self-awareness of preferred decision-making, problem-solving, and relating to others. Interactive exercises will also promote understanding and insight into the preferences of those who share styles dissimilar to ours. Understanding your MBTI profile will enable you to appreciate important personality differences and mesh with the complexities of diverse organizational cultures.
- M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
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Instructor:
Jodi L Caplan
Info - 0.2 points
Political, Social, and Economic Developm
Pol, Soc & Econ Devp-Brazil I
This course is a practicum designed to discuss major economic, political, and social problems of contemporary Brazil with leading analysts, activists, business leaders, and public figures. The course is unusual in its reliance upon a stream of outside speakers rather than on a fixed syllabus and set of lectures by the instructor only. Former participants include cabinet members, senior representatives of international organizations, academics, civil society activists, and other world-class experts. During the Fall term, we will primarily focus on economic and financial issues while addressing social and political factors. We also prioritize a practitioner’s perspective, using
Brazil as a reference to discuss challenges that developing nations face in their development path.
- W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Sidney N Nakahodo
CULPA: 1 Info - 1.5 points
MPA-DP - Getting Started
"MPA-DP ""Getting Started"""
Open to MPA-DP Only.
Before the SIPA orientation, MPA-DP students participate in a week-long intensive program called Getting Started. The program introduces students to the MPA-DP program, including skills and resources that lay the foundation for a successful graduate learning experience.
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Instructor:
Glenn Denning
h-index: 14 Info - 0 points
Analysis of Public Sector Organizations
Analysis of Public Sector Orgs
Priority Reg: MIA and MPA.
Virtually all government policies depend on organizations to execute and evaluate them. Effective public management, therefore, depends crucially on an understanding of how organizations work. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the institutional basis of public policy and administration. A central theme throughout is that explaining organizational outcomes requires the understanding of (i) the actors involved and their preferences and (ii) the institutions, or “rules of the game” within which they function. Expanding on this theme will allow us to explain many features of political organizations, including some that may appear (at first glance) to be pathological.
The study of organizations is multi-disciplinary, and as a result, the course draws upon a range of literature from economics, political science, and psychology. It will focus mainly on applications of behavioral economics and game theory. The course readings and the student assignments will provide ample opportunities for seeing how theoretical arguments are developed and tested. The objective is to give students not only a working knowledge of how public sector organizations work but also the ability to utilize it across a broad range of settings.
The course begins by considering different models of individual and collective behavior. With these tools in place, the study of organizations' internal structures and their management implications will proceed. The “principal-agent” framework will guide this discussion. Next, it will examine the impact of the external environment on organizations. Finally, it will consider some prospects for reform.
- W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Michael Ting
CULPA: 4 Info - 3 points
Generative AI
Priority Reg: DAQA Specialization.
This course is meant for students who want to learn Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI). We will cover the basics of language models and large language models (LLMs) and go through the details of how they are built. We will also cover topics around Deep Learning, Transformers, and Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT). We will explore topics related to the implications of Generative AI in society such as bias in AI systems, ethical dilemmas, job losses, and regulations of AI systems by the government.
The course will be fairly hands-on with some programming exercises. You will also learn prompt engineering for some of the current Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney. Required programming concepts will be taught in the class, so no programming background is required.
- F 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Instructor:
Sameer R Maskey
Info - 1.5 points
Effective Management in the Public Servi
Effective Mgmt in the Pub Serv
Priority Reg: MIA and MPA.
The course is designed to introduce you to the field of public management. It is a practical course, organized around the tools managers may use to influence the behavior of their organizations. The course also discusses the political environment in which public managers must interact. This course serves as an introduction to management in government and in the non-profit and private organizations that contract with and/or partner with government to provide public services. Lectures, cases, discussions and group projects focus on an array of management tools that help managers implement public policy and deliver critical services. While many examples come from the instructor's experience in New York City and US state and federal agencies, numerous comparative cases and projects from Asia, Latin America and Europe are used to discover best practices, common challenges and the impact of culture on organization behavior. The course will be valuable to those expecting a career in large, complex organizations, either as a manager or a policy advisor. A laboratory section focuses on assigned readings and case studies, provides more opportunities for student discussions and brings in prominent guest speakers from multiple sectors.
- M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- M 8:10 p.m.-10 p.m.
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Instructor:
William B Eimicke
Info - 3 points
Computing in Context
This introductory course will explore computing concepts and coding in the context of solving policy problems. Such problems might include troubleshooting sources of environmental pollution, evaluating the effectiveness of public housing policy or determining the impact that local financial markets have on international healthcare or education. Using policy scenarios as examples, students will be exposed to topics including: requirements gathering, data collection, data cleansing, writing pseudocode and code, using Python packages to help solve policy problems, presenting technical solutions and the constraints of computing. The hands-on nature of the class will help students to develop a strong, transferable skill-set that could be applied to both current coursework and future employment. Between the computer science and policy context lectures, students will see how computer science will become a fundamental component of their policy analysis education.
