Georgetown Public Policy Institute

International Policy and Development Courses

(Track Description)

PPOL 502: MACROECONOMICS
This course is a general survey of Keynesian aggregate demand and aggregate supply framework, including major sources of fluctuations and international complications. This is a required course for International Policy & Development students and a prerequisite for PPOL 686, International Economics. Professor Makinen, Rohaly.
 
PPOL 520: INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT POLICYThis course examines the economics of well-being and social welfare in developing countries. The course reviews development strategies aimed at improving social welfare and empowering poor people. It then looks in more details at specific social policy areas including education, health, population growth, poverty, and gender. The course analyzes the impact of social policies and public investments in health and education on overall economic growth and well-being. Case studies from OECD countries and from developing countries in Asia, Latin America, and Africa will be used to discuss the linkages between policy, social sector investments and economic and human development. (Prerequisite: PPOL 508 or equivalent with instructor's permission) Professor Dethier. (Also an Education, Social and Family Policy Track course)
 
PPOL 532: NGO'S AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN VARIOUS NATIONS
The purpose of this course is to study the role, structure, and functions of the nonprofit sector in various nations. The course will focus on international comparative studies as well as individual country studies and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating internationally. Areas and regions studied in the course will include the industrialized nations (including the U.S. and Japan); Russia and the eastern European countries; the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Issues covered in the course will include prevalent theories of nonprofit sector formation; the nonprofit sector's role in the creation and maintenance of civil societies and citizen participation; the size, scope, and dimensions of the nonprofit sector across nations; the impact of national histories and culture upon the structure and role of nonprofit sectors; and the relationship of this sector to government and business in various nations. A knowledge of the history, size and scope of the U.S. nonprofit sector is suggested. The course will be run as a seminar. Professor Hodgkinson. (also a course in the Public & Nonprofit Management track)
 
PPOL 585: THE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
This course will examine the basic underpinnings of the conservative approach to foreign policy -- an examination that is highly relevant at a time when foreign policy decision making has been dominated by conservatives for most of the past quarter-century. Students enrolled in this course will consider conservative attitudes toward foreign aid, toward the role of humanitarian concerns in shaping decisions about aid or intervention, about the conservative attitude toward the role of Congress in the foreign policy process. And in some cases, the course will examine how those attitudes have changed over time. The course will examine the role of conservatives in U.S. support for non-democratic regimes overseas, about attitudes toward the United Nations and other multilateral organizations. We will examine the attitudes of the "neocons" who play such a prominent role in designing current U.S. policies. We will examine the basis of past conservative priorities -- "the Bricker Amendment", "the World Anti-Communist League", U.S. support for Taiwan -- and consider how conservatives might approach newer foreign policy issues as they emerge. Professor Edwards.
 
PPOL 600: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Historically, economic growth has been accompanied by serious environmental degradation, a grave concern in developing countries where most households are too poor to avoid pollution and many depend directly on forests, grazing lands, and water resources for subsistence. In this course we will draw on economic theory to analyze the extent to which environmental degradation accompanying economic development is inevitable, and to provide an overview of policies that can be used to mitigate it in developing countries. We will pay special attention to the institutional setting in which policies implemented. Specific issues to be studied include common property resource management, bio-diversity conservation, climate change policies, clean technological change, and controlling pollution from microenterprises. Staff. (also an Environmental & Regulatory Policy track course)
 
PPOL 638: INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH: A DEMOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE
The efforts of societies to improve health conditions and increase the length of life have comprised a major ongoing social revolution of the past 200 years. Our work this semester is a wide-ranging survey of social, economic, demographic and public health perspectives on that movement. Lectures, readings, and class discussions cover the social history of health in past times, belief systems about the causes of disease and illness, the evolution of major cause of disease over time, the ecology and etiology of major infectious and chronic diseases, measurement issues, social and economic consequences of changes in mortality and health, and programs designed to affect health conditions. Professor Weinstein. (Also a course in the Health Policy, and Education, Social and Family Policy tracks.)
 
PPOL 682: INTERNATIONAL POLICY ISSUES: TRANSITIONAL ECONOMIES. The transition of the formerly centrally planned and managed economies to market based economies, where private property and individual initiatives replace central planning, is an event unparalleled in history. This course will focus on the transition experience of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) economies and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) economies. The course will take the students through a road-map of the transition process, separating it in to three major periods: the pre-transition structure, transition, and a ?post-transition?. As a starting point the pre-transition economic structure will be defined, followed by a discussion of the reforms that define the transition. The core economic issues to be discussed are macroeconomic stabilization, privatization, and reforms in the financial sector. We will then proceed to discuss how far the transition has come, and whether or not the transition process is over. The discussions will be illustrated by specific country studies. Staff.
 
