OAFP 9395 - Economics of Education

This course offers an introduction to the analysis of key contemporary education issues through the lens of economics. Drawing on public, labor, and applied microeconomics, it explores how education systems operate and how policies shape educational outcomes.

Topics include the public good dimension of education, human capital theory, education financing, and resource allocation. Students engage with debates on teaching practices, class size, digital technologies, peer effects, and ability tracking, as well as the empirical evaluation of education policies.

The course also addresses school segregation, school choice, and educational inequalities. Themes are explored through current empirical research, academic articles, and policy reports, fostering students' ability to critically engage with policy evaluation tools that inform the public debate.

Notions in public economics and public policy evaluation

All material will be on Moodle:

Academic articles for each session, syllabus and evaluation guidelines will be available from the beginning of the course

Lectures notes will be uploaded after each session

Assessment will be based on two components:

an oral presentation (in small groups) of an academic paper or policy report, from week 5 onward – 1/3 of the final grade;

an individual policy brief (3-5 pages) on a current education policy issue, due at the end of the course – 2/3 of the final grade

Read the academic paper that is presented during each session in order to be able to ask some questions and make comments

Develop a policy report idea throughout the semester, share it with us for feedback, and work progressively on drafting the policy brief due at the end of the course

Students who feel the refresher session on public policy evaluation methods is insufficient are encouraged to independently review policy evaluation methods beforehand