Content

The course Policy, Economy and Society aims to integrate the knowledge about policies tackling societal and economic problems, in the light of the student’s hands-on managerial approach to policy challenges. This is achieved through the introduction and discussion of a limited number of policy problems and responses in social and economic areas. The introduction is complemented by the active discussion of research papers and debates in those domains. The domains that are treated, are quite diverse and touch upon economic approaches to social and political problems. The selected papers adopt a diversity of policy evaluation methods. Therefore, the course has the ambition to integrate econometric, economic, and social-scientific knowledge and skills with some soft skills, particularly related to assessing, presenting, and discussing research and policy.

Course material

For each topic, course material consists of general texts (chapters from textbooks, journal articles,…) and one or two articles, to be read as a preparation for part 2. All course material is posted on Toledo.

https://webapps.odisee.be/Ancor/SSM/Pages/BekijkSSM.aspx?OID=24079

Format: more information

The course consists of three parts; the latter two are parallel but distinct parts. They should make clear that being present throughout the semester is essential, in terms of learning opportunities as well as grading.

The introduction consists of a general overview of the course, and potentially of a discussion of aspects of public management and policy evaluation.

In the second part, students attend lectures introducing five or six topics of policy problems. Depending on the problem, the central contemporary research debates and the state of affairs are sketched and discussed. Some of these debates typically build on previous knowledge gained in (public) economics and management theory, and problems of measurement and design are discussed throughout the lectures.

The third part deals with the same problems, but here one student or a small group of students discuss(es) and assess(es) an applied research paper: problem, methodology and design, results, and reception. Another student will serve as a discussant, and shortly debate the presentation, thus introducing a class discussion.