Course Meetings | Instructors | Description and Objectives | Prerequisites | Course Material | Weekly Plan | Evaluation | Advice | Copyright | Accommodations | Course Policies | GWU Policies

Course Meetings

Tuesdays

• Section 10: Tuesdays, 3:30-5:20, COR 207
• Section 11: Tuesdays, 6:10-8:00, SEH 7040

Both sections cover the same material. In exceptional circumstances, you may attend the section for which you are not registered. You must clear any attendance of the section for which you are not registered with the instructor before attending.

Instructors

Professor: Leah Brooks

Media and Public Affairs Building, Room 601F.
Office Hours: Mondays 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and Mondays 8:00 to 9:30 pm. By zoom unless we arrange otherwise.
Use the scheduler to book these times. A zoom link is included in the confirmation email. The scheduler requires you to book at least four hours in advance.
lfbrooks at gwu.edu, but please use Piazza email
Sign up link for Piazza.

Contact policy: I strive to answer emails within 24 hours during weekdays, or within 24 hours on the soonest weekday if you email on the weekend. If you do not hear from me within this time frame, you should assume that your email has been lost and you should re-send.

If you have missed a class, your first line of defense to ask what you have missed is another student or to discussion board.

Graduate Assistant: Tanya Bakshi

Office Hours: TBD
Office Hours: Thursdays 5 to 7 pm. By zoom unless we arrange otherwise.
Use the scheduler to book these times. A zoom link is included in the confirmation email. The scheduler requires you to book at least four hours in advance.
If you cannot make these office hours, please be in touch for alternative arrangements.
tanya.bakshi at gwu.edu, but please use Piazza email

Contact policy: Tanya responds to emails within 24 hours on weekdays, and within 48 hours on the weekend.

Course Description and Objectives

Description

Policy decisions are usually motivated by economic conditions, mediated by economic conditions, or yield economic consequences. To be a policy-maker or offer coherent policy advice, you must understand the likely economic motivations for and economic consequences of policy actions. This course is the first step toward analyzing the economic factors that motivate decisions, and gives you a framework to anticipate likely consequences of policy choices.

Objectives

As a result of completing this course you should be able to

• Appreciate the role of economics in policy
• Explain how the market arrives at a price
• Use the graphic logic of supply and demand to trace out consequences of policy choices
• Apply supply and demand logic to proposed economic policies
• Predict how a new tax will impact the equilibrium price and the distributional consequences for market participants
• Explain why public goods are different than private goods and the implications of this difference for economic outcomes
• Critically evaluate economic arguments in media and policy sources

Prerequisites

None. If you have already taken microeconomics elsewhere, I suggest that you skip this class and enroll directly in Microeconomics for Policy II (PPPA 6014). If you have never taken economics and are a MPP student, this course is required. If you have taken a principles level economics class before, taking this class is your choice. If you remain unsure, please email me.

This course requires a basic knowledge of linear algebra. Specifically, you need to know how to graph linear equations of the form y = mx + b, and how to solve two linear equations for two unknowns (this means find y and x in terms of a, b, c, and d, given y = ax +c and y = d - bx). If you have not mastered these skills before the beginning of class, it will substantially hinder your ability to understand the economics. I want to be sure that you spend the class thinking about how math helps you tell an economic story, and not trying to understand how to manipulate algebra.

If you are concerned about your algebra abilities, or if you would like a refresher, I recommend the link to the math review that came as part of your school welcome letter. You may also use this link with additional material to prepare.

Course Material

1. Required textbook: Goolsbee, Levitt and Syverson, Microeconomics, Fourth Edition. The course ID is tnhexu
2. Required online learning platform Achieve, purchased with textbook. See instructions on how to integrate with Blackboard here. Still have trouble? Contact their support
3. Required reading packet: Selected chapters from Gruber, Public Finance and Public Policy, Second Edition (Chapter 7, pages 184-189; Chapter 19, pages 557-586) and from Rosen and Gayer, Public Finance, Tenth Edition (Chapter 4, pages 54-64).

Reading are available at the bookstore and elsewhere online. You won't need (3) until early October.

You are welcome to use earlier editions of the Goolsbee et al textbook, but it is your responsibility to figure out which sections in the first and second editions correspond to those in the third. Similarly, you are welcome to find alternative sources for the material in the reading packet. Whether or not you purchase the reading packet, you are responsible for the material it contains.

Weekly Plan

Before Class

• You do the assigned reading.

During Class

• Administration overview
• Ripped from Headlines presentations
• Interactive lecture

After Class

• Do homework to practice and review material covered in class
• Ask questions of classmates, instructor or TA if problem sets pose difficulties

Online

• I expect that you will attend the majority of classes in person. Research finds that in-person attendance creates substantially better learning outcomes.
• If there are one or two weeks when you cannot make it to class, you are welcome to attend via zoom using the link posted on Blackboard. You do not need to tell me in advance. If you miss more than two in-person classes, you should start to be concerned about your ability to understand the material and your participation grade.
• Mute yourself on zoom.

