Political Science 304
Introduction to Public Policy
Summer 1997
Dunbar 3210
MW 9:00-11:30
Kevin Corder
Friedman 3418
Objectives.
This course is an introduction to public policy. We will focus on the United States and investigate a few policy areas: income security, health care, and education. The objective of this course is not simply to provide you a background in American public policy, but to encourage you to think about what government can and should do in a democratic society. To this end we will discuss alternatives to current policy and consider why government action may be necessary under certain conditions.
Requirements.
You are required to prepare three short papers and complete a final examination to pass this course. The papers will be quite modest (no more than four pages). The exam will be preceded by an extensive review session. If you attend class and complete the readings, you will do well in the course. Each paper will account for twenty percent of your final grade. The final exam will account for forty percent of your grade. The final exam will be short answer questions (no multiple choice, no essays). The exam is comprehensive. The final exam will cover material presented in lectures and in the readings.
Books.
You should purchase the following books at the University Bookstore.
Friedman, Milton. 1962. Capitalism and Freedom. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Chubb, John E. and Terry M. Moe. 1990. Politics, Markets. and America's Schools. Washington D.C.: The Brookings Institution.
Kingdon, John W. 1995. Agenda, Alternatives, and Public Policies. 2nd Edition. New York: HarperCollins College Publishers.
Marmor, Theodore, Jerry Mashaw, and Philip Harvey. 1990. America's Misunderstood Welfare State. Persistent Myths, Enduring Realities. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Add: Still Artful Work and Showdown at Gucci Gulch
Schedule of Reading and Assignments.
30 June. Introduction.
The Role of Government in a Free Society: What Should Government Do?
What Can Government Do? What Constraints does Government face?
2 July. Is Government too big?
Read Friedman (1962). Chapters 1,2, and 8.
7 July. Social Welfare Policy I. Origins and Problems
Read Marmor (1990). Chapters 2 and 3. Hand Out Topic for Paper Number One
9 July. Social Welfare Policy II. Aiding the Poor
Read Marmor (1990), Chapter 4 and Friedman (1962), Chapter 10.
Class Date To Be Announced Social Welfare Policy III. Health Care: Medicare and Medicaid
Read Marmor (1990), Chapter 6.
Class Date To Be Announced Social Welfare Policy IV. Social Security
Read Marmor (1990), Chapter 5. and excerpts from Petersen (1990).
Paper Number One Due in Class
21 July. Education and Schools: Democracy or Markets
Read Chubb and Moe (1990), Chapter 2; Friedman (1962), Chapter 11.
Hand Out Topic for Paper Number Two
23 July. Education and Schools: Measuring Effectiveness of Schools
Read Chubb and Moe (1990), Chapters 1 and 3.
28 July. Education and Schools: Limits of Current Institutions
Read Chubb and Moe (1990), Chapters 5
30 July. Education and Schools: Reform and Institutional Change
Read Chubb and Moe (1990), Chapter 6. Paper Number Two Due in Class
4 August. How do policies change over time? The Actors.
Read Kingdon (1995), Chapters 1, 2 and 3. Hand Out Topic for Paper Number Three
6 August. How do policies change over time? Identifying Problems
Read Kingdon (1995), Chapters 4 and 5.
11 August. How do policies change over time? Politics and Ideas
Read Kingdon (1995), Chapters 6 and 7.
Discuss Review Sheet in Class.
13 August How do policies change over time? The "Policy Window."
Read Kingdon (1995), Chapters 8,9, and 10.
Paper Number Three Due in Class.
18 August. Conclusions and Review for Final Exam.
Read Friedman (1962), Chapter 11 and Marmor (1990), Chapter 7.
20 August. Final Exam (Comprehensive)