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The seminar will provide an introduction and discussion of the impact of public policy on personal finance. Voters regularly rate the economy as one of the most important factors shaping their political views and most of those opinions are focused on their individual bottom lines. In this course we will discuss the rationale for different public policies and how they affect personal financial situations. We will explore personal finance issues such as taxes, loans, charity, insurance, and pensions. Using the context of (hypothetical) personal finance positions, we will discuss the public policy implications of various proposals and how they affect different groups of people, for example: the implications of differential tax rates for different types of income, the promotion of home ownership in the U.S., and policies to care for our aging population. While economic policy will be the focus of much of the course, we will also examine some of the implications of social policies on personal finance as well.

Focus is on the ideal of a just society, and the place of liberty and equality in it, in light of contemporary theories of justice and political controversies. Topics include financing schools and elections, regulating markets, discriminating against people with disabilities, and enforcing sexual morality. Counts as Writing in the Major for PoliSci majors.

Law as a tool for correcting market and cognitive failures. Design and consequences of laws, given alternative policy objectives. Welfarist approach to legal policy; deontological perspectives including Kant, Mill, and Rawls. Economic efficiency and agent rationality, effects of law on expectations and incentives, balancing costs of type I and type II legal errors. Empirical studies of law's effects. Applications: property, tort, contract, antitrust, discrimination, crime, legal procedure. Examples chiefly from U.S. law, but analytical tools of general applicability. Prerequisite: ECON 50.

The major actors, institutions, processes, and policies of sub-state government in the U.S., emphasizing city general-purpose governments through a comparative examination of historical and contemporary politics. Issues related to federalism, representation, voting, race, poverty, housing, and finances. Prerequisite: POLISCI 2 or consent of instructor.

State politics and policy making, including the role of the legislature, legislative leadership, the governor, special interests, campaign finance, the public, ballot initiatives, the state constitution, the media, and the role of research organizations. Case studies include pension reform, health care, term limits and other political reform measures, open primaries, infrastructure improvements, and the budget. Changes in constitutional and in state statutes that can improve policy making in California.

Sources and effects of political corruption in the United States, with focus on potential solutions. Perspectives include political contribution and lobbying laws, rational and passionate collective action incentives, welfare effects of congressional control of the administrative state, voter behavior, agency theory, and the role of competition among politicians and interest groups. Grading based on participation and term paper. Enrollment is limited to 15 students and permission of the instructor required. Email [email protected]

Philanthropic innovation, action and social transformation in the 21st century. Topics: individual giving; philanthropic landscape and models; foundation mission and infrastructure; philanthropic strategy and grantmaking; accountability and knowledge management; global, venture and corporate philanthropy; public policy and advocacy. Readings: business school cases and industry articles. Guest speakers include individual donors and foundation presidents. Class activities: case discussions, role-plays, breakouts, and debates. Individual project: $10 million Foundation Business Plan. Must attend first class; limited enrollment.

May be repeated for credit.