IEM is the first of a two-course sequence in quantitative methods in the core MPAff curriculum. This course is designed to develop quantitative analysis skills that can be applied to address public policy issues. Emphasis is placed on the conceptual reasoning underlying analytic methods, as well as the application and interpretation of various quantitative models. Emphasis is also placed on cultivating communication skills in the context of quantitative analysis. This course fosters an ability to apply the appropriate tool for a particular policy problem, to understand the limitations of the various approaches, and more broadly, to formulate views about the role of quantitative analysis in public policy.
This course is organized around three main topics: statistical inference, optimization, and decision-making. Specific topics include:
Examining data and understanding statistical inference
Modeling policy issues with linear regression models
Thinking about optimization in a policy context with linear and non-linear functions, and with constraints
Applying quantitative methods to decision-making in the context of uncertainty and risk
Developing views about the role of quantitative analysis in public policy