Analytical Framework for Public Policy

1. Introduction to Policy Analysis (Xuan Thanh)

a. What is policy analysis?

b. Process of doing policy analysis

c. Thesis guide discussion and clarification

Readings:

*Dunn, Chapter 1: The Process of Policy Analysis

*Weimer and Vining, Chapter 2: What is Policy Analysis?

* FETP, "Thesis Guide"

3. Conceptual Foundation for Policy Problem Analysis: Applied Microeconomics (Xuan Thanh)

a. Idealized competitive benchmark

b. Rationales for government intervention

c. Limits to government intervention

d. Weighting market vs. government failures

e. Correction of market and government failures

Readings:

*Weimer and Vining, Chapter 4: Efficiency and the Idealized Competitive Model

*Weimer and Vining, Chapter 8: Limits to Public Intervention: Government Failures

*Weimer and Vining, Chapter 10: Correcting Market and Government Failures.

4. Conceptual Foundation for Policy Problem Analysis: Finance and Public Investment Appraisal (Xuan Thanh)

a. Corporate finance

b. Development finance

c. Benefit and cost analysis of public investment

Readings:

*The World Bank, Economic Analysis of Investment Operations, Chapter 1.

John Campbell, Andrew Lo, and Craig MacKinlay, The Econometrics of Financial Markets, Chapter 1.

Huynh The Du and Jay Rosengard, "Funding Economic Development: A Comparative Study of Financial Sector Reform in Vietnamand China, UNDP Policy Dialogue Paper, forthcoming.

5. Conceptual Foundations for Policy Problem Analysis: Macroeconomics (J. Riedel)

a. The relation between theory and policy analysis

b. How economists theorize

c. The framework of macroeconomic analysis

d. Major topics of macroeconomic policy analysis

e. Some case studies of macroeconomic policy analysis for Vietnam

Readings:

*James Riedel, "Notes on the Framework of Macroeconomic Analysis" (Vietnamese)

James Riedel, "An assessment of the Macroeconomic Challenges Facing Vietnam Post WTO," 2008 (Vietnamese)

Thi Thu Tra Pham and James Riedel, "On the Conduct of Monetary Policy in Vietnam," Asia Pacific Economic Literature (Blackwell), 2012 (English)

Thi Thu Tra Pham and James Riedel, "Expectations and the Cost of Disinflation in Vietnam," Journal of Asia Pacific Economy (Routledge), 2013 (English).

Lecture 6. Conceptual Foundations for Policy Problem Analysis: Development (J. Riedel)

a. The evolution of theory and empirics in development economics

b. Methodological challenges to development policy analysis

c. Macro development policy analysis

d. Micro development policy analysis

Readings:

*Angus Deaton, "Instruments, Randomization, and Learning about Development," Journal of Economic Literature," vol. 48 (2), June 2010, 424-455.

Beatriz Armendariz de Aghion and Jonathan Morduch, The Economic of Microfinance, MIT Press, 2005, Chapter 8 (199-230)

Ravi Kanbur, editor, New Directions in Development Economics: Theory or Empirics, Economic and Political Weekly, 2005.

7. Defining the Public Policy Problem (Xuan Thanh)

a. Identifying public policy problem

b. Structuring public policy problem

c. Looking ahead: Designing a strategy to address the policy problem

Readings:

*Dunn, Chapter 3: Structuring Policy Problems

Bardach, Part 1: The Eightfold Path.

8. Approaches to and Models in Policy Analysis (Xuan Thanh)

a. Methodology of and approaches to policy analysis

i. Qualitative approach

ii. Quantitative approach

iii. Mixed approach

Readings:

*Creswell, Chapter 1: A Framework for Design

*Creswell, Chapter 9: Quantitative Methods

*Creswell, Chapter 10: Qualitative Procedures

*Creswell, Chapter 11: Mixed Method Procedures

Berg, Chapter 2: Designing Qualitative Research

b. The Role of Models in Policy Analysis

i. Types of models

ii. Deciding the "right" model for a given policy analysis exercise

iii. The pros and cons of models

Readings:

*Stokey and Zeckhauser, Chapter 2: Models: A General Discussion

Stokey and Zeckhauser, Chapter 3: The Model of Choice

*Creswell, Chapter 7: The Use of Theory.

9. Gathering Information and Analyzing Public Policy Problem (Xuan Thanh)

a. Gathering information

i. Secondary source of data/information

ii. Primary source of data/information

b. Analyzing Public Policy Problem

i. Formulating policy options

ii. Evaluating policy options

iii. Making policy recommendations

Readings:

*Weimer and Vining, Chapter 13: Gathering Information for Policy Analysis

*Kraft and Furlong, Chapter 5: Public Problems and Policy Alternatives

*Kraft and Furlong, Chapter 6: Assessing Policy Alternatives.

10. The MPP Thesis (XuânThành, Duy Nghĩa)

a. Review of an actual MPP thesis

b. Public Policy, Law and Public Governance: Fundamental Perspective from Review ò an actual MPP Thesis

Readings:

*An MPP4 Thesis.

11. Writing and Presenting Policy Analysis Paper (Duy Nghia)

a. Writing Policy Analysis Paper

i. Organizing your policy analysis paper

ii. Choosing your writing style

iii. Writing a first draft

iv. Writing the executive summary

v. Writing the final draft

vi. Revising, editing , and formatting

b. Presenting Policy Analysis Paper

i. General guideline for thesis presentation

ii. Preparing for thesis presentation

iii. Preparing and answering the questions during presentation

Readings:

*WB, Nhận diện và giảm thiểu các rủi ro dẫn tới tham nhũng trong quản lý đất đai ở Việt Nam, NXB Chính trị Quốc gia, Hà Nội, 2011

*Harvard Kennedy School, The Policy Analysis Exercise: The Writing Guide.

*Dunn, Chapter 9: Communicating Policy Analysis.

12. Ethical Considerations in Doing Policy Analysis (Duy Nghia)

a. Analytical integrity

b. Respect for persons, beneficence, and justice

c. Value and interest conflicts: Voice, exit, and loyalty

Readings:

*Weimer and Vining, Chapter 3: Toward Professional Ethics

Hoyle, Harris, and Judd, Chapter 3: Ethical Principles.