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

Course Meetings

Tuesdays

• Section 10: 3:30 to 5:20, 1776 G, C-115
• Section 11: 6:10 to 8:00, PHIL 736

Please do attend only the section in which you are enrolled, or obtain explicit prior approval.

Instructors

Professor: Leah Brooks

Media and Public Affairs Building, Room 601F.
Office Hours: Mondays 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and Wednesdays 8:00 to 9:30 pm. By zoom unless we arrange otherwise.
Use the scheduler to book these times.
lfbrooks at gwu.edu -- but use Piazza if possible
202-994-4703

We will use Piazza for email for this class. You should have already received a welcome email. If you have not, look here for a link to sign yourself up.

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 the Piazza board. I will re-direct questions in this vein to Piazza if they are sent to me directly.

Graduate Assistant

Danielle Gardner
dgardner418 at gwu.edu
Office Hours: Mondays noon to 3. Use Danielle's Calendly to set up an appointment.
Contact policy: Danielle responds to emails within 48 hours.

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
• Understand how the market arrives at a price
• Use the graphic logic of supply and demand to trace out consequences of policy choices
• Predict how a new tax will impact the equilibrium price and the distributional consequences for market participants
• Understand why public goods are different than private goods and what this means for their provision
• Critically evaluate economic arguments in media and policy sources
• Understand micro economic theory at an intermediate level

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 are unsure whether this course is for you, please consult the FAQs about which econ course to take. If you remain unsure after carefully reading this FAQ 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, you have multiple options. You can use the links you received in your welcome email from the school, and you can also review the math assessment I designed for this course; find the link in your welcome email.

Course Material

1. Required textbook: Goolsbee, Levitt and Syverson, Microeconomics, Third Edition
2. Required reading packet: Selected chapters from Gruber, Public Finance and Public Policy, Second Edition (Chapter 7, pages 184-189; Chapter 12, pages 321-351; Chapter 19, pages 557-586) and from Rosen and Gayer, Public Finance, Tenth Edition (Chapter 4, pages 54-70).
3. CORE Econ's The Economy, free online here

(1) should be available at the bookstore and elsewhere online. (2) is on order; you don't need these materials until late November. (3) is free online.

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

• Work on problem sets to 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 suggests that in-person attendance creates 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 Piazza. 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 pick up the material and your participation grade.
• In the rare occasions when you attend online, we expect that you have your camera on during class sessions. This helps us understand when the explanations are lacking and creates accountability. While everyone may not always be able to do this, and we understand, camera on is the preferred option.
• By default, mute yourself.
• Raise your hand to ask questions. If the instructor doesn't see your hand, unmute and speak up.

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. I will request 6:10 to 8 pm on 12/14 and 12/15.
3. Using Numbers (15%)
• During the course, we have three 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 (10%)
   • 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.

Piazza

Piazza is the online discussion forum for this class and allows for open discussions of all course-related questions. Post questions you have about the course material to Piazza. We monitor Piazza closely. If you know the answer to a question, post it. Posting questions or answers that are endorsed by TAs or the instructor can improve your participation grade.

By default, your posts are visible to the instructor, the TAs and other students, and you should prefer this mode so that others can benefit from your question and the answer. However, you can post privately so that only the instructor and TA can see your question. You can also post anonymously if you wish. If you post privately, we reserve the right to make your question public if we think the class will benefit.

Piazza is the most effective way to communicate with the instructor and TAs. Please avoid email if Piazza will do. We post all course announcements on Piazza.

Advice for Success

• Complete the assigned reading before class and search the internet for clarification of 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.
• Sign up for the peer educator program at any point to work one-on-one with a peer. If you receive a B or lower on an assignment, you are strongly urged to contact Denee Bottoms to sign up to work with a peer educator.
• Do practice problems in preparation for exams. Use the starred problems in the textbook and the previous exam.

Course Material Copyright

Course materials posted on this website, Piazza, 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'll need to provide proper documentation to the Office of Disability Support Services, Marvin Center 436, 202-994-8250. We accomodate 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
• 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. Please contact the instructor if you have questions regarding what constitutes permissible or impermissible use of electronic course materials and/or recorded class sessions. Please contact Disability Support Services at disabilitysupport.gwu.edu if you have questions or need assistance in accessing electronic course materials.
• 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. At that time, we will both 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 (https://studentconduct.gwu.edu/academic-integrity), 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” at provost.gwu.edu/policies-procedures-and-guidelines.
• 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. Please contact the instructor if you have questions regarding what constitutes permissible or impermissible use of electronic course materials and/or recorded class sessions. Please contact Disability Support Services at disabilitysupport.gwu.edu 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

• 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 at gwu.mywconline.
• Academic Commons
Academic Commons provides tutoring and other academic support resources to students in many courses. Students can schedule virtual one-on-one appointments or attend virtual drop-in sessions. Students may schedule an appointment, review the tutoring schedule, access other academic support resources, or obtain assistance at academiccommons.gwu.edu.
• Coaching
Coaching, offered through the Office of Student Success, is available in a virtual format. See studentsuccess.gwu.edu/academic-program-support

 

Support for students 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 at disabilitysupport.gwu.edu to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations.
• Counseling and Psychological Services
202-994-5300
GW’s Colonial Health Center offers counseling and psychological services, supporting mental health and personal development by collaborating directly with students to overcome challenges and difficulties that may interfere with academic, emotional, and personal success. healthcenter.gwu.edu/counseling-and-psychological-services.
• Safety and Security
• Monitor GW Alerts and Campus Advisories to Stay Informed before and during an emergency event or situation
• In an emergency: call GWPD/EMeRG 202-994-6111 or 911
• For situation-specific actions: refer to GW's Emergency Response Handbook and Emergency Operations Plan
• In the event of an armed Intruder: Run. Hide. Fight.

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