- TR 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
- TR 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
- F 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
- F 2:40 p.m.-4:10 p.m.
- 3 points
Strategic Management of Nonprofit Organi
Strategic Mgmt- Nonprofit Orgs
Priority Reg: MIA and MPA.
The goal of the course is for students to develop an understanding of how the various functional areas of a nonprofit, guided by vision and strategy, interconnect to help a nonprofit organization make progress toward achieving its mission. Students will also explore strategic planning, strategic management, building a strong and inclusive organizational culture, and managing organizational change. Lectures, class discussion, case studies, and group presentations provide students with a platform for exploring key issues raised during the course.
- W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Gary Bagley
Info - 3 points
Strategic and Entrepreneurial Management
Strategic & Entrepren Mgt
Priority Reg: MIA and MPA.
This course will provide the analytical ability and practical skills to build the right strategy, entrepreneurial operations, and culture for both for-profit and non-profit organizations. The methodology of this class is to learn from case studies, leading management texts, and insights from practitioners. Students will learn to recognize and develop entrepreneurial skills by examining and analyzing the strategies employed by practicing entrepreneurs in building new ventures. Particular attention is given to the criteria used in analyzing the strategies of international and non-profit new venture ideas. Further focus on strategy, managing people, and organizational culture will be emphasized. Each student must develop an entrepreneurial venture focused on a social/non-profit, emerging market, or private sector opportunity.
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- F 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- 3 points
Public Finance
Priority Reg: Executive MPA.
Public Finance will introduce the nuances of the US municipal financing market from the perspective of issuers, investors and intermediaries. Students will learn about traditional fixed rate bond structures, but will also look at innovative financing techniques that have been implemented in recent years. In-depth discussions of interest rate markets and their impact on financing will be a key area of study. The growing pressures of public sector pensions are influencing how states and municipalities manage their budgets, and are under increased scrutiny by market participants; as such, pension accounting will be a focus area for the class as well. Financial distress and municipal bankruptcy will be examined through case studies of recent high profile issuers, such as the City of Detroit and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The class is intended to prepare students to be versed in the fundamental concepts underpinning capital markets as they relate to municipalities and non-profit corporations, and to provide a knowledge base that can be utilized in practice in their careers.
- T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Brian J Kennedy
Info - 3 points
International Trade
Prerequisite Course: SIPAU6400 - Microeconomic Analysis.
The course has two dimensions: theory and policy. In the former, the fundamental models of international trade theory will be presented. Using these models we will try to understand why countries specialize and trade, what determines the pattern of trade (i.e. which country will export which good), and how trade affects relative prices, welfare, and income distribution within a country. The second part of the course deals with issues concerning trade policy. We will compare the effects of and rationale behind the usage of various policy instruments such as tariffs, subsidies, quotas, etc. The political economy of trade policy and trade policy in developing countries will also be covered. Additional topics may be included at a later stage if time permits.
- M 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
- W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Niklas J Westelius
Info - 3 points
International Finance & Monetary Theory
Intl Finance & Monetary Theory
Prerequisite Course: SIPAU6401 - Macroeconomic Analysis.
This is a theory and applications course in international macroeconomics and finance. It provides students with tools to analyze real-life international economic policy and financial market situations. The class is primarily meant for those interested in working at international institutions, in diplomatic service, and in the financial sector or media. Lectures are relatively rigorous, though if the student has some first-year economics and knows basic algebra and graphs, they will easily handle the material. While theory is central, policy and market relevance are emphasized through i) discussions on topical issues, ii) study of key episodes to illustrate ideas, and iii) relevant pieces of policy/media/finance sector analysis. In terms of topics, part one will develop analytic frameworks to understand exchange rates in terms of short- and long-term determinants, the balance of payments, and the interaction between the macroeconomic policy, the exchange rate, and macroeconomic outcomes. Then, part two will cover various advanced topics such as the choice of exchange rate regime, the euro, currency crashes, default, and financial crises.
- R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- T 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
- R 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Alan Taylor
Wikipedia Info - 3 points
Economics of Finance
Priority Reg: MIA and MPA.
Finance deals with the theory of how households and firms use capital markets to allocate resources over time. The course will equip you with a solid theoretical foundation you can use to evaluate projects, investments and funding decisions. It will further acquaint you with the details of debt, equity and derivatives markets so you can apply your knowledge to practical problems.
- W 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Richard Robb
Info - 3 points
Public-Private Partnerships To Foster Ef
This course is designed for students interested in establishing, working in, or leading non-profits or creating social value through partnerships between non-profits, businesses, and government. The course will deepen students’ understanding of (1) the non-profit sector and (2) partnerships between non-profits, businesses, and government. Students will learn through cases involving a variety of non-profits, businesses, and governments. The cases include a range of industries (e.g., housing, sports, education, conservation, transportation, and drugs); non-profits (e.g., Habitat for Humanity International, BRAC, the Red Cross, and Homeless World Cup); companies (e.g., Nike, Walmart, and GlaxoSmithKline); and countries (e.g., France, Brazil, India, and the US).
