PLCY295 - Topics in Poverty and Human Resources

This is a graduate course that will appeal to economic demographers, labor markets specialists, social policy analysts, social program evaluators, and child developmentalists. The approach is based on economics so intermediate level microeconomic theory (and preferably higher) is strongly recommended. Most of the readings are from journal articles, thus requiring a reading comprehension of multivariate regression output, and some experience in (or a keen desire to learn) applied regression. Data analysis will be part of the course requirement.

Since this is a topics course, the final list of topics will be somewhat demand driven and thus dependent on the interests of the students. A suggested list of topics is provided in the preliminary reading list (available here as a pdf file); students who wish to take the course and desire a specific topic in this broad area to be covered should contact me in advance to see if that is feasible, and should send me a few illustrative articles in the subject area. Generic topics that will always be taught are the following:

Theory: The new household economics framework and its implications for investment in children.
Methods: Quasi-experimental evaluation methods such as propensity score matching and regression discontinuity design.
Substantive topics: Poverty; children's health; children's schooling.

Course Material Fall 2005

Course Outline, Structure, and Evaluation: Fall 2005

Reading List for Topics 1 & 2: Poverty; Program Evaluation

Assignment One: Mozambique Poverty Lines and Poverty Profile

Assignment Two: Alternative Program Evaluation Techniques

Reading List for Topics 3 & 4: