GV923-7-AU-CO:
Foundations of Public Policy
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
07 July 2023
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MPP L43012 The Essex MPP,
MPP L43024 The Essex MPP,
MPP L430EB The Essex MPP,
MA L14312 Economics with Public Policy
This module introduces students to key concepts and theoretical approaches to studying and analysing public policy as well as applying these concepts and approaches to real-world public policy areas.
This includes the economic, theoretical and normative foundations for public policies, theories of the public policy process and the actors and institutions involved in this process as well as approaches to studying the politics and political dilemmas regarding public policy.
The students will also be introduced and apply these concepts to real-world policy areas including education, pollution and taxation.
The module will enable the students to apply key theoretical concepts and theoretical approaches to studying real-world policy areas and policy processes in modern developed democracies.
The aims of the module are:
- To provide the students with the theoretical background for the role public policy plays and can play in modern societies.
- To provide the students with an overview of the key concepts and key actors involved in the formulation, making and implementation of public policy
- To introduce the students to theories and theoretical approaches to studying the public policy process and the politics of the public policy process.
- To introduce the students to key policy areas.
By following this module, students will gain the following skills:
- A comprehensive understanding of economic and normative foundations for public policy.
- A detailed knowledge of the actors and institutions involved in the public policy process.
- Ability to understand and critically analyze public policy processes.
- Knowledge of central policy areas and the ability to apply key concepts and theoretical approaches to these areas.
Indicative syllabus:
Introduction and (potential) normative foundations
Collective action and public goods
The policy process: Formulation
The policy process: Decision-making
The Policy process: Implementation and evaluation
The politics of the public policy process
Policy area: Education
Policy area: Health
Policy area: Pollution
Policy area: Taxation
This module will be taught in a weekly 2-hour seminar.
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Bueno de Mesquita, E. (2016) ‘Normative Frameworks’, in
Political Economy for Public Policy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, pp. 13–50. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvc772fr.7.
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Knight, C. (2017) ‘Reflective Equilibrium’, in A. Blau (ed.)
Methods in Analytical Political Theory. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, pp. 46–64. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316162576.005.
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Dworkin, R. (2000) ‘Political Equality’, in
Sovereign Virtue: The Theory and Practice of Equality. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, pp. 184–210. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1c3pd0r.7.
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Hansson, S. (ed.) (2007) ‘Philosophical Problems in Cost-Benefit Analysis’,
Economics and Philosophy, 23. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266267107001356.
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‘Would you sacrifice one person to save five? - Eleanor Nelson (The Trolley Problem)’ (2017). YouTube: TED-Ed. Available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg16u_bzjPE.
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Parfit, D. (1997) ‘Equality and Priority’,
Ratio, 10(3), pp. 202–221. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9329.00041.
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Clayton, M. and Williams, A. (1999) ‘Egalitarian Justice and Interpersonal Comparison.’ Available at:
https://ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1475-6765.00455.
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Parr, T. and Williams, A. (2021) ‘Fair Insurance: Defended, Amended, and Extended’, in D. Sobel and S. Wall (eds)
Oxford Studies in Political Philosophy Volume 8. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 69–102. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192856906.003.0003.
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Oberman, K. (2022) ‘Freedom and Viruses’,
Ethics [Preprint]. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1086/719516.
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Glied, S. and Smith, P. (2011) ‘The Methods of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis to Inform Decisions About the Use of Health Care Interventions and Programs’, in The Oxford handbook of health economics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 733–758.
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Broome, J. and Foley, D.K. (2017) ‘A World Climate Bank’, in I. Gonza´lez-Ricoy and A. Gosseries (eds)
Institutions for Future Generations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 156–169. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198746959.003.0009.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Mid-term Essay |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Independent essay |
|
70% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Federica Genovese, email: fgenov@essex.ac.uk.
Module Supervisor Dr Federica Genovese fgenov@essex.ac.uk Module Administrator Jamie Seakens govpgquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
No
Yes
Dr Adrian Florea
University of Glasgow
Senior Lecturer in International Relations
Available via Moodle
Of 40 hours, 36 (90%) hours available to students:
4 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Government
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