- T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
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Instructor:
Lynn Thoman
Info - 1.5 points
Leadership in Times of Disruption
Ldrshp in Times of Disrup
This is a seven-week course designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to effectively lead and manage teams, especially during times of great change. The course concepts will be broadly applicable to all disciplines and sectors, and will showcase examples from the nonprofit/social impact sectors, as well as practices popularized by Big Tech companies and other startups as they've rapidly grown and disrupted industries in the last decades.
The first premise of the course is that successful leadership and management involve the deft application of frameworks, research, and best practices, but also deep self-awareness of one’s own strengths, weaknesses, biases, and emotional triggers. Throughout the course, we look to develop the emotional strength and open-ended mindset required for leadership while practicing the specific research-backed skills and behaviors that get the most out of teams.
The second premise of this course is to carefully deconstruct “leadership” into its many forms, including driving impact, creating transformation, and managing people and teams. Each is encompassed in “leadership,” but requires different skills and focus to succeed.
This course will be interactive and will involve the creation of a hypothetical social enterprise, nonprofit, or new program within an existing organization, which we will use to teach concepts first-hand. As a class, we will co-create several projects for this hypothetical organization, including a draft strategic plan, annual goals, and job descriptions. The goal is for students to see the transformation of “good enough” deliverables into spectacular ones, building a base of knowledge and experience to take into the next stage of their careers.
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibilit
Strat Corp Soc Responsibility
Priority Reg: Executive MPA.
This course will introduce students to the global context of CSR through comparative business perspectives. After considering the theoretical frameworks for undertaking CSR activities the course will addresses a number of public policy issues facing globalizing companies through a series of case studies. Under examination is the manner in which business and ethical considerations have impacted upon different social, labor, and environmental challenges. We will be asking students to consider: to what extent such factors have been, and will be, part of the corporate strategy decision-making process; why companies are having to adapt (or not) to different pressures; and whether they might sometimes be going above and beyond the standards required by regulation.
- M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
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Instructor:
Todd A Jacobson
Info - 3 points
International Banking: Workings, Trends
Suggested Pre- or Co-requisite Course: Macroeconomics.
This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the workings, trends and challenges associated with the provision of cross-border commercial, investment and private banking/wealth management services. We will study the evolution of the global financial system over the past two decades and explore how banks make their decisions regarding the scope and geographical reach of their operations in response to geopolitical and economic circumstances, systemic crises, evolving competitive dynamics at home and abroad, technological change, and latest regulatory developments.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
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Instructor:
Fernando Sotelino
Info - 3 points
International Energy Project Finance
Int'l Energy Project Finance
Priority Reg: CEE Concentration. Pre-requisite: Instructor-Managed Waitlist.
Project finance is a capital-raising technique frequently employed to build or purchase energy assets that produce reliable cashflows. The investment’s risks are mitigated through contracts with project counterparties; project capital is sourced among various investors: corporate sponsors, project developers, investment funds, commercial lenders, development banks, export credit agencies. Projects related to the energy transition to lower-carbon or no-carbon power generation and the parallel expansion of global LNG markets are the most prominent examples of international energy project finance today. The course takes a case-study approach, reviewing these trends and drawing lessons through a survey of international project financings: electric generation both renewables and gas-fired, price-hedged and merchant, along with infrastructure projects linked to natural gas including LNG export/import. Government policies providing incentives for investment in renewables, for promotion of exports, or for monetizing energy resources are featured in this survey. The objective of the course is to provide students with a practical grounding for market participants or policy analysts to appreciate which types of energy projects can attract investors and lenders in current financial markets. The course employs financial modeling and credit risk-rating exercises for students to develop basic skills in identifying the principal project risks, performing cashflow analysis, and measuring the investment and credit metrics for equity and debt capital sources.
- W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- 3 points
Corporations and Human Rights
This course is designed to allow students to learn about the growing importance of human rights and their impact in today's world. Through an in-depth examination of the field of business and human rights, students will gain an understanding of the existing and emerging international human rights framework relevant to business, learn ways in which business and human rights intersect, and be exposed to the range of methods and tactics being employed by human rights advocates and businesses to address their human rights impacts. By the end of the course, the student will have a firm grasp of the current business and human rights debates and be able to critically evaluate the efficacy of applying human rights standards to corporations and the effect of corporate practices on human rights. Classroom discussion will include a review of trends in human rights, the development of human rights principles or standards relevant to corporations, human rights issues facing business operations abroad, the growing public demand for greater accountability, strategies of civil society advocacy around business and human rights; collaborative efforts between business and non-profit organizations; and other issues managers must deal with. Through guest lectures, students can engage with business managers and advocacy professionals dealing with these issues firsthand.
Attendance is mandatory in the first class session.
- W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Joanne R Bauer
CULPA: 1 Info - 3 points
Energy, Enterprise and Development
Energy, Enterprise & Develop
Energy, Enterprise and Development explores the conditions that characterize energy poverty in poor countries; traditional and non-traditional approaches to providing modern energy access to un-served and badly served populations; and, the relationship of energy to human development, environmental conditions and sustainability We examine examples of energy access enterprises, conduct country research, and each student designs an initiative appropriate to the results of that research. Using real examples we explore the issues that must be understood for energy enterprises to succeed in developing countries.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- 3 points
Sustainable Development Policy and Pract
Sustainable Development Pract
Open to MPA-DP Only.
The term ‘sustainable development’ evokes a multiplicity of meanings and consequences: Leave no one behind, earth justice, one planet, inter-generational equity and green development, to name a few. There is no single body of academic work we can point the keen student to. Instead, we need to examine weaves of thought across social, economic, political, ecological and environmental spheres, to get a better sense of the emergent understandings of sustainable development.
Paradoxically, the interest in sustainable development has never been higher. At the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, leaders of 193 countries adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Some months later, in December, the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted supporting the objectives of sustainable development to help establish an upper limit for human-induced global warming to ‘well-below 2-degree C’ and for ‘pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degree C’. The COVID-19 pandemic and measures to contain it has exposed the deep fault lines of inequality that run through societies; requiring profound reflection on the idea of ‘progress’ and on the kind of development that is needed.
Despite the thicket of ‘sustainable development’ meanings, national leaders in 2015 were responding to the immense social, economic and environmental challenges we are facing. With the world at around eight billion people and an annual economy (GDP-Purchasing Power Parity) of around US$147 trillion, human impacts on the environment have reached dangerous levels. By 2050 there will likely be around ten billion people, sharing in a highly unequal manner a global GDP that will likely be double the size of current GDP. By sustainable development, the leaders were emphasizing the need for economic prosperity to be achieved simultaneously with social inclusion and environmental sustainability, both in the now and the future.
The SDPP is an overview course
. It examines the intertwined nature of the economic, social and environmental strands of thoughts and ideas that loosely constitute the constellations of ‘sustainable development’. Further, the course investigates key challenges and transformational ideas/conceptions that are needed to advance sustainable development in the 21st Century. In the final third of the cours
- TR 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- 3 points
International Capital Markets
Priority Reg: IFEP Concentration.
By the end of this course, students will have an up-to-date picture of how institutional investors and financial intermediaries provide capital globally to start-up companies, established companies, households, and governments. You will be able to read the Financial Times or the Wall Street Journal, understand most of the terms, and pick out some of the folk wisdom that does not fit with economic theory. You will be ready to use risk management tools, including derivatives, options, futures, and asset-backed securities, if they arise on the job. Additionally, you will understand the economic role of hedge funds, collateralized loan obligations, SPACs, private equity, private credit, and securitization. You will gain insight into the important role of mathematical models and their limitations for practitioners in modern finance. The course will enable you to follow debates on Libor reform and the move in the U.S. to SOFR, regulation of hedge funds and banks, and international tax issues. You will understand the origins and transmission mechanisms of the financial crisis and be able to assess the policy responses around the world. Furthermore, you will appreciate how central banks are grappling with post-pandemic inflation and the implications for securities pricing.
We will not delve deeply into why a firm might prefer fixed or floating-rate debt or determining the desired mix between debt and equity, as these topics are covered in corporate finance classes. Nor will we discuss why consumers borrow or lend to smooth out consumption over their life cycle, which is a topic for microeconomics. Finally, we will leave government borrowing and monetary policy to macroeconomics and political science classes. However, we do need to keep abreast of monetary policy to anchor our understanding of interest rates and the yield curve. Our primary concern in this class is how participants in capital markets get things done.
- T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Richard Robb
Info - 3 points
Global Media: Policy Lab and Innovation
Global Media: Innov & Econ Dev
This course looks at media around the world and some of the difficulties that journalists face, as well as solutions. We will look at a bit of history and theory in order to understand the role the media plays and how it can be supported. We will focus on a few basic interrelated themes: media innovation, media sustainability, investigative reporting, and the more recent problem of online disinformation and how generative AI may upend journalism.
Guest lectures will be given by people at the cutting edge of media innovation and investigative journalism in both profit and non-profit organizations. Some of your work will be read by organizations working on media policy. We have a track record of helping them with our research.
Practical questions will be essential to this course: How do you build a media outlet that can be sustained financially? What is the evolving role of the donor community and media philanthropy? Who are the innovators in the quality media landscape around the world, and what does it take for them to succeed? What policies can be adopted by governments and donors to support public service media? We start from the position that media freedom of expression and safety of journalists are essential, and we will consider both the soft and hard pressures on journalists and the effect that financial upheaval and digital technology are having on free expression. We will also look at current threats to journalism, questions of viability and sustainability, and how AI could upend media ecosystems.
