Comparative Public Policy

How do we compare responses to the pandemic across countries? Which countries have the best health outcomes? Or, which are doing the most to address climate change? Responding to these and similar questions requires a comparative perspective. To that end, the subject builds on the students’ foundational understanding of public policy and introduces them to theoretical approaches, frameworks, and methods to compare public policies and programs. Through a series of case studies, students will explore the advantages and limitations of comparisons by engaging with real-world policy programs and policy responses across different national contexts. Building on these in-class activities, students will compare public policy programs and formulate theoretically-informed arguments explaining variations in public policy and interpreting implications of contrasting approaches.