Evaluation

1. Midterm Exam (30%)
   • This is an in-person exam covering all material in the course through this point.
   • The exam is timed, and is held during the course session.
2. Final Exam (35%)
   • This is an in-person exam covering all material in the course through this point, but with an emphasis on the latter half of the class.
   • The exam is timed, and GW does not confirm a date for the final exam until late in the semester.
3. Using Numbers (10%)
• During the course, we have two assignments that ask you to use data to illustrate the economic principles we learn in class
• These assignments consist of two parts
  • Problems based on a dataset I give you and help you work through
  • Problems based on a dataset I provide or that you find
• Late assignments receive half credit after an hour grace period and zero after 24 hours.
4. Class Participation (5%)
   • We use at least two methods to assess participation
   • Attendance in class
   • Responses to questions on Piazza, as a bonus
5. Ripped from the Headlines (5%)
   • This assignment asks you to find and reflect on articles that relate to the course content
   • During the semester, you will be both a finder and a presenter; both count toward your grade on this assignment
6. Problem Sets (15%)
   • Problem sets are designed to practice the skills we learn in this course and prepare you for the exams
   • We grade weekly problem sets as zero, check minus (B+), check (A-) or check plus (A, very rare)
   • We will drop the three lowest problem set grades.

Advice for Success

• Complete the assigned reading before class and investigate concepts that you might not initially grasp.
• Ask questions if something doesn’t make sense.
• After class, re-write the answers to problems that we went over in class. Treat your notes during class as a first draft, not a final one.
• Do or re-do problems with a group if you find this helpful.
• Review your work and discuss differences with fellow students or TAs. If you don't understand the answers, speak with the TAs or instructor.
• Use the TA and instructor office hours.
• Do practice problems in preparation for exams. Use questions we have not done from the textbook and follow up with the instructor or RA if the answer is not clear.

Course Material Copyright

Course materials posted on this website, Blackboard, or elsewhere are intellectual property belonging to the author. Students are not permitted to buy or sell any course materials without the express permission of the instructor. Such unauthorized behavior constitutes academic misconduct.

Accommodations

We want to provide an environment that helps every student in this course succeed. If you have accommodations of which the instructor should be aware, please inform the instructor no later than the first week of the course so we can plan together for a successful semester.

In order to receive accommodations on the basis of disability, you need to provide proper documentation to the Office of Disability Support Services, Student Center 436, 202-994-8250. We accommodate students based on the recommendations of the DSS Office.

Course Policies

• The Syllabus
  This syllabus is your guide to the course. If any questions arise, please check the syllabus before contacting me or the TA. Sound educational practice requires flexibility and I may revise content and requirements during the semester.
• Inclusivity
  Higher education works best when it becomes a vigorous and lively marketplace of ideas in which all points of view are heard. Free expression in the classroom is an integral part of this process. At the same time, higher education works best when all of us approach the enterprise with empathy and respect for others, irrespective of their ideology, political views, or identity. We value civility because that is the kind of community we want, and we care for it because civility permits intellectual exploration and growth.
• Student Support
  If you need technical support, other student services, help in obtaining a GWorld card, or any other student service, start at online.gwu.edu/student-support
• Late or Missed Class
  If you are late or absent from class, it is your responsibility to obtain all announcements, assignments, and handouts from this website or from your classmates. As participation is part of your grade, and because attendance in class helps you learn, missing many classes will be detrimental to your final grade. Missing one class should have no effect. You do not need to notify me in advance if you are going to miss class.
• Exam Dates
  Please notify me in the first two weeks of class if you are aware of a pre-existing conflict, such as a religious holiday you observe, that will preclude you from taking either exam at the assigned time. To the extent possible, we will work together to reschedule the exam as close to the original date as possible.
• Submission of Written Work Products Outside of the Classroom
  It is your responsibility to ensure that I receive your assignment on time. If you encounter difficulties with an online portal or submission, it is your responsibility to notify the instructor or TA immediately.
• Collaboration on Assignments
  You are welcome to work in groups; however, you are expected to write up your answers individually. This means that no phrases on your assignment should mimic phrases on any other student's work.
• Submission of Written Work Products after Due Date
  All work must be submitted by the assigned due date in order to receive full credit. Only extreme circumstances warrant exceptions. Late assignments are marked down for each day that they are late.
• Incompletes
  You must consult with me to obtain an incomplete no later than the last day of classes in the semester. I grant incompletes only in exceptional circumstances. If you do receive an incomplete, it requires both you and me to to sign the CCAS contract for incompletes and submit a copy to the School Director. Please consult the TSPPPA Student Handbook or visit this link for the complete CCAS policy on incompletes.
• Changing Grades After Completion of Course
  No changes can be made in grades after the conclusion of the semester, other than in cases of clerical error.