PPOL 683: CORRUPTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES This course will focus on corruption in developing countries, its causes and its consequences for governance and economic growth. Special emphasis will be placed on the role that public mangers have played and can play in reducing the scope or intensity of corruption. Professors Bailey and Gilman. (also a course in the Public & Nonprofit Management track)
 
PPOL 684: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICYThis course surveys the literature on the key determinants of economic development. It starts out by trying to understand what drives economic growth and why some countries grow faster than others. It then moves on to the analysis of markets using examples from the labor and financial sectors. Next, it looks at government actions, including tax policies and the role of institutions. Finally, we look at the role of international trade and the scope for foreign aid. The course uses examples of economic development in selected countries in Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, comparing and constrasting alternative paths of development. Professor Ramachandran.
 
PPOL 686: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS This course examines two of the most pressing problems in international economics: raising growth in low income countries, and avoiding financial crises in emerging market countries. The course surveys alternative models of economic growth, and confronts the empirical evidence to try to determine the relative importance of history, geography, institutions, and policy (including openness to trade and capital flows) in determining economic growth. The second part of the course turns to the various financial crises in emerging markets?such as those in East Asia, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay?with a view to identifying the factors that underlay these crises, including macroeconomic policies, debt dynamics, speculative attacks, and the exchange rate regime. (Prerequisite: PPOL 502, Macroeconomics) Professor Makinen.
 
PPOL 690-10: MICROFINANCE FOR DEVELOPMENTThe course is intended to motivate students to understand the role of microfinance in economic development. It will elaborate on (i) financial services required by the poor and role of microfinance in poverty reduction, (ii) best practices followed in financing the poor, and (iii) performance of key institutions serving the poor. Focus is primarily on developing countries with limited reference to the US. Conceptual and practical issues will be discussed. Professor Nagarajan. (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 690-11: PUBLIC PENSION REFORM Public pension systems are the largest single budgetary expenditure for most governments. Aging populations and resistance to higher taxes have given rise to pension funding crises in both the advanced industrial countries and in later-industrializing economies. This course examines recent pension reform initiatives in Western and Central Europe, Latin America, and Australasia. Limited attention will be given to the United States. The first part of the course provides an overview of the nature of the pension funding crisis and an overview of responses to the crisis. The course then turns to a more in-depth examination of specific reform options, including incremental retrenchment and refinancing options, individual account systems, and notional defined contribution pension reforms. For each option, we will consider specific design options, political constraints on their adoption and implementation, and evidence on the effects of reforms. Professor Weaver. (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 690-20: GENDER & DEVELOPMENT
Gender discrimination remains pervasive worldwide despite considerable advances in gender equality in recent decades. In no region of the developing world are women equal to men in legal, social, and economic rights. Gender gaps remain widespread in access to and control of resources, in economic opportunities, and in power and political voice. Women and girls bear the largest and most direct costs of these inequalities -- but the costs cut more broadly across society, ultimately harming everyone. This course examines the links between gender inequality, development, and public policy. It provides an overview on key gender issues in development policy and explores in detail several cutting-edge debates in the field, including on: the gender dimensions of poverty, the gender impacts of globalization, labor market policy, and the role and impacts of women in politics and policymaking. Professor Mason. (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 690-21: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS How do nations cooperate? In recent decades, nations have tried to manage cooperation through the use of international organizations. This course will help you understand how international organizations work and why their activities provoke such controversy. The focus will be on the activities of the United Nations, the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO. Through its discussion of the activities of these institutions, the course will provide an overview of five key global issues: security, trade, international finance, economic development, and the environment.  Staff. (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 702: POVERTY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA. This module will examine the main causes of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. It will begin by comparing poverty levels in Africa with the rest of the developing world. It will then focus on key issues that help explain the lack of economic growth, the high incidence of disease, and the relatively low levels of infrastructure. This includes an examination of both internal and external obstacles to growth, as well as structural factors that keep poverty levels high in Africa. Finally, we will look at policy options, both domestic and international, that may help alleviate poverty in Africa. Professor Ramachandran.
 
PPOL 703: POLITICAL ECONOMY OF FOREIGN AID. This module will examine how the foreign aid business works. We will look at mechanisms typically used by USAID and other bilateral aid agencies to deliver aid. We will also look at new forms of assistance such as the Gates Foundation. The economic impact of aid will be considered in depth, including food aid and relief aid. The potential impact of the proposed Millennium Challenge Account will also be analyzed. Finally, we will look at whether the aid business might be reformed to work more effectively. Professor Ramachandran.
 
