Open Economy Macroeconomic Analysis

Open Econ Macroecon Analysis

This course examines key issues in open economy macroeconomics, including the determinants of exchange rates; causes and consequences of inflation; central banking and international monetary arrangements; the money supply process in open economies; capital flows and global banking; the balance of payments and current account imbalances; national income accounting and the nature of twin deficits; the effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policies in open economies; fixed versus flexible exchange rates; the economics of monetary integration, and the role of the supply side and long-run economic growth. The course is policy-oriented, analyzing case studies and issues relating to the current global economic and financial situation, including the economics of banking crises, the causes and consequences of inflation, the U.S. budget and current account deficits, the value of the dollar, the Japanese economy, Chinese trade and the value of the renminbi, the operation of the European Monetary System and the European Central Bank, the international transmission of economic disturbances, secular stagnation in the U.S., the consequences of AI, the widening of global income inequality, and other related topics.

• W 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Francisco L Rivera-Batiz
  Info
• 3 points

Political Environment of Policymaking

Polit Enviro of Policymaking

This course is designed for future leaders and top-level advisors within both governmental and non-governmental (i.e. private for-profit and non-profit) organizations. The goal is to introduce the participants to the basic concepts, skills, and tools of “positive political theory” in policymaking. A significant portion of the class material will be devoted to abstract theoretical foundations of strategic political interaction, which will prove instrumental in understanding and predicting patterns of political behavior and outcomes. Although there will be a sizable amount of literature you will be asked to rummage through, our approach will not be entirely interpretive. In fact, a significant amount of class time will be allocated to the practical application of knowledge gathered from readings and discussions. Although the reading materials will focus primarily on national policymaking in the United States, we will from time to time refer to other sub-national levels (i.e. states and municipal) and countries.

• T 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: James J Kim
  Info
• 3 points

Global Context of Policymaking

This course asks how global cooperation can help meet global challenges. The readings, lectures, and class discussions address ongoing debates over the prospects for global governance. Special attention is given to the role of international institutions, including the United Nations, regional organizations, and international financial institutions. We discuss global policies on investment and trade, combating poverty, and sustainable development. Pressing security issues are also discussed, including peacebuilding in war-torn societies, terrorism, cybersecurity, and weapons of mass destruction.

The format of the class combines open-ended lectures and interactive discussions of assigned readings. Each week, students discuss and debate three assigned articles that offer differing interpretations of the global dilemma addressed in the session. Assigned readings are carefully selected to convey of a range of opinions on controversial themes. Restricting the syllabus to several readings per week cannot do justice to the complexity of each topic.  However, a realistic reading assignment enables students to fulfill this requirement diligently, and you are expected to do so. Supplementary sources will be suggested, to encourage exploration of specific topics in greater depth.

• T 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Naomi Weinberger
  CULPA: 11 Info
• 3 points

Social Enterprise in Community and Econo

Social Enterp-Comm & Econ Dev

Through case studies, guest presentations, literature reviews and interactive class sessions, this course will examine how social enterprise has challenged and transformed models for serving and empowering local communities. We will understand how it has inspired and been applied to business and impact models, and, even mindsets to improve the creation of public value in areas such as health, human services, workforce and small business development. We will also consider the challenges and limitations that have been experienced as social enterprise has been deployed through for-profit and nonprofit entities. Finally, we will explore how the public and private sectors at-large could better support social enterprises to launch, scale and generate greater positive impacts.

• R 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Brian Gurski
  Info
• 3 points

Economic Setting of Public Policy

Economic Setting of Pub Policy

This course is designed to help students use economic reasoning to analyze public policy.  It is centered around the government budget and the revenue and public spending choices that need to be made in the context of balancing the government budget.  We will learn about revenue sources and expenditure needs, and the balance between spending and the resources needed for such spending.  An important goal of the class is to have students apply economic concepts to current public policy issues.  Students learn not only economic concepts, but also how to explain them to decision-makers.  The culmination of the course is a team project where students will design a solution to current budgetary problems.

• M 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Timothy Goodspeed
  Info
• 3 points

Issues in Contemporary Security Policy

This course examines central issues in contemporary international security policy such as general causes of war, American primacy and the rising challenge from China, terrorism and unconventional warfare, nationalism and ethnic strife, humanitarian intervention and global justice, the role of new technologies, environmental conflict and cooperation, and key concepts in the study of international politics and conflict.

• R 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Stuart M Gottlieb
  CULPA: 12 Info
• 3 points

Public Management Innovation

Current and future public sector leaders face serious challenges in overcoming society’s most difficult and intractable social and environmental issues. Although many of our world’s problems may seem too great and too complex to solve—inequality, climate change, affordable housing, food insecurity—solutions to these challenges do exist, and will be found through new partnerships bringing together leaders from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors.

• W 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: William B Eimicke
  Info
• 3 points

Portfolio Presentation Workshop

Portfolio Presentation Workshp

Open to Executive MPA Only.
This is a course during which the mid-career executives who are enrolled as students in the Executive MPA program exhibit and share professional work they have managed or directly created during their first year in the program. Materials are presented to the faculty and students for criticism, analysis, and potential improvement.

• F 6:10 p.m.-8:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Arvid J Lukauskas
  CULPA: 2 Info
• 3 points