Environmental Resources: This class will focus on the role of the environment in the theory and practice of economics and explore the proper role of government in the relationship between the economy and the environment. It will make use of microeconomic and statistical analysis at the intermediate level and will incorporate real-world examples. It will help students develop the tools to evaluate a series of current policy questions, including: What is “sustainable development”? How do environmental problems differ in low-income settings? Are we running out of oil and other natural resources? To gain real world experience we will do an in-class simulation of an air pollution emissions market.

Health economics is an important aspect of public policy, posing some intriguing theoretical and empirical challenges. This course approaches both the demand-side and supply-side of health care, focusing on the U.S. case while reflecting on comparative models used elsewhere. While primarily microeconomic in nature, the course recognizes that health care has macroeconomic implications; it is one of the largest budget items for governments and contributes directly to national economic performance. Topics may include the role of insurance and managed care, market concentration, asymmetric information, the role of technology and innovation, the pharmaceutical industry, government health care provision through Medicare and Medicaid, preventive medicine versus emergency care, professional licensing and regulation, distinctions between for-profit and non-profit providers, ethical questions around medical decision-making, and welfare analysis of alternative policy choices.