GWU Policies

University Policies

• Academic Integrity Code
Academic integrity is an essential part of the educational process, and all members of the GW community take these matters very seriously. As the instructor of record for this course, my role is to provide clear expectations and uphold them in all assessments. Violations of academic integrity occur when students fail to cite research sources properly, engage in unauthorized collaboration, falsify data, and otherwise violate the Code of Academic Integrity. If you have any questions about whether or not particular academic practices or resources are permitted, you should ask me for clarification. If you are reported for an academic integrity violation, you should contact the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SRR) to learn more about your rights and options in the process. Consequences can range from failure of assignment to expulsion from the university and may include a transcript notation. For more information, please refer to the SRR website, email rights@gwu.edu, or call 202-994-6757.
• University policy on observance of religious holidays
Students must notify faculty during the first week of the semester in which they are enrolled in the course, or as early as possible, but no later than three weeks prior to the absence, of their intention to be absent from class on their day(s) of religious observance. If the holiday falls within the first three weeks of class, the student must inform faculty in the first week of the semester. For details and policy, see Religious Holidays.
• Use of Electronic Course Materials and Class Recordings
Students are encouraged to use electronic course materials, including recorded class sessions, for private personal use in connection with their academic program of study. Electronic course materials and recorded class sessions should not be shared or used for non-course related purposes unless express permission has been granted by the instructor. Students who impermissibly share any electronic course materials are subject to discipline under the Student Code of Conduct. Contact the instructor if you have questions regarding what constitutes permissible or impermissible use of electronic course materials and/or recorded class sessions. Contact Disability Support Services if you have questions or need assistance in accessing electronic course materials.
• Out of Class Learning
  Average minimum amount of independent, out-of- class, learning expected per week: In a 15 week semester, including exam week, students are expected to spend a minimum of 100 minutes of out-of- class work for every 50 minutes of direct instruction, for a minimum total of 2.5 hours a week.

Academic support

• Academic Commons
Academic Commons is the central location for academic support resources for GW students. To schedule a peer tutoring session for a variety of courses visit here. Visit Academic Commons for study skills tips, finding help with research, and connecting with other campus resources. For questions email academiccommons@gwu.edu.
• Writing Center
GW’s Writing Center cultivates confident writers in the University community by facilitating collaborative, critical, and inclusive conversations at all stages of the writing process. Working alongside peer mentors, writers develop strategies to write independently in academic and public settings. Appointments can be booked online.

 

Support for students inside and outside the classroom

• Disability Support Services
202-994-8250
Any student who may need an accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability should contact Disability Support Services to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations.
• Student Health Center
202-994-5300, 24/7
The Student Health Center (SHC) offers medical, counseling/psychological, and psychiatric services to GW students. More information about the SHC is available here. Students experiencing a medical or mental health emergency on campus should contact GW Emergency Services at 202-994-6111, or off campus at 911.

GW Campus Emergency Information

GW Emergency Services: 202-994-6111 For situation-specific instructions, refer to GW’s Emergency Procedures guide.

• GW Alert
GW Alert is an emergency notification system that sends alerts to the GW community. GW requests students, faculty, and staff maintain current contact information by logging on to alert.gwu.edu. Alerts are sent via email, text, social media, and other means, including the Guardian app. The Guardian app is a safety app that allows you to communicate quickly with GW Emergency Services, 911, and other resources. Learn more at safety.gwu.edu.
• Protective Actions
GW prescribes four protective actions that can be issued by university officials depending on the type of emergency. All GW community members are expected to follow directions according to the specified protective action. The protective actions are Shelter, Evacuate, Secure, and Lockdown (details below). Learn more at safety.gwu.edu/gw-standard-emergency-statuses.
• Shelter
• Protection from a specific hazard
• The hazard could be a tornado, earthquake, hazardous material spill, or other environmental emergency.
• Specific safety guidance will be shared on a case-by-case basis.
• Action: Follow safety guidance for the hazard.
• Evacuate
• Need to move people from one location to another.
• Students and staff should be prepared to follow specific instructions given by first responders and University officials.
• Action
• Evacuate to a designated location.
• Leave belongings behind.
• Follow additional instructions from first responders.
• Secure
• Threat or hazard outside of buildings or around campus.
• Increased security, secured building perimeter, increased situational awareness, and restricted access to entry doors.
• Action
• Go inside and stay inside.
• Activities inside may continue.
• Lockdown
• Threat or hazard with the potential to impact individuals inside buildings.
• Room-based protocol that requires locking interior doors, turning off lights, and staying out of sight of corridor window.
• Action
• Locks, lights, out of sight
• Consider Run, Hide, Fight

With many thanks to Bobby Kleinberg, from whom this webpage borrows liberally.