Contents: This graduate course is designed to introduce the subfield of comparative public policy both theoretically and practically and to give students a basic map of research in comparative public policy. The course schedule is not organized according to historical development of public policy, but according to some of the main subjects of inquiry that constitute the comparative public policy subfield. The purpose is not to provide encyclopaedic knowledge of the subfield but rather to introduce common themes and divergent epistemological paradigms and methodological approaches. The goal is not only to familiarize students with some of the most basic and important research in comparative public policy, but to develop useful tools for evaluating work in the discipline with respect to policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. Issues to be covered include Immigration policy, Fiscal policy, Health Care policy, Social policy, Environmental policy, Taxation policy and Education Policy.

Learning outcomes: This class will be taught as a seminar, using a discussion format. Each student must do the assigned readings and actively participate in seminar discussions, write two brief essays on specific questions of the week readings, write a research proposal, and pass final examination to succeed in this class. In addition to this, every student will sign up for one in-class presentation of a public policy of his/her choice in six industrialized countries from the Adolino and Blake textbook.