This course is more relevant and urgent than ever. Because of the rise of “democratators” around the world and the ongoing repression of the media, we will necessarily discuss the role of demagogues, the need for regulation of the tech giants, and how to support the media as a Fourth Estate. The financial crisis faced by the media has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, but this means the search for solutions has become more intense and the field is awash with big ideas and creative thinking. It’s an exciting time to think about why journalism matters and what policies will help preserve it.
- W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
- 3 points
Infrastructure Investment and Developmen
Infrastructure Investmnt & Dev
Priority Reg: CEE Concentration.
Key question: How to harmonize the diverse objectives of private investors, public sector officials, multilateral institutions and other key actors in the development of international infrastructure projects. This course will examine the principles underlying global infrastructure investment and explore effective strategies to encourage development of facilities for transportation, water, energy, healthcare and education. The classes will focus primarily upon three or more specific case studies of recent projects. Subjects of examination will include the Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan, the Kenya-Uganda Rift Valley Railway, the Sorek water desalination system in Israel, and the Gandhinagar Photovoltaic Rooftop Program in India. The projects will be examined from the perspectives of financial investors, industrial operators, creditors, including commercial banks and multilateral institutions, government policymakers and the public. Issues discussed will include risk allocation, delivery methods and the evolving cast of global investors.
- M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Joel Moser
Info - 1.5 points
Creating a Social Enterprise
The course will focus on the knowledge and skills required to develop an idea, thoughtfully plan, articulate and pitch a new social enterprise, venture or business. This course is a workshop, not a lecture course. Students will work on projects in teams to brainstorm - define ideas, engage in customer discovery - development, create viable business models - budgets and be able to pitch their idea to potential partners and investors. Components of the course include: 1) Design Thinking, Ideation and Prototyping; 2) Business Planning and Budgeting; 3) Social Impact Measurement; 4) Pitching ideas.
- W 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Sarah M Holloway
CULPA: 1 Info - 3 points
Global Energy Policy
Priority Reg: CEE Concentration.
Global Energy Policy gives an objective view of the world energy system and the energy transition. This course aims at providing students with the critical knowledge and skills to understand the energy trilemma and the trade-offs that governments have to make in designing energy policies. The course centers around sustainability but deep-dives into the technological and political economy constraints that inhibit a higher-paced transition. Consequentially, the course focuses on three elements. First, we evaluate the state of play, trends and projections in global energy, including key technologies, investment trends and subsidy policies. Second, we use case-based teaching to understand the drivers and constraints associated with national energy policy decision making. Cases are chosen to discuss the role of social contracts, firms, geopolitics and vested interests. They include, among others power sector reform in India; biofuel reform in the US and the EU; oil and natural gas geopolitics; oil & conflict; corruption in the energy sector; energy in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. And third, we discuss regional and global energy policies and players.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Tom Moerenhout
Info - 3 points
Fundamentals of Environmental Economics
Environmental Policy
Priority Reg: CEE Concentration.
Human societies depend on and derive well-being from the natural environment, but we also transform, deplete, and degrade the environment. Indeed, the human imprint is so great that, to some scientists, the planet has entered a new epoch, the Anthropocene. In this course we shall look not only at
what
humans have done to modify the environment (impacts), but
why
we have done these things when the consequences are detrimental to our own well-being
(behavior), and
how
this behavior can be changed to make people better off (policy). The course develops a conceptual framework for policy analysis that integrates the natural and social sciences to answer these “what,” “why” and “how” questions. The framework is rooted in economics, but prior study of economics is
not
a prerequisite.
- T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- F 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Scott Barrett
Wikipedia Info - 3 points
Energy Systems Fundamentals
Priority Reg: CEE Concentration.
The purpose of this course is to establish a core energy skill set for SIPA students and prepare them for more advanced energy courses by providing a basic language and toolset for understanding energy issues. Existing energy sources and the infrastructures that deliver them to users around the world are undergoing a period of rapid change. Limits to growth, rapidly fluctuating raw material prices, and the emergence of new technology options all contribute to heightened risk and opportunity in the energy sector.
- M 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- M 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- F 2:10 p.m.-5 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Travis Bradford
CULPA: 1 Wikipedia Info - 3 points
Environmental Advocacy: From Interest to
Recognition, prevention and resolution of environmental problems depends on effective environmental advocacy, but what constitutes effective collective action? Advocates typically argue that they represent the collective interests of the general public and underrepresented groups, and use a variety of tactics to express themselves over a range of scale. Government regulation and environmental science also often rely upon the product of advocacy to different degrees. How much has advocacy influenced environmental policy and political and civic engagement? This class examines the role of advocacy and science inside and outside the US environmental policy-making process, and addresses different approaches to environmental advocacy from the local to the global. Using both historical and contemporary sources, the course investigates how different groups experience the natural and built worlds, the interplay of citizens and science, the treatment of science by advocates and the media, and the role of advocates of various types in legislative, administrative and judicial decision making. It also takes a comparative approach of how other political systems (e.g. China) experience and responds to environmental advocacy. Along the way, we will explore connections between environmental change and social inequality, the rise of modern environmental politics, environmentalism and nationalism, and differing visions for the future of nature.
