GOVT 209: Foundations of Public Policy Analysis

Spring Semester 2014

Room: Hall of Letters 317

Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am-12:20pm

 

Professor Greg Thorson                                  Office: Hall of Letters 306

Phone: (909)748-8636                                    Office Hours: Tuesdays 9:30am–10:30am and

Email: Greg_Thorson@redlands.edu              Fridays 10:30am-11:30am or by appointment

Web Page: http://bulldog2.redlands.edu/fac/Greg_Thorson/

 

Course Description:

This course serves as an introduction to the study of public policy.  In this class, we will examine how public policy scholars apply the methodological tools of science to the theoretical foundations of such diverse areas as government, economics, sociology, and psychology, for the purpose of developing and evaluating solutions to important public policy problems.  After completing this course, you will have the necessary theoretical background in public policy so that you might more effectively take upper division courses that specialize in specific substantive areas of public policy.

 

We will begin by discussing the policymaking process, including the roles played by each of the various players in the policy process.  We will then move on to analyzing substantive policy areas such as crime, welfare, health care, education, immigration, energy, economic policy, and civil rights. 

 

This course is extremely practical.  The topics that we will cover are both important and timely.  I have selected readings that I believe are both of high quality as well as largely nonpartisan and/or non-ideological.  Prominent coverage will be given to scholars who present insightful arguments supported by solid evidence. 

 

There are a large number of policy analysts whose work is dedicated to examining the various impacts of public policy.  Some of these analysts work at large think tanks such as the Brookings Institution, the American Enterprise Institute, and the Heritage Foundation.  Others work at organizations that focus on a smaller number of substantive research areas, like the Kaiser Family Foundation (health care), the Center on Education Policy, the Tax Policy Center, or Mathematica.  Some analysts work in government itself, such as the Congressional Budget Office, California’s Legislative Analyst, or the various committee staff that research for their members.  Others work within institutions of higher education researching specific policy areas.  Finally, some work in journalism. 

 

There are many jobs in the area of public policy.  If you are interested in working in one of these areas, consider majoring in a substantive field related to public policy (i.e. Public Policy, Government, or Economics) and obtaining a Master in Public Policy degree (MPP).    

 

As you might expect, we will spend some time during each class period discussing and analyzing the leading public policy news.  You are expected to spend time each day reading about the latest policy news, and you should come to class with reasoned opinions about these events.  Understanding politics is not just something you do by reviewing history.  Rather, it is imperative that you follow contemporary political events very closely.  You should also be acquainted with good sources of political analysis, and practice developing evidence-based political opinions.  This type of background and these types of skills are essential to success in careers that depend on the systematic analysis of government and its outputs.

 

Complimentary copies of the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the USA Today can be found throughout the campus, including on the first floor of the Hall of Letters.  I highly recommend that you read a major, nationally recognized news source on a daily basis.

 

I also recommend that you follow these news organizations via Twitter and/or Facebook.

 

Professor Thorson’s Favorite Facebook “Likes”

News

Washington DC

Education

Health Care

Think Tanks

Periodicals

Washington Post

Roll Call

Education Week

Kaiser Family Foundation

Brookings Institution

The Economist

Los Angeles Times

Politico

EdSource

Health Affairs

Mathematica Policy Research

 

PBS Newshour

 

 

The Commonwealth Fund

 

 

 

 

 

Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

 

 

 

Professor Thorson’s Favorite Twitter Feeds to “Follow”

National News

State and Local News

Washington DC

Education

Health Care

Think Tanks

Los Angeles Times

Sacramento Bee

Politico

Education Week

Kaiser Health News

Brookings

Post Politics (Washington Post)

California Politics

Roll Call Politics

Education Next

 

RWJF News

AEI

CNN Breaking News

Capitol Alert

 

 

 

CATO Institute

NPR Politics

KPCC

 

 

 

 

 

Redlands Daily Facts

 

 

 

 

 

Required Text:

Dye, Thomas.  2013.  Understanding Public Policy (14th Edition).  Boston: Pearson.

 

Recommended Text:

Paul, Richard and Linda Elder. 2009. Critical Thinking: Concepts and Tools. Tomales, CA:

            Foundation for Critical Thinking.

 

 

Both can be found in the campus bookstore, online, and with many other book sellers.

 

Grades:

Final grades for the course will be based on your performance in the following areas:

Midterm Exam            30%

Final Exam                  30%

Participation/Quizzes  30%

Paper                           10%

 

Exams

Both exams will be closed book and closed note.  Each exam will be composed of a variety of questions, including but not limited to short essay, short answer, and matching/multiple choice questions.  I will provide you with a review sheet for each exam to assist you in your preparation.  The midterm exam will last 80 minutes.  The final exam will last two hours. 

