UPADM-GP 101 - New York University



UPADM-GP 101 The Politics of Public Policy Spring 2020Instructor InformationMatt KaczmarekEmail: Matt.Kaczmarek@nyu,eduOffice Address: Puck Building, 295 Lafayette Street, Room 3051Office Hours: Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00pmCourse Assistant: Chiamaka Ojiako, cpo244@nyu.edu Course InformationClass Meeting Times: Friday 11:00-1:30pmClass Location: Bobst Library, Room LL138Course DescriptionPublic policy is the interdisciplinary study of how society addresses the collective challenges we face. It involves understanding and analyzing the political processes for allocating scarce economic resources, as well as the dynamics of power and advocacy that lead to specific policy outcomes. This course is an introduction to the study of public policy that applies social science theory across a review of public policy successes and some spectacular failures. By the conclusion of this course, you should be able to define a public policy problem, analyze the levers of power available to affect it, develop a range of possible solutions, and propose a best policy outcome.The goal of this course is to inspire you to envision a role for yourself in solving the greatest public policy challenges of our time. New York City is one of the world’s greatest policy laboratories and there is no better place to study this field. We will draw on the world around us to study a wide range of local, national, and global policy efforts and use your analytical tools to identify and propose solutions to current challenges we face.Course and Learning ObjectivesIn this course, students will learn analytical frameworks for policy analysis and use them to analyze a variety of public policy cases at the local, state, federal, and international levels. Students will be introduced to the policy development process and practice the style of professional writing and presentation skills widely used in the field. Approach to Teaching and LearningThis course will use a variety of methods to help you understand how to analyze and impact the immersive policy environment already around you:Reading assignments will introduce policy concepts, theories, and cases. These will give you greater appreciation for the complexity of each case, so it is important to complete the assignments before each class.In class, I will outline the tools of policy analysis and we will use these tools to discuss specific cases. You will discover in this course that incorporating a diversity of opinions and perspectives leads to better policy outcomes. The same approach similarly leads to better class discussions. Please attend each class prepared to participate, willing to express your views, and encouraged to ask questions.Assignments are designed for you to apply the tools we learn to real world policy situations. Office hours are available to go deeper into course material and cases, discuss other policy issues, or discuss internship and career opportunities.Assignments and EvaluationThis course will expose you to the specific style of writing used in policy analysis. You will learn the importance of writing clearly and effectively to drive the best policy decision-making. Most of your writing will apply the tools you develop in this course to real policy issues. Your grade will be evaluated on the following assignments:Policy brief 1 (10% of your grade) – short written analysis of a real policy issue, 3 pages maximum. Midterm exam (20% of your grade) – short answer questions covering lectures and reading assignments from the first half of the course.Policy memo (45% of your grade, divided below) – a three-part project on a policy issue of your choice. You will receive more guidance on this project later in the term. The components of the project are:Policy brief 2 (10% of your grade) – 3 pages maximum.Oral briefing (10% of your grade) – 10-minute presentation and discussion with the professor in office hours.Final memo (25% of your grade) – 10 pages maximum, incorporating the content and feedback from your written and oral briefings.Final exam (20% of your grade) – application of a policy case study using the format of our class discussions in the second half of the course. Class participation is essential to a fostering a robust and inclusive policy debate. To incentivize you to participate, you will be able to gain +5% of your overall grade from active class participation. Grading and evaluation policies:All due dates are specified in the course outline below. These are subject to adjustment as necessary. Additional guidance on each assignment will be provided well in advance of each due munication is key. If you anticipate being unable to complete an assignment on time for whatever reason, please get in touch with me well in advance to discuss alternate options.All written assignments should be completed in Times New Roman 12-pt font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins and page numbers. Assignments should be turned in to the course assistant in hard copy at the beginning of class on the date specified in the syllabus. Late assignments will lose 1/3 of a grade for each 24-hour period past the due date. Please contact me with any questions you have about grades. You may request that I review your assignment or course grade. Grade review requests must be received within five days after the grade was issued and note that I reserve the right to adjust the grade up or down upon review.Course CommunicationThe course portal on NYU Classes will be the primary method of communication for this course. It is your responsibility to make sure your NYU Classes account is updated with the best email address to ensure you receive announcements and messages from me and the course assistant. You may access the latest version of the syllabus, readings, and assignments through the class portal.Office hours will be