- M 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Sara Tjossem
Info - 3 points
Financial Risk Management and Public Pol
Financial Risk Mgmt & Pub Pol
Pre-requisite Courses: SIPAU6500 - Quantitative Analysis I, and SIPAU6200 – Accounting or INAFU6022 – Economics of Finance or equivalent.
The development of quantitative risk management by the financial industry has gone hand-in-hand with the growth of quantitative approaches to financial regulation. Since the global financial crisis, the interactions between industry best practices and regulation have grown even closer, reflecting both lessons learned (or not), the widening scope of regulation, and the now-central role of financial risk in the public policy agenda.
This course applies risk management principles within the context of public policy, presenting market, liquidity, and credit risk measurement techniques employed by banks and other intermediaries, along with their drawbacks and limitations. To help understand current approaches to risk management practice and regulation, the course examines financial market behavior in both normal times and crises, the treatment of firms and debt in bankruptcy—especially how it differs for financial firms—the role of securitization in the financial system, and the roles of leverage and of market and funding liquidity in times of calm and distress.
The course focuses on intuition and understanding, conveying quantitative and technical material primarily through graphical and numerical examples, while also introducing students to sources of financial and statistical data. It aims to provide students with:
Mastery of basic quantitative market and credit risk management and the ability to apply these techniques in financial markets and to public policy issues in finance.
An understanding of the goals and tools of financial institution and market regulation, as well as current changes and public policy issues in regulation.
Enhanced general conversancy with, and appreciation of, financial models and data.
The course will largely consist of lectures, but students are encouraged to interrupt with questions, comments, and to share perspectives from their professional experience.
- W 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Allan M Malz
CULPA: 1 Info - 3 points
Politics of Policymaking: Global Perspec
Open to First-Year MPA Only.
Policymaking—the process by which political actors make decisions on a range of policy issues—is strongly influenced by context. This course creates a better understanding of how policymaking in developing and developed countries is shaped by specific forms of government, state institutions, actor constellations, political competition, and the way policy processes are informed by data and lived experiences.
The first part of the course introduces students to different political systems, actors, and approaches to understanding politics. This will enable students to analyze the contexts, determinants, and outcomes of political processes. The analytical foundations include approaches of mainstream and intersectional policy analysis, varieties of democracy and autocracy and the role of external donors, such as donors and international organizations. The second part of the course focuses on concrete ways to make, negotiate, and influence policies. This includes discussions on a toolbox for policymaking, evidence-based and participatory policymaking, social movements, policy innovation, and advocacy.
In addition to providing participants with the conceptual foundations of politics and policymaking, the course teaches students a set of policy tools that students can apply throughout their careers in government, think tanks, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. A centerpiece of these skills is policy memo writing, in which students will learn to conduct concise, evidence-based policy analysis that diagnoses a policy problem, evaluates potential solutions, and conducts analysis of the relevant political institutions and actors. Other policy tools include the use and design of indicators, polls, public participation plans, and stakeholder mappings.
Besides the material covered in the lectures, students will also attend a weekly recitation section. Recitation sections will help students develop the skills necessary for policy analysis, or involve the discussion of case studies to explore key concepts related to the lecture.
By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of how public policy is made and implemented in a range of countries, enhanced skills, and tools to design policies and be able to actively participate in policymaking processes in a variety of roles.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Daniel Naujoks
Info - 4 points
Politics of Policymaking: Global Perspec
Open to First-Year MPA Only.
Policymaking—the process by which political actors make decisions on a range of policy issues—is strongly influenced by context. This course creates a better understanding of how policymaking in developing and developed countries is shaped by specific forms of government, state institutions, actor constellations, political competition, and the way policy processes are informed by data and lived experiences.
The first part of the course introduces students to different political systems, actors, and approaches to understanding politics. This will enable students to analyze the contexts, determinants, and outcomes of political processes. The analytical foundations include approaches of mainstream and intersectional policy analysis, varieties of democracy and autocracy and the role of external donors, such as donors and international organizations. The second part of the course focuses on concrete ways to make, negotiate, and influence policies. This includes discussions on a toolbox for policymaking, evidence-based and participatory policymaking, social movements, policy innovation, and advocacy.
In addition to providing participants with the conceptual foundations of politics and policymaking, the course teaches students a set of policy tools that students can apply throughout their careers in government, think tanks, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. A centerpiece of these skills is policy memo writing, in which students will learn to conduct concise, evidence-based policy analysis that diagnoses a policy problem, evaluates potential solutions, and conducts analysis of the relevant political institutions and actors. Other policy tools include the use and design of indicators, polls, public participation plans, and stakeholder mappings.
