ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION
The course will introduce how basic economic principles such as incentives, opportunity costs, resource allocation, and market forces can be applied to apply to education systems and policies. We will explore topics including the returns to education, teacher labor markets, school choice, and financial aid policies. Through readings and discussions of academic research, students will also gain a foundational understanding of how economists use causal inference to evaluate education policies. By the end of the semester, students will be able to critically assess economic arguments and the quality of evidence used to support education policies and engage