Introduction to Public Policy

Class 1: Case Study on Public Policy and Critical Thinking

Readings:

1. Long Thanh or Tan Son Nhat Airport, FETP Case

2. Richard Paul and Linda Elder, Learning the Art of Critical Thinking, Rotman Management, Winter 2014

Class 2: Lecture on Modeling and Optimization

Readings:

1. Edith Stokey and Richard Zeckhauser, A Primer for Policy Analysis, Chapter 2.

2. Thomas Schelling, Micromotives and Macrobehavior, Chapter 1.

Class 3: Lecture on Economic Analysis for Public Policy

Readings:

1. Joseph Stiglitz (1998) Distinguished Class on Economics in Government: "The Private Uses of Public Interests: Incentives and Institutions," Journal of Economic Perspectives, Spring, 3-22.

2. Adam Smith, Self-interest vs. Benevolence as Incentives: A Selection from An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Book I chapter II. Edwin Cannan, ed. 1904. Library of Economics and Liberty.

Class 4: Case Study on Benefit and Cost Analysis

Readings:

1. Tổng Công ty Đường sắt Việt Nam, Báo cáo đầu tư xây dựng công trình đường sắt cao tốc Hà Nội – TP.HCM, Hà Nội, tháng 3 năm 2010, Báo cáo tóm tắt.

Class 5: Lecture on Market and the Role of Government

Readings:

1. Peter Nolan (2004) China at the Crossroads, Cambridge: Polity. Selection from Chapter 3, "Adam Smith and the contradictions of the free market economy," pp. 145-173.

2. Milton and Rose Friedman (1980) Free to Choose, A Personal Statement, New York: Hartcourt Books. Introduction and Chapter 1: "The Power of the Market". Also see: Free to Choose (1990), A TV Series by PBS, Vol. 1, The Power of the Market.

3. John Cassidy (2009) How Markets Fail, New York: Farrar, Straus and Girous. Chapter 12, "Hidden Information and the Market for Lemons"

Class 6: Case Study on Regulation

Readings:

1. Milk Price Registration and Regulations in Vietnam: Will it Lower Milk Prices?" FETP Case.

Class 7: Lecture on the Role of Institutions in Economic Development

Readings:

1. Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (2012). Why nations fail: the origins of power, prosperity and poverty, New York: Random House. Chapter 15: "Understanding prosperity and poverty."

Class 8: Case Study on Institutional Analysis

Readings:

1. Ho Chi Minh City Ports, FETP Case, FETP Case.

Class 9: Lecture on Conservation & Sustainable Development

Readings:

1. Hübner, A., Phong, L.T. & Châu, T.S.H., 2014, 'Good governance and tourism development in protected areas: The case of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, central Vietnam', Koedoe 56(2), Bài số #1146, http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v56i2.1146)

Class 10: Case Study on Sustainability Indicators for Thai Binh Province

Readings:

1. Le Trinh Hai, Pham Hoang Hai, Pham Thi Thu Ha, Nguyen Manh Ha. "A System of Sustainability Indicators for the Province of Thai Binh, Vietnam", Indicators Research May 2014, Volume 116, Issue 3, pp 661-679).

Class 11: Lecture on Socio-ecological Systems & Environmental Policy

Readings:

1. Pomeroy, R., Nguyen, KAT, Thong, HX." Small-scale marine fisheries policy in Vietnam", Marine Policy, March 2009, Volume: 33, Issue:2, Pages: 419-428).

Class 12: Case Study on Tam Giang Lagoon – Hue Province

Readings:

1. Armitage, D., Marschke, M , 2013, "Assessing the future of small-scale fishery systems in coastal Vietnam and the implications for policy", Environmental Science & Policy, March 2013, Volume: 27, Trang: 184-194).

Class 13: Lecture on Distribution, Freedom and Equality

Readings:

1. Michael Sandel (2009) Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Chapter 8: "Who deserves what?"

2. Vũ Thành Tự Anh, "Inequality in raising electricity price," Saigon Times 03/03/2011.

Class 14: Case Study on Social Policy

Readings:

1. Liconsa and the Program of Social Assistance for Milk, HKS Case.

GROUP PRESENTATION

GROUP PRESENTATION