Policy Design

This course supports the CSPS mission to equip students with the analytical and practical competences needed to deliver empirically grounded, theoretically informed explanations of political and social phenomena relevant to public policy.

It offers a comprehensive introduction to policy design, integrating core theoretical foundations with practical applications. Students will develop the capacity to model, assess, and improve policy designs using contemporary approaches, including behavioral and institutional perspectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Knowledge and Understanding:
Understand key theories of policy design—including institutional analysis, behavioral economics, and mechanistic approaches; analyze different types of policy problems and their structural characteristics; comprehend the link between policy tools and behavioral assumptions; apply concepts of causation to evaluate policy designs.

- Applying Knowledge and Understanding:
Design policy interventions using logic models and theories of change; use Coleman's boat framework to decompose complex policy problems; select appropriate policy tools based on behavioral assumptions; develop valid indicators for representing policy designs.

- Making Judgements:
Evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of different tools; critically assess the ethical implications of various policy instruments, especially nudges; judge the strength of evidence for causal claims; balance trade-offs between policy effectiveness and democratic values.

- Communication Skills:
Present policy designs using professional frameworks and visual tools; facilitate group discussions on controversial policy choices; communicate behavioral insights to non-specialist audiences.

- Learning Skills:
Conduct independent research on emerging approaches to policy design; synthesize insights from multiple disciplines; develop skills for lifelong learning in rapidly evolving policy environments.