An examination of the formulation and evaluation of public policy through a comparative approach.

Course Description and Objectives

An examination of the formulation and evaluation of public policy through a comparative approach. The course will be divided into two sections. The first section will involve a problem-based learning approach to public policy. Students will work in a group to decide on a policy issue. Each student will then select a country and work independently to thoroughly research a policy and its effects on the public. Students will then collaborate with the group to publish an e-book, with each chapter examining a different country, an introduction and conclusion to synthesize the understandings gleaned from each chapter and present coherent arguments on the public policy of the issue. The second section of the course will be a consideration of inequality and capitalism, and a debate on what the appropriate public policy responses ought to be in the coming years.

III. Course Breakdown

Problem-Based Learning for the Course—An E-Book on Public Policy (5 Sept—17 Oct)

The first component of the course requires students to work independently, as well as part of a group, to produce an e-book on the public policies of different countries, or different international organizations, on an agreed upon issue. Groups should consist of 4-7 people. Each individual must select a country and investigate a major public policy that pertains to the issue of the group. See the list of potential issues, or come up with your own as a group. Each chapter will research four different areas relating to the policy. The first section explains the context of the issue of concern in the country in the years or decades leading up to the policy. The second section presents an overview of the policy. The third section will present public opinion data on the issue. The fourth section will be your assessment of the strengths and limitations of the policy. Students must collaborate together as a group and jointly write a meaningful Introduction and Conclusion to the individually written chapters that you are collecting. Be sure to include a Table of Contents, and take the time to construct a nice looking e-book as a pdf. The e-book is due in my email inbox on Monday, October the 27^th at midnight. Late penalties start on Tuesday morning at 12:01am.

List of potential issues: Truth & Reconciliation Commissions; Health Care, Anti-Corruption; Regulation of Financial Services; Trade Policy; Pensions; Campaign Finance Reform; Foreign Relations with a Great Power; Addictions

Survey of Policy Context

Each student will present a five-minute historical overview of the context of the policy they are researching on the 12^th of September. Each student must also bring with them a 500-word draft of this section of their paper. The student can hand in the draft paper in lieu of presenting their survey to the class.

Explanation of Policy

Students will present a five-minute overview of the public policy they are exploring for their chapter on the 26^th of September. Each student must also bring with them a 500-word draft of this section of their paper. The student can hand in the draft paper in lieu of presenting their survey to the class.

Public Perceptions

Students will present a five-minute overview of their data on public attitudes that relate to the policy they are exploring for their chapter on the 3^rd of October. Each student must also bring with them a couple of tables or graphs based on this section of their paper. The student can hand in the draft paper in lieu of presenting their survey to the class.

Assessment of Policy

Students will present their five-minute assessment of the policy, exploring strengths and limitations on the 17^th of October. Each student must also bring with them a 500-word draft of this section of their paper. The student can hand in the draft paper in lieu of presenting their survey to the class.

Individual Chapter

This is the chapter the student wrote independently that will be assessed at the individual level. The individual chapter will be the final version of the four mini-presentations delivered to the class. The chapter should be approximately 3,500 words in length, and utilize approximately 12 scholarly and/or primary sources.

Overall Project

This is the final project that will be assessed at the group level. Assessment will be based on the Introduction and Conclusion, each approximately 2,000 words in length, as well as the overall presentation of the e-book as a pdf.

Participation

The course format between the 24^th of October and the 28^th of November will consist of seminar-based discussions of the assigned chapters. Students are expected to attend every class throughout the term, but participation grades will only be evaluated between these dates. It is mandatory that the weekly assigned chapters be read before class. Students will be assessed based on their ability to communicate their reflections of the readings and their ability to engage with their colleagues and the instructor. Seminars present your opportunity to interact with myself, and your fellow colleagues, on issues pertaining to capitalism and inequality, but it is also an opportunity to advance your communication skills and professionalism in small-group dynamics. Attendance without any contributions to class discussion will earn you a maximum grade of 5/10 for the class. It will be less than this if your presence is perceived as unprofessional, or disengaged. Texting and perusing social media during class is unacceptable. A grade of 6-7/10 will be awarded to students who offer a couple of contributions to the class discussion, depending on the quality of the contributions. A grade of 8-10/10 will be awarded to students who offer multiple, quality contributions during a discussion that reflect critical thinking of the course material. You may choose to replace up to 3 in-class discussions that are scheduled from 24^th of Oct – 28^th of Nov with a 500-word reflection posted in the discussion forum on D2L. The reflection should be based on the assigned readings and it should not be a summary. One reflection will replace one class. You could write a reflection to replace a grade of zero due to an absence, or you could post a reflection to replace a 5/10 on a week you did not come prepared or did not feel comfortable expressing your ideas to the group. Your participation grade for the week you write a reflection will be evaluated based on the thoughtfulness of your response. Your reflection is due 24 hours after the class you are replacing has ended.

Book Reflection

The challenge of the book reflection is to think about the content of Piketty through a lens of public policy. How should policy respond to the challenges that capitalism produces? You may want to discuss his prescription of taxes, or you may want to refute his perspective, offer a perspective that is either more radical or more conservative, as long as your response is grounded in public policy. Your analysis must have a thesis, and it should engage with 4-6 additional scholarly sources. The reflection should be approximate 2,500 words in length and it is due in my email inbox by midnight on the 5^th of December. Late penalties start at 12:01am on the 6^th.

…………………Answer Preview……………….

Sweden being one of the early adopter of in environment sustainability organized the first UN conference on environment in 1972 at Stockholm. The policy was implemented after Sweden realizing that it was losing its natural resources.

The issues in the policy are dangerous materials, air pollution, waste and biological diversity. The policy is Sweden environmental policy. The public perceptive on the policy is that the policy has been helpful and it gets actively with time. Policy…………….

APA

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