Economics of Education Policy

Pre-req: SIPA IA6501 - Quant II or equivalent quantitative methods course. This course applies empirical economic tools to the study of education policy, with a focus on both K-12 and higher education systems. Topics include class size, peer effects, teacher quality, school accountability, school choice, vouchers, and student incentives. In the context of higher education, the course covers investment in human capital, returns to college, and issues of access and equity across income, gender, and race. Students will engage with contemporary research and develop practical skills through empirical exercises using real data. Emphasis is placed on understanding identification strategies and interpreting results from recent studies.