Besides the material covered in the lectures, students will also attend a weekly recitation section. Recitation sections will help students develop the skills necessary for policy analysis, or involve the discussion of case studies to explore key concepts related to the lecture.
By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of how public policy is made and implemented in a range of countries, enhanced skills, and tools to design policies and be able to actively participate in policymaking processes in a variety of roles.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Daniel Naujoks
Info - 4 points
Politics of Policymaking: Global Perspec
Open to First-Year MPA Only.
Policymaking—the process by which political actors make decisions on a range of policy issues—is strongly influenced by context. This course creates a better understanding of how policymaking in developing and developed countries is shaped by specific forms of government, state institutions, actor constellations, political competition, and the way policy processes are informed by data and lived experiences.
The first part of the course introduces students to different political systems, actors, and approaches to understanding politics. This will enable students to analyze the contexts, determinants, and outcomes of political processes. The analytical foundations include approaches of mainstream and intersectional policy analysis, varieties of democracy and autocracy and the role of external donors, such as donors and international organizations. The second part of the course focuses on concrete ways to make, negotiate, and influence policies. This includes discussions on a toolbox for policymaking, evidence-based and participatory policymaking, social movements, policy innovation, and advocacy.
In addition to providing participants with the conceptual foundations of politics and policymaking, the course teaches students a set of policy tools that students can apply throughout their careers in government, think tanks, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. A centerpiece of these skills is policy memo writing, in which students will learn to conduct concise, evidence-based policy analysis that diagnoses a policy problem, evaluates potential solutions, and conducts analysis of the relevant political institutions and actors. Other policy tools include the use and design of indicators, polls, public participation plans, and stakeholder mappings.
Besides the material covered in the lectures, students will also attend a weekly recitation section. Recitation sections will help students develop the skills necessary for policy analysis, or involve the discussion of case studies to explore key concepts related to the lecture.
By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of how public policy is made and implemented in a range of countries, enhanced skills, and tools to design policies and be able to actively participate in policymaking processes in a variety of roles.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Daniel Naujoks
Info - 4 points
Politics of Policymaking: Global Perspec
Open to First-Year MPA Only.
Policymaking—the process by which political actors make decisions on a range of policy issues—is strongly influenced by context. This course creates a better understanding of how policymaking in developing and developed countries is shaped by specific forms of government, state institutions, actor constellations, political competition, and the way policy processes are informed by data and lived experiences.
The first part of the course introduces students to different political systems, actors, and approaches to understanding politics. This will enable students to analyze the contexts, determinants, and outcomes of political processes. The analytical foundations include approaches of mainstream and intersectional policy analysis, varieties of democracy and autocracy and the role of external donors, such as donors and international organizations. The second part of the course focuses on concrete ways to make, negotiate, and influence policies. This includes discussions on a toolbox for policymaking, evidence-based and participatory policymaking, social movements, policy innovation, and advocacy.
In addition to providing participants with the conceptual foundations of politics and policymaking, the course teaches students a set of policy tools that students can apply throughout their careers in government, think tanks, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. A centerpiece of these skills is policy memo writing, in which students will learn to conduct concise, evidence-based policy analysis that diagnoses a policy problem, evaluates potential solutions, and conducts analysis of the relevant political institutions and actors. Other policy tools include the use and design of indicators, polls, public participation plans, and stakeholder mappings.
Besides the material covered in the lectures, students will also attend a weekly recitation section. Recitation sections will help students develop the skills necessary for policy analysis, or involve the discussion of case studies to explore key concepts related to the lecture.
By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of how public policy is made and implemented in a range of countries, enhanced skills, and tools to design policies and be able to actively participate in policymaking processes in a variety of roles.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Daniel Naujoks
Info - 4 points
Global Leadership Seminar I
Open to MPA-GL Only.
The Global Leadership Seminar I is one of the core classes of the MPA in Global Leadership. It provides students with a grounding in the theory and practice of leadership, enables students the opportunity to interface with established leaders across the spheres of government, civil society, and business, and presents students with diagnostic insights to strengthen their leadership toolkits. The course culminates with each student submitting and presenting a plan to address a global policy challenge.
- M 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Mauricio Cardenas
Wikipedia h-index: 38 Info - 3 points
Microeconomics & Public Policy
Priority Reg: MPA-EPM. Prerequisite: MPA-EPM Student, or SIPAU6400 - Microeconomic Analysis.
To design and manage successful economic policy, professionals need a sophisticated command of modern microeconomics. This course strengthens and extends understanding of microeconomic theory, and gives practice applying it. We study the relationship between market structure and market performance, exploring conditions under which policy intervention can improve market performance, and when it can be counter-productive. Both distributional and efficiency aspects of intervention are stressed. An introduction to formal strategic analysis is included, along with its application in the modern theory of auctions.
- MW 9:20 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
-
Instructor:
Ingmar O Nyman
CULPA: 3 Info - 4 points
Macroeconomic Policy Management
Macroeconomic Policy Mgmt
Priority Reg: MPA-EPM. Prerequisite: MPA-EPM Student, or SIPAU6401 - Macroeconomic Analysis.