 

Class Participation/Quizzes:

Students will be graded on their physical presence in class as well as their participation in class discussion.  Students are required to have read the assigned material before coming to class.  Your participation grade will be based on your physical presence in class, the quantity and quality of your contributions to the class discussion, and the extent and quality of your preparation for class measured by your participation in class and daily class quizzes. 

 

Class attendance, as well as taking the quizzes, is required for completion of the course.  On the first day of class I will distribute “clickers” from Turning Technologies Audience Response System.  Please note the number of your clicker as you will be responsible for picking it up and returning it each class session.   

 

You will take daily quizzes that ask you about a) political and public policy current events, b) the main points from the previous class discussion, and c) the major points addressed in the new readings to be discussed in class that day.  This use of the clickers will reward you for both attending class and for being prepared for class each day. 

 

Make-up Exam and Quiz Policy

Make-up quizzes and exams are available only when a student has an instructor-approved reason for missing the regular quiz or exam (such as extra-curricular music or athletic events, doctor’s note, etc.).  Whenever possible, both notification and arrangements for the make-up exam must be made either before the missed quiz or exam.  If you miss a class period for an approved reason, you must submit a one-page summary of the reading for that day within seven days of the missed class period to earn the missed quiz participation (only) points.

 

Paper Requirements

You are required to write a five page research paper that analyzes one of the following public policy problems in substantial detail: Criminal Justice, Poverty, Economic/Tax Policy, Immigration, Energy, or Civil Rights.      

 

Examples of previously approved paper topics include:

1)      Does the United States incarcerate too many people?  A Comparison with Other Nations

2)      Does Deterrence Work?  An Examination of Heightened Sentencing for Crimes

3)      Is American Drug Policy Racist?  Comparing the Sentencing Guidelines of Commonly Used Drugs

4)      Does the Death Penalty Reduce the Rates of Serious Crime?

5)      How Effective is the Earned Income Tax Credit at Reducing Poverty?

6)      What Causes American Poverty? An Examination of Family Structure, Education, Gender, and Race

7)      Are Welfare to Work Laws Effective at Employing Poor People?

8)      Is Social Security Sustainable?  An Examination of Past, Current, and Future Trends

9)      Does the Minimum Wage Increase Unemployment?  An Examination of the Evidence

10)  Trends in American Homelessness

11)  Can the Government Effectively Combat Recessions via Economic Policy?

12)  What are to Most Viable Ways to Solve America’s Debt Problem?

13)   Are Americans Taxed Too Much? A Comparative Analysis

14)  Evaluating the Likely Impacts of Implementing a Flat Tax

15)  Is Economic Inequality Increasing in America?  Examining the Evidence

16)  Does Illegal Immigration Affect Worker Wages?  An Examination of the Evidence

17)  Pathways to Citizenship: Prospects for Various Immigration Reforms

18)  The Myth of Clean Coal: Is Clean Coal Technology “Clean” at All?

19)  A Hot Controversy: Examining The Evidence For and Against Global Warming 

20)  Prospects for American Energy Independence: Options and Limits

21)  Is Fracking Enviromentally Responsible? Examining the Costs and Benefits

22)  Who Does Affirmative Action Benefit?  An Examination of the Evidence

23)  Is Racial Inequality Increasing?  An Examination of the Evidence

24)  Do Men Get Paid More?  Trends in Gender Inequality in the United States

 

I expect you to produce a well-researched paper.  You paper should focus on your analysis of some of the relevant literature dealing with the topic.  I expect you to search both the Armacost Library, as well as major electronic databases, including JSTOR, Lexis-Nexis, and Google Scholar, and browse recent work conducted by leading policy think tanks (e.g. Brookings, AEI, Rand, etc.) to produce a significant literature review. 

 

A two page prospectus that outlines the thesis of your paper as well as identifies your sources is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, March 20th.  The first page of the prospectus should introduce your research question as well as establish both its importance and its context within the existing literature.  You must also include in the first page of your paper a clear, concise thesis statement that unambiguously states your primary research question or hypothesis.  The second page of your prospectus should list at least 7 (and preferably more than 10) academic sources that you will review and cite in your paper.  To find suitable references, consider using Google Scholar, JSTOR, and other resources in the Armacost Library.  When using Google Scholar and JSTOR, consider finding a classic article on the topic and clicking the “Cited by” link.  Many students have also found the CQ Weekly Report and the CQ Almanac to be very helpful for federal policy.  Both can be found in the Armacost Library. 

 

A hard copy of your paper must be turned in by the beginning of class on April 17th. 

 

Your paper must include a minimum of 7 academic sources in addition to those cited in class.  Pay close attention to the quality of your sources.  The strongest sources will be from top journals in public policy and political science (e.g. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, substantive policy journals, etc.), reputable think tanks (Brookings, specialized think tanks), government agencies (Congressional Budget Office, General Accounting Office, etc.) as well as books written from the top university presses (Cambridge, Michigan, Harvard, Yale, etc.).

 

Papers must be written in Microsoft Word format using Times New Roman 12 point font and 1” margins.  Your bibliography and citations should follow the Style Manual for Political Science as published by the American Political Science Association (APSA).    

 

APSA’s style manual can be found here:

http://www.apsanet.org/media/PDFs/Publications/APSAStyleManual2006.pdf

 

Bibliographies do not count toward the 5 page minimum.

 

Late papers will be penalized a full letter grade per calendar day.

 

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the writing assistance offered by Student Services. 

 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

I am happy to provide accommodations to students with disabilities.  Please contact the University of Redlands Disability Services office to set up these arrangements.  Disability Services can be reached at 748-8108.  Disability Services has a highly trained staff that has the experience and expertise to assist students with a wide range of disabilities. 

 

Academic Honesty:

All of the exams are closed book and closed notes.  You are not to consult with any materials during your tests.  In addition, the exams are not collaborative.  You are not allowed to talk with any of your peers or look at anyone else’s exam during the exam period.  Papers are to be written solely by you.  Proper citation must be used whenever you are utilizing someone else’s ideas. 

           

Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering forging, or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis. In this course, a student responsible for scholastic dishonesty can be assigned a penalty up to and including an "F" or "N" for the course.

 

You are responsible for both understanding and obeying both these and other University policies on academic honesty.  Academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

 

Withdrawal/Incomplete:

Students are responsible for voluntarily withdrawing from the class should they decide not to complete it. If your name appears on the registrar’s final grade sheet and I can find no work on which to base a grade, I must give you an “F”.  I observe all University drop deadlines.

 

 

Course Outline/Assignments (Please note this is a tentative schedule and may be adjusted at any time by the Professor):

 

January 14                               Introductions/Review Syllabus

 

January 16                               Introduction to Policy Analysis

Dye, Chapter 1

Paul and Elder (All)

 

January 21                               Models of Political Behavior

Dye, Chapter 2

 

January 23                               The Policymaking Process

                                                Dye, Chapter 3

 

January 28                               Policy Evaluation

                                                Dye, Chapter 4

 

January 30                               Public Policy and Federalism

                                                Dye, Chapter 5

 

February 4                               Criminal Justice

                                                Dye, Chapter 6

 

February 6                               Schmitt, John, Kris Warner, and Sarika Gupta. 2010.

                                                “The High Budgetary Cost of Incarceration.” Published by

                                                the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

 

February 11                             Welfare Policy

                                                Dye, Chapter 7

 

February 13                             Trisi, Danilo, and LaDonna Pavetti. 2012. “TANF Weakening

                                                as a Safety Net for Poor Families.” Published by the Center

                                                on Budget and Policy Priorities.

 

February 18                             Health Care Policy

                                                Dye, Chapter 8

 

February 20                             Gruber, Jonathan. 2011. “The Impacts of the Affordable Care

                                                Act: How Reasonable Are the Projections?” Published by the

                                                National Bureau of Economic Research.

                                   

February 25                             Education Policy

                                                Dye, Chapter 9

 

February 27                             “How Well Are American Students Learning?” 2012.

                                                Published by the Brookings Institution’s Brown Center on

                                                Education Policy.

 

March 4                                   NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

 

March 6                                   NO CLASS – SPRING BREAK

 

March 11                                 Midterm Exam

 

March 13                                 Economic Policy

                                                Dye, Chapter 10

 

March 18                                 Paper Prospectus Due

                                                Blinder, Alan and Mark Zandi. “How the Great Recession Was

                                                Brought to an End.” Published by Economic and Consumer

                                                Analytics (Moody’s).

 

March 20                                 Tax Policy and Fairness

                                                Dye, Chapter 11

 

March 25                                 “The Distribution of Household Income and Federal Taxes,

                                                2010.” 2013. Published by the Congressional Budget Office.

 

March 27                                 International Trade and Immigration

                                                Dye, Chapter 12

 

April 1                                     “A Guide to S. 744: Understanding the 2013 Senate Immigration

                                                Bill.” 2013. Published by the Immigration Policy Center.    

 

April 3                                     Video: The Other Side of Immigration (2009) by Roy Germano

                                                Winner: 2009 Politics on Film Founder’s Award

 

April 8                                     Energy Policy

                                                Dye, Chapter 13

 

April 10                                   “Climate Change 2013 – The Physical Science Basis: Summary

                                                for Lawmakers”. 2013. Published by the Intergovernmental Panel

                                                on Climate Change.

 

April 15                                  Civil Rights Policy

                                                Dye, Chapter 14

 

April 17                                   Papers Due at Beginning of Class

                                                Course Wrap-Up/Teaching Evaluations

                                               

 

Final Examination:

The final exam will be held on Tuesday, April 22nd from 9am to 11am or as directed by the Dean’s Office.  Please mark this final exam date on your calendar ASAP.  Do not plan to depart Redlands until your finals are completed!