GSPP Courses

A systematic and critical approach to evaluating and designing public policies. Combines theory and application to particular cases and problems. Diverse policy topics, including environmental, health, education, communications, safety, and arts policy issues, among others.

Note: This course has discussion sections. Expand the table below to view all sections.

This course introduces a range of economic phenomena that cannot be explained by standard, fully rational economic models, and explores implications for public policy. Why do we vote for social security despite the fact that it reduces our freedom to choose how we spend our money? What would happen to job seeking behavior if we cut off unemployment benefits in multiple steps? Why do fines work better than bonuses (except when they don't)? What kinds of policies should the Consumer…

This course examines the intersection between politics, security, and technology in the U.S. and across the globe. The course is divided into four parts: 1) Technology in Theory 2) Technology and War: A History; 3) Today's "Emerging" Technologies; and 4) Tomorrow's Technologies. The seminar considers work from international relations, economics, science and technology studies, law, as well as policy writing. Topics include: offset strategies, offense-defense balance theory, grey-zone competition, escalation, the economics of industrial policy, and innovation policy. Technologies considered include: robotics, autonomous…

Data science and artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as Large Language Models, Machine Learning, and many other statistical methods increasingly inform public policy analysis to make it possible to navigate through uncertainty about the future. This course develops data science tools for thinking strategically about the future such as decision analysis, discounting, Bayesian updating, trend analysis, time-series and statistical forecasting, causal analysis, systems modeling, difference equation models, agent-based models, game theory models, configurative analysis, stratification analysis, technology forecasting, decision-making under…

America incarcerates more people than almost any nation on earth, yet crime persists, disparities remain entrenched, and too many people who leave prison end up back inside. Despite decades of research on what actually works to prevent crime, policy too often ignores the evidence. At a moment when the role of science in policy is increasingly contested, this course makes the case that evidence still matters and equips students to use it. We examine how violence and other criminal behavior…

This course explores the intersection of space and national security policy, focusing on the impacts of the evolving strategic environment in space. Students examine the key actors, technologies, and policy frameworks that shape the role of space in the global economy and in modern defense. Topics include: satellite technologies, the militarization of space, the role of private industry in the domain, and governance challenges posed by emerging technologies. The course engages with case studies on U.S., Russian, and Chinese…

Note: This course has discussion sections. Expand the table below to view all sections.