The course covers major problems and methods in macroeconomics, with particular focus on issues faced by policymakers in small, open economies. Modern macro is characterized by three fundamental features: economic outcomes are determined in general equilibrium; expectations play a crucial role and all analysis must be based on micro-foundations. Firms depend on consumers, who in turn depend on labor income, profits and rents, which are influenced by government decisions and the environment in which they work. Therefore, in general equilibrium, everything is related to everything, and we must carefully analyze how the economy will respond to those forces that can be considered “exogenous.” At the same time, Current behavior crucially depends on expectations about the future and those beliefs are shaped by the credibility of policies, the reputation of policymakers and the likelihood of potential “shocks.” Finally, economic incentives determine actions and we must make sure that our analysis of decision processes is incentive compatible. Macroeconomic outcomes (unemployment, inflation, growth, income distribution) may or may not be optimal and, if they are not, there usually is room for well-designed policy actions to bring us closer to more socially desirable results. In this class we will develop a basic understanding of models and theoretical foundations, but the relevant analytical framework will be presented in the context of current policy dilemmas. Students are expected to build a technical foundation to allow them a reasonably sophisticated understanding of the existing state of economic policy debates. We will discuss theory and evidence on determinants of growth, economic stabilization, inflation, monetary, fiscal and financial policies. Along the way, we will touch on “hot” policy discussions: the future of capitalism and income distribution; policies to generate growth and the role of government; global economic imbalances, secular stagnation and the long decline in risk free interest rates; economic adjustment in the wake of shocks (technology breakthroughs, pandemics, regulatory fads); should advanced economies worry about the high levels of debt or should they engage in fiscal expansion? How about emerging markets with much more limited access to borrowing? How should monetary policy be conducted to attain desired inflation levels? Why does the
- TR 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Guillermo Mondino
Info - 4 points
Politics of Policymaking: American Insti
Open to First-Year MPA Only.
Policymaking—the process by which political actors make decisions on a range of policy issues—is strongly influenced by context. This course creates a better understanding of how policymaking in developing and developed countries is shaped by specific forms of government, state institutions, actor constellations, political competition, and the way policy processes are informed by data and lived experiences. The first part of the course introduces students to different political systems, actors, and approaches to understanding politics. This will enable students to analyze the contexts, determinants, and outcomes of political processes. The analytical foundations include approaches of mainstream and intersectional policy analysis, varieties of democracy and autocracy, and the role of external donors, such as donors and international organizations. The second part of the course focuses on concrete ways to make, negotiate, and influence policies. This includes discussions on a toolbox for policymaking, evidence-based and participatory policy-making, social movements, and advocacy. In addition to providing participants with the conceptual foundations of politics and policymaking, the course teaches students a set of policy tools that students can apply throughout their careers in government, think tanks, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. A centerpiece of these skills is policy memo writing, in which students will learn to conduct concise, evidence-based policy analysis that diagnoses a policy problem, evaluates potential solutions, and conducts an analysis of the relevant political institutions and actors. Other policy tools include the use and design of indicators, polls, randomized control trials, cost-benefit analysis, and stakeholder engagement mappings. In addition to the material covered in the lectures, students will also attend a weekly recitation section. Recitation sections will help students develop the skills necessary for policy analysis, and in particular, policy memo writing, or involve the discussion of case studies to explore key concepts related to the lecture. By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of how public policy is made and implemented in a range of countries, enhanced skills and tools to design policies, and be able to actively participate in policymaking processes in a variety of roles.
- W 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Lincoln A Mitchell
Info - 4 points
Politics of Policymaking: Developing Cou
Open to First-Year MPA Only.
This course is an introduction to the politics of policymaking in developing countries. Public policymaking- the process by which political actors make decisions on a range of policy issues – affects nearly every aspect of our daily lives, including our access to safe air, water, food, education, and healthcare. This class examines how decision-makers in developing countries choose appropriate tools and strategies to address the persistent political, social, and economic problems affecting their citizens. The motivations, challenges, resources, and outcomes of public policymaking in developing countries often differ significantly from those in developed countries. In addition, policymakers are also embedded within their own knowledge environments, which determines how they bring systematic evidence and scientific knowledge to bear upon their understanding of social problems and their preferred solutions. This course examines how contextual factors condition processes and outcomes of policymaking in developing countries. Ultimately, public policy professionals need a conceptual foundation in identifying patterns of behavior and outcomes in policymaking alongside hands-on training in tools and analysis methods that facilitate deliberation and design, ultimately, the implementation of policymaking strategies in their specific political environments. This course provides the conceptual foundation and practical tools public policy professionals need to understand and operate in their political environment.
- T 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- T 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- W 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
- R 9 a.m.-10:50 a.m.
- R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
- R 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
-
Instructor:
Rumela Sen
CULPA: 1 Info - 4 points