rescheduled as necessary to accommodate my work and travel schedule. These changes will be communicated in class and via email. Regardless of whether office hours occur each week, you are encouraged to email me directly with specific questions or to request an appointment outside of designated office hours. Academic Integrity and RespectThe long-term quality of your NYU degree depends on maintaining an environment of academic integrity. I expect you to complete all of the assigned coursework yourself and the work you turn in to me to be original and your own. I encourage you to study together, learn and debate the material together, and watch assigned media together, so long as your completed assignments represent your own independent effort. All students enrolled in this class are required to read and abide by Wagner’s Academic Code. All Wagner students have already read and signed the?Wagner Academic Oath. Plagiarism of any form will not be tolerated and students in this class are expected to?report violations to me.?If any student in this class is unsure about what is expected of you and how to abide by the academic code, please consult with me.We live in a time of heightened political tension and polarization. Empathy for and understanding of differences in views is critical to achieving the best policy outcomes. I expect you to conduct yourself with professionalism befitting of Wagner graduate students and treat one another with respect. With the same goal, I also encourage you to respectfully challenge yourself and each other to think deeper and more critically. Please make sure you are also familiar with the Wagner Student Association’s Code of Professional Responsibility. Henry and Lucy Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at NYUAcademic accommodations are available for students with disabilities.? Please visit the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) website and click the “Get Started” button. You can also call or email CSD (212-998-4980 or mosescsd@nyu.edu) for information. Students who are requesting academic accommodations are strongly advised to reach out to the Moses Center as early as possible in the semester for assistance.NYU’s Calendar Policy on Religious HolidaysNYU’s Calendar Policy on Religious Holidays states that members of any religious group may, without penalty, absent themselves from classes when required in compliance with their religious obligations. Please notify me in advance of religious holidays that might coincide with exams to schedule mutually acceptable alternatives.NYU’s Wellness ExchangeNYU’s Wellness Exchange has extensive student health and mental health resources. A private hotline (212-443-9999) is available 24/7 that connects students with a professional who can help them address day-to-day challenges as well as other health-related concerns.Use of Technology in ClassPlease silence your electronic devices and put away all laptops, tablets, and mobile phones during class so that you may fully participate. Handwritten notes will be more helpful to absorb the material and fewer distractions make for a better discussion. In return, I’ll do my best to keep the material interesting and engaging.Course MaterialCourse material will consist of a required textbook, a series of individual readings and videos, and the City of New York. The required textbook is:Birkland, Thomas A. An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making. Routledge, 5th edition, 2019.This is a moderately-priced textbook available from the NYU Bookstore or in a variety of formats from commercial sites such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble. In addition to the textbook, you are required to purchase two case studies from the Harvard Kennedy School. The first case costs $3.99 and the second is currently free. Both can be obtained directly using the links below:Kiernan, Peter 1981, The New York City Crisis, case study, retrieved from Harvard Kennedy School.Varley, Pamela 2016, A Rising Storm: Eric Garner and the Explosive Controversy Over Race & Policing, case study, retrieved from Harvard Kennedy School. Required course readings are listed below. Links to each are available on the NYU Classes site.Course OutlineWeek 1 – Introduction to politics and policyRequired reading:Birkland, Ch. 2Friday, January 31:What is public policy and why do we need it?From normative to positive, separating policy from politics.Week 2 – Policy inputs and actorsRequired reading:Birkland Ch. 4-5“As societies polarize, free speech is under threat. It needs defenders.” Editorial. The Economist, US edition, 15 Aug. 2019. Optional reading:Students without a strong grounding in the American political system are encouraged to read Birkland, Ch. 3. Friday, February 7:Policy inputsOfficial and unofficial actorsWeek 3 – Agenda settingRequired reading:Caro, Robert A. “The City Shaper.” The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 1998, pp. 28-55.Bardach, Eugene and Eric M. Patashnik. A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis. CQ Press, 2020, pp. 1-31. Friday, February 14:Case Study 1: Robert MosesThe Eightfold PathWeek 4 – Policy toolsRequired reading:“Thirsty Planet: Water” The Economist. 