This course focuses on the theoretical foundations of the field of public policy and is designed for PhD students to understand the policy process and empirically examine public policies. It integrates readings in economics, political science, organization and management studies, and related disciplines such as public administration and public management in analyzing public policy. The readings chosen for the course will introduce students to important and authoritative literature in the field and trace how the field of public policy has evolved over the past half century along with related contemporary writings and emerging future directions. The class will draw on practical examples from Asia and beyond to further the class’s collective understanding of the field.

This course aims to provide economic perspectives on selected features of economic systems, and on design, implementation, and outcomes of various public policy that affect firms, households and governments. The first part of the course covers fundamental microeconomic concepts in topics including consumer and firm decision-making, market structure, market failures, welfare, and labor economics. The second part of the course covers foundational macroeconomic theories and their relevance in understanding macro policy.

This course provides an overview of the practice of quantitative empirical methods used to study the causal effects of policy on observed outcomes. It will focus on the applications of econometric techniques to policy research with real world data sets.

This advanced course builds upon the foundational training provided in PP6706 Research Methods for Public Policy 1 and equips PhD students with the skills to critically produce and evaluate policy research. Using published journal articles and their replication packages, students will dissect, replicate, and interrogate real-world studies—bridging methodological theory with hands-on application. While causal inference frameworks, mixed-methods approaches, and text analysis are revisited conceptually, the emphasis remains on practical implementation and research transparency.

This course examines how political institutions and processes shape the development and implementation of public policy. It will focus on the role of key political institutions in the policy process and their impact on policy outcomes. Key topics to be covered include Democracy; Bureaucracy; Public Service Motivations; Public Service Accountability; Good Governance; Collaborative Governance; Institutional Reforms.

The purpose of this course is to facilitate students’ conceptualization and execution of Ph.D. dissertation research at its nascent stage. The course will guide students through the development of dissertation proposals and delve into the art of research design. Specifically, the course will help identify important and policy-oriented research questions and to construct effective strategies for data collection, estimation, and analysis while navigating through limitations. In doing so, the course will act as an on-going venue for students to elicit constructive feedback from the instructor and peers through presentations and discussions. The course will also explore various aspects of publication processes and career trajectories as researchers and/or academics. Students are expected to develop a detailed dissertation proposal by the end of the seminar.