PAM 4070

Early Childhood Policy and Economics

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2014-2015.

This course has two objectives: 1) To explore how Economics can be used to understand long-term consequences of early childhood condition, and 2) to provide tools and skills in policy work in this field. I emphasize economic model and scientific understating of early childhood human capital development, and the use of quantitative tools for the assessment of this issue. The course focuses on the recent empirical literature on the role of early childhood condition as determinants of adult health and economic outcomes as well as policies to improve early childhood condition.

When Offered Fall.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: PAM 3100 or ECON 3140. Recommended Prerequisites: PAM 2100, PAM 2101; AEM 2100; ECON 3130; ILRST 2100; MATH 1102; SOC 3010; STSCI 2100 and PAM 2000.

• To develop cognitive skill: Evaluate and compare differing social scientific perspectives on early childhood conditions.
• To evaluate current policies improving early childhood condition: Critically assess existing policies on early childhood condition and develop empirical and cost/benefit tools to evaluate their impacts.
• To apply evaluation skills to policies: Perform data analysis using Excel and Stata.
• To create professional writing skills: Write reaction papers for an academic audience.
• To develop interpersonal skills: Present, discuss, evaluate and defend supplemental readings in front of a large group.

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