K2SP 3905 - Advanced Analysis and Evaluation of Public Policy II

This advanced course will provide an in-depth coverage of quantitative policy evaluation. The course is the continuation of the Policy Analysis and Policy Evaluation class delivered in the Fall and will build on the notions and skills acquired in the first semester. The course will cover a wide variety of evaluation designs, and their applications to concrete policy questions. Students will learn the whole toolbox of evaluation methods, including consolidating their knowledge of regressions, randomized control trials, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity designs. Importantly, students will learn these methods not only through theory and examples during the lectures, but also through practice in bi-weekly seminars, which will teach them how to use the statistical software R for data description and analysis. Students will also learn how to rigorously read and interpret quantitative evidence, under the form of academic publications or policy reports. Finally, students will pursue their policy evaluation group project, to which they will add a data analysis component and work towards the production of a technical evaluation report.

Advanced Analysis and Evaluation of Public Policy

Moodle

Mid-term exam: multiple choice questions with justification. 40% of the final mark

Group Policy Evaluation Project: 60% of final mark.

• One-Pager to be prepared at home and submitted mid-term 15%
• In class presentation at the end of the term 15%
• Final technical report to be handed over at the end of the term 30%

12 x 2h lectures + 6 x 2h seminars, 2 groups + 3 x 20 min IT project clinics between mid-March and late-April