2 Mar. 2019, special report. Birkland, Ch. 7, pp. 258-278 only.Birkland, Ch. 9.Friday, February 21:Case Study 2: WaterPolicy tools, part iWeek 5 – Policy design and implementationRequired reading:Birkland, Ch. 10Bardach, Eugene and Eric M. Patashnik. A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis. CQ Press, 2020, Appendix A. Friday, February 28:Policy tools, part iiPolicy implementationAssignment: First policy brief due at the beginning of class on Friday, February 28.Week 6 – Midterm WeekThe midterm exam will take place in class from 11:00-12:30 PM on Friday, March 6.Week 7 – Implementation and introduction to public financeRequired reading:Cisneros, Lisa. “Thirty Years of AIDS: A Timeline of the Epidemic.” University of California, San Francisco, 6 Jun. 2011. Alaei, Kamair, Christopher A. Paynter, Shao-Chiu Juan, and Arash Alaei. “Using preexposure prophylaxis, losing condoms? Preexposure prophylaxis promotion may undermine safe sex.” AIDS 2016, Vol. 30 No. 18. Calabrese, Sarah K., Kristen Underhill, and Kenneth H. Mayer. “HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis and Condomless Sex: Disentangling Personal Values from Public Health Priorities.” American Journal of Public Health, October 2017, Vol. 107, No. 10.Doblecki-Lewis, Susanne and Deborah Jones. “Community Federally Qualified Health Centers as Homes for HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis: Perspectives from South Florida.” Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. 2016, Vol. 15(6) pp. 522-528.Friday, March 13:Case Study 3: The PrEP ControversyIntroduction to public financeAssignment:Instructions for the policy memo assignment will be given in class on March 13.Week 8 – Spring BreakNo class will be held on Friday, March 20.Week 9 – Research weekThis week will focus on your term project. More instructions will follow later in the semester.Week 10 – Public finance and fiscal constraints on public policyRequired reading:Kiernan, Peter 1981, The New York City Crisis, case study, retrieved from Harvard Kennedy School.Lind, Dara. “Puerto Rico’s debt crisis, explained in 11 basic facts.” Vox. 3 Aug. 2015. “Puerto Rico in Crisis: Timeline.” Puerto Rico News, Center for Puerto Rican Studies, Hunter College, CUNY, 2017. Puerto Rico: Factors Contributing to the Debt Crisis and Potential Federal Actions to Address Them. Government Accountability Office. May 2018.Friday, April 3:Case Study 4: The New York City Default CrisisCase Study 5: The Puerto Rico Debt CrisisAssignment:Second policy brief due at the beginning of class on Friday, April 3.Week 11 – Ethical and compassion in public policyRequired reading:Lewis, Carol W. and Stuart C. Gilman, The Ethics Challenge in Public Service: A Problem-Solving Guide. Jossey-Bass, 2012. Introduction, Chapters 1 and 5.Porter, Elizabeth. “Can Politics Practice Compassion?” Hypatia. Vol. 21, No. 4 (Autumn 2006), pp. 97-123.Polimedo, Chayenne. “Can Compassion Become a Central Part of American Politics?” New America Weekly. 1 Jul. 2019.Friday, April 10:The ethical imperative in public serviceThe role of compassion in public policyFinding your own moral compassWeek 12 – Inequality and InjusticeRequired reading:Stone, Chad, Danilo Trisi, Arloc Sherman, and Roderick Taylor. “A Guide to Statistics on Historical Trends in Income Inequality.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. 21 Aug. 2019 Varley, Pamela 2016, A Rising Storm: Eric Garner and the Explosive Controversy Over Race & Policing, case study, retrieved from Harvard Kennedy School“Responding to Rising Inequality: Policy Interventions to Ensure Opportunity for All.” Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society, University of California, Berkeley. 13 Mar. 2017.Holtz-Eakin, Douglas. “Reducing Poverty the Republican Way.” Pathways. Winter 2016, Stanford Center on Poverty & Inequality.Friday, April 17: Inequality and injusticeCase Study 6: Race & PolicingWeek 13 – Case studies: immigration and bail reformRequired reading:Hakim, Danny. “Spitzer Dropping His License Plan: Bows to Resistance on Illegal Immigration.” New York Times, November 14, 2007. Watch: “President Obama Speaks on Department of Homeland Security Immigration Announcement.” The White House, June 15, 2012.Watch: “The President Speaks on Fixing America’s Broken Immigration System.” The White House, November 20, 2014. Insha Rahman. “New York, New York: Highlights of the 2019 Bail Reform Law.” New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2019.McKinley, Jesse, Alan Feuer, and Luis Ferre-Sadurni. “Why Abolishing Bail for Some Crimes Has Law Enforcement on Edge.” The New York Times, December 31, 2019.Lu, Olive, Quinn Hood, Erica Bond, Maya Tellman, and Preeti Chauhan. “Assessing Potential Impacts of 2020 Bail Reforms in New York City.” Data Collaborative for Justice, John Jay College, September 2019.Friday, April 24:Case Study 7: Immigration policyGuest speaker: Anu Joshi, Vice President of Policy, New York Immigration CoalitionCase Study 8: Bail reform Assignment:Oral briefings will take place by sign-up during this week.Week 14 – Case studies: inclusive zoning and smart citiesRequired reading:“Creating Affordable Housing Out of Thin Air: The Economics of Mandatory Inclusionary Zoning in New York City.” NYU Furman Center, Mar. 2015.“Renting in America’s Largest Cities” NYU Furman Center/Capital One National Affordable Rental Housing Landscape, 28 May 2015.DuPuis, Nicole, Elias Stahl, and Brooks Rainwater. The Future of Equity in Cities. National League of Cities, 2017.Watch video: “City of the Future: Singapore” National Geographic, 24 Nov. 2018.Friday, May 1:Case Study 9: Inclusive zoningGuest speaker: Matthew Murphy, Executive Director of the NYU Furman CenterCase Study 10: Smart citiesWeek 15 – Case studies: foreign policyRequired reading: Western, Jon and Joshua S. Goldstein. “Humanitarian Intervention Comes of Age: Lessons From Somalia to Libya.” Foreign Affairs. Vol. 90, No. 6 (November/December 2011), pp. 48-59.Western, Jon and Joshua S. Goldstein. “R2P After Syria.” Foreign Affairs Blog, the Council on Foreign Relations, (26 Mar. 2013).Goldberg, Jeffrey. “The Obama Doctrine.” The Atlantic. Apr. 2016, pp. 70-90.Friday, May 8: Case Study 11: The Responsibility to ProtectCase Study 12: The National Security CouncilAssignment:Please turn in two printed copies of your final policy memo at the beginning of class on Friday, May 8.The final exam is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, from 10:00-11:50 AM. ................
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