AS.470.631 Economics for Public Decision-Making

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AS.470.631 section 51 Syllabus

Economics for Public Decision-Making

Course Information:

Economics for Public Decision-Making

AS.470.631.51 ( 3.0 Credits )

AE Spring 2026 [AE Spring 2026]

Description

Economic thinking provides an important set of tools for almost every aspect of public policymaking. This course aims to offer students a basic understanding of economics and its importance in public policymaking. The first half of the course will offer students an understanding of microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, including a discussion of when markets can work to achieve policy goals and when “market failures” call for government intervention. The second half of the class will use these economic tools and theories in order to survey several specific policy areas, including health policy, tax policy, and the national debt. (Core course for the MA in Public Management This course counts toward the Economic Security concentration (GSS). Elective option for Government Analytics students.)

Course Structure

Course Outline:

Session                               Course Learning Objective(s)               Activities & Resources                     Assignments/Assessments

See Course Outline Document abo ve

What to Expect in this Course:

This course is 15 weeks in length and includes individual activities in a weekly cycle of instruction.

Required Text and Other Materials

Textbooks:

Essentials of Economics, 12th Edition, Bradley Schiller, ISBN: 1266068864

Go to the following web address and click the “Register Now” button to access this textbook: https://connect.mheducation.com/class/a-akhmedjonov-spring-2026_51

Textbook Search:

You can search for your class textbooks via the AAP Online Bookstore here.

Minimum Technology Requirements:

Computer

The minimum operating systems for Canvas are:

Mac – OSX 11 or higher

PC – Windows 7 or higher

Also, your computer should be equipped with a Microphone and a Camera.

Note: you may use a mobile device for access, but it’s recommended you have a laptop or desktop prepared in case the mobile device has issues with any of our software.

Browser

For the best experience with our Canvas Integrations (e.g., Panopto and VoiceThread), the recommended browsers are Chrome and Firefox.

You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. Your browser will notify you if there is a new version available. You will also need Java, Cookies, and JavaScript, but the majority of the time, this will be managed by your browser automatically. To verify these are enabled, you can check this Canvas page.

Additionally, you will need to ensure that Third Party Cookies are enabled for our integrations to work. You can do this by following these instructions.

Internet Connectivity

You will be expected to log on to Canvas frequently (daily), so a reliable internet connection is essential. We recommend that you have access to a stable internet connection with speeds of 5 Mbps or higher.

Software

Expectations for additional software or plugins will be communicated within the details of each course:

Adobe Reader – other PDF viewers are not supported.

Microsoft Office 365 - other software such as Google Drive may cause issues when converting between file types and isn’t integrated into Canvas.

Zoom – Instructors may designate real-time virtual office hours via Zoom. For more information on Zoom, please see the Zoom Quick-Start Guide.

The above list includes the most common required software used to support our online courses. Please note: Courses may or may not use all

the software listed.

Support

For questions regarding Canvas or issues you are having, feel free to review the Canvas Student Resources or reach out to AAP technical support through any of the following methods:

Phone: 844-417-0874

Chat with an Expert

Email

Evaluation and Grading

Grading Scale:

Grade    Range

A            94% to 100%

A-           90% to 93.999%

B+          87% to 89.999%

B            83% to 86.999%

B-           80% to 82.999%

C            70% to 79.999%

F             0% to 69.999%

There is no rounding of grades.

Assignment Submission:

Students are required to adhere to the following guidelines when submitting written work:

Use correct citation format

Adhere to word limits for each assignment

Cite sources properly

The instructors are required to use the Turnitin tool for written assignments. Please review the JHU Ethics Statement prior to submission.

Assignment Feedback:

The instructor will aim to return assignments to you within 5-7 days following the due date, depending on the length of the assignment. If there is a lengthy writing assignment the instructor may take 10-14 days to grade the assignment. You will receive feedback in the Grades area of the course which can be accessed via the navigation menu.

Learning Objectives

Program Learning Outcomes:

P4. Design, evaluate, and experiment with specific policies with regard to their ability to meet public priorities.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):

CLO1: Explain basic microeconomic and macroeconomic principles, particularly as they relate to incentives, market failures, and economic output.

CLO2: Apply economic principles to a variety of current government programs.

CLO3: Analyze how changes in policy can affect supply and demand, correct market failures, and alter the size of the economy.

CLO4: Evaluate the pros and cons of government involvement in the market with regards to specific policies.