PPOL 704: COMPARATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. This course is designed to teach students what environmental policies exist, what they are driven by, and what country specifics have to be taken into account when designing environmental policies. Staff. (also an Environmental & Regulatory track course)
 
PPOL 705: EUROPEAN UNION POLICYMAKING. This module provides a thorough introduction to the policy process governing the European Union. The students will learn about the institutional framework of the European Union consisting of the European Commission, the Council of Ministers, the European Council, the European Parliament, and the European Court of Justice. The course will familiarize students with the norms and principles governing the interplay of these institutions during the policymaking process. The relationship between the European Union and its member states will receive particular attention. The course will also provide insight into how political parties, interest, and advocacy groups make their voices heard within the European political system. Examples will be drawn from and applications made to a variety of policy fields including environmental, agricultural, regional, and social policy. Comparisons will be drawn with the United States in order to understand commonalities and differences between the two political systems. Other current topics covered in less detail include the EU enlargement process and its implications, the EU as a global actor, and the adoption of a European Constitution. Staff.
 
PPOL 706: MANAGING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
This course will examine the challenges that development agencies face in managing projects in less developed countries, including implementation, staffing, monitoring and auditing projects. Professor Teele.  (also a course in the Public & Nonprofit Management track) (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 707: LATIN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT
This module will critically examine the recent economic performance of Latin America, with particular reference to measures of growth and distribution, and including comparisons of Latin American performance to that of other regions. It will review the role of historical legacies, successive phases of public policies (including Import-Substitution Industrialization and the "Washington Consensus"), and domestic institutions in determining performance, as well as the influence of Latin America's position in the international economy. Among areas to be reviewed will be fiscal and financial policies, policies towards trade and Foreign Direct Investment, privatization, and the "investment climate" broadly defined, including the implications of the region?s large informal economy. The course will also review explanations of the region's typically high levels of inequality, and look at successes and failures among efforts to invest in Latin America's human capital. Student participation will include preparing a short case study of a selected Latin American country. Professors de Ferranti and Ody. (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 708: FISCAL ADJUSTMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
The course will begin with a general discussion of fiscal adjustment in theory and practice. Various topics or aspects of fiscal adjustment will then be reviewed. The topics include: tax policy, tax administration, public expenditure policy, public expenditure administration, and sustainable debt. Professor Vehorn. (also a course in the Public & Nonprofit Management track)  (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 709: CONFLICT & DEVELOPMENT. This module will explore the nexus between violent intrastate conflict and development. It will examine some of the key conceptual frameworks advanced to understand conflict and will explore specific themes which have preoccupied researchers and policy practitioners in recent years. The course will not turn you into a conflict specialist, but is rather designed to provide a broad overview of some of the key themes that preoccupy conflict practitioners and policy makers in the development field. The emphasis is on the development nexus, rather than the important diplomatic, political or military aspects. Professor Bannon.
 
PPOL 718: GLOBALIZATION & INTERNATIONAL LABOR STANDARDS
This module is designed to provide students with an understanding of international labor standards, specifically child labor, forced labor, employment discrimination and freedom of association and collective bargaining. For example, wanting ILS in trade agreements is a political issue, while wanting developing countries to implement them is a development issue. With increased international economic interdependence over the past half century, conditions in the workplace and treatment of workers have become more global. Globalization has become more contentious and raised a number of economic issues to the forefront for policymakers to consider. For example, anti-globalization and other demonstrations at high-level international meetings are becoming more commonplace. Expanded open trade has increased the size of the world economic pie; however, how this pie is being sliced up remains an issue. We will examine the role of the international labor standards in this controversy. Professor Bednarzik. (also a course in the Education, Social & Family Policy, and the Environmental & Regulatory Policy tracks) (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
PPOL 719: INTERNATIONAL LABOR POLICY. The module in International Labor Policy (ILP) is designed to provide students with an understanding of the way international organizations influence the development of domestic labor policy. This is not a comparative labor policy course, although some country labor policy comparisons may be made to emphasize how it was developed. Globalization has raised a number of labor issues to the forefront for policymakers to consider. We will examine the role of the international institutions in dealing with them. Site visits and student participation will contribute to our understanding of the methods and policy processes involved in international institutions guidance in the development of labor policy. Students should carry away from this endeavor an understanding of how labor policy is formulated and developed in today's world economy. Professor Bednarzik. (also an Education, Social & Family Policy track course).
 
PPOL 721: IMMIGRATION & EMPLOYMENT ISSUES
The objective of this course is to discuss immigration to the United States in the context of employment policy, with comparisons to other major receiving countries. Immigration touches on a large number of issues that are directly related to employment policy. Perhaps at the forefront is the question of whether or not immigrants, legal and illegal, displace U.S. workers? If displacement occurs, are low- or highly-skilled workers most impacted, or those in particular regions or industries? And how does immigration policy address these concerns?do current policies meet legitimate labor shortages and minimize adverse impacts? What training and employment programs exist to help workers get jobs? Students should leave this course with a better understanding of the linkage between immigration and the labor market and the roles that immigration and employment policies can play. Professor Bednarzik. (also a course in the Education, Social & Family Policy track) (This Module is 1.5 Credits)
 
 

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