ECON 242
Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Public Policies Fall 2017
Division II
This is not the current course catalog

Class Details

How do we determine whether introducing a new vaccine is cost-effective and worth the investment costs or whether a policy to protect a wetland is worth the sacrifice? Is it possible to assess the economic consequences in terms of benefits and costs of new healthcare regulations? Economists typically use the tools of applied cost-benefit (CBA) and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) in order to address such policy questions. The goal of applied economic evaluations is to identify, measure, and value all relevant costs and benefits of new public policy investments and regulations. This course covers both theory and practice of economic appraisal of a public policy (an investment project, regulation, a specific treatment etc.), with an emphasis on health care and public health applications. The CBA and CEA methods covered in the class are widely used in many other policy areas as well, including public transportation, infrastructure investment and environmental policy.
The Class: Format: lecture
Limit: 30
Expected: 20
Class#: 1142
Grading: yes pass/fail option, yes fifth course option
Requirements/Evaluation: Computer lab assignments, active class participation, midterm exam, and final exam
Prerequisites: Econ 110 or equivalent, Math 130 or equivalent
Enrollment Preferences: Econ Majors and Public Health Concentrators
Distributions: Division II
Attributes: EVST Social Science/Policy
PHLH Decision-Making by Institutions + Individuals
POEC Comparative POEC/Public Policy Courses

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