Fall 2009
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BPUB 201: Political Economy of Social Policy
This introductory course explores the economics and politics of public policy to examine why, how, and with what success/failure government intervenes in a variety of areas: the environment, income redistribution, social security, airline regulation. Finally, the course examines the growing importance of allowing competitive markets to provide publicly funded services, taking advantage of private management approaches to fostering innovation in public management: vouchers (for medical care, education and housing) and contracting with private firms for provision of “public” services.
Course Syllabus
BPUB 203: Business in the Global Political Environment
This course focuses on business issues that are mediated through the public sector. Specific governmental policies towards markets will be examined, including antitrust policy, economic regulation and deregulation, social regulation, and market infrastructure (intellectual property, fraud and securities regulation). The course includes discussion of corporate responsibility and ethical issues in international business. Lectures and case studies focus on currently pending actions worldwide, including Internet related issues. The course applies theoretical principles of strategic thinking, industrial organization, and political science to studying the interactions between multinational firms and political institutions.
Course Syllabus
Professor Betsy Bailey Section 001: MW 10:30-12
Section 002: TR 10:30-12
Section 003: TR 1:30-3 PM
BPUB 206: Urban Public Policy and Private Economic Development (Also listed as BPUB 772 / REAL 206 / REAL 772 / REAL 972)
This course considers the pervasive interactions between real estate developers and government. Governments influence real estate development in many ways: through zoning laws, taxes, public expenditures, impact fees, infrastructure, building codes, environmental regulations, to name just a few. Private real estate developers are the prime movers in determining urban development patterns. Thus, we will consider how private development is influenced by, and influences, government regulation, the government policies listed above and how governments influence and respond to private activity.
As a "case study" of this interaction between government and real estate developers and markets, we will consider one of the major policy interventions currently being advocated, adopted, and considered by governments throughout the country - growth controls or smart growth to deal with the alleged problem of urban sprawl. To this end, we will consider what is meant by urban sprawl, why it is considered a problem - by whom - why growth controls are considered a solution to the problem, the possible effects of growth controls on various groups, the views of developers about both urban sprawl and growth controls. Several guest lecturers from the private, not-for-profit, and public sectors are scheduled to make presentations.
Course Syllabus
BPUB 230: Urban Fiscal Policy (Also listed as FNCE 230/REAL 230)
Prerequisites: Introductory Economics, Finance 101
The purpose of this course is to examine the financing of governments in the urban economy. Topics to be covered include the causes and consequences of the urban fiscal crisis, the design of optimal tax and spending policies for local governments, funding of public infrastructures and the workings of the municipal bond market, privatization of government services, and public financial systems for emerging economies. Applications include analyses of recent fiscal crises, local services and taxes as important determinants of real estate prices, the infrastructure crisis, financing and the provision of public education, and fiscal constitutions for new democracies using South Africa as an example.
Course Syllabus
Professor Robert Inman Section 401: MW 9-10:30 AM
BPUB 250: Managerial Economics
This course introduces students to "managerial economics," the application of microeconomic theory to management problems. Microeconomic theory is a remarkably useful body of ideas for understanding and analyzing human behavior in a variety of contexts. Our goal in this course is to get you to internalize this body of theory well enough so that you can analyze management problems. While this is a "tools course", we will be mindful of applied business problems throughout the course. After presenting the competitive model we will dwell on other market structures more like those encountered by typical firms (monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition). We will spend some time on microeconomic lessons on the development and use of market power, as well as strategic interaction among firms. Finally, we will spend some time on the theory of market failure.
Course Syllabus
Professor Olivia Mitchell/Neil Doherty Section 001: MW 12-1:30 PM
Professor Olivia Mitchell/Neil Doherty Section 002: MW 3-4:30 PM
Section 201: F 10-11
Section 202: F 11-12
Section 203: F 10-11
Section 204: F 11-12
BPUB 289: Nations, Politics, and Markets
Prerequisites: ECON 2 or its equivalent; Finance 102
This course is designed for students who are interested in pursuing an
international career and for those who plan to work for industrial and
financial corporations that operate in emerging markets. The course will
deal with the economic and political problems of macroeconomic
adjustment, corruption, the transition economies, and international
financial transactions. All of these topics will be illustrated with
in-depth studies of economies in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle
East, Eastern Europe, and China.
Course Syllabus
Professor Howard Pack Section 401: MW 10:30-12 PM
BPUB 298: Privatization: An International Perspective
(Also listed as BPUB 798/MGMT 798)
9/9/09 thru 10/28/09
Prerequisites: None
Privatization is sweeping the globe. The redefinition of boundaries between the public and private sectors creates new and exciting opportunities for businesses and policy makers. This course will review the international experience with privatization -- the Thatcher privatizations of the 1980s, the current sale of electric utilities, airlines, and telecommunication companies in emerging and developed economies. We will also analyze the ongoing transformation of post Communist countries. Students will learn how to value state-owned assets using real option value techniques. We will discuss bidding strategies in privatization auctions. The last part of the course offers an introduction to project finance as a new form of cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Course Syllabus
Adjunct Professor Armeane Choksi Section 401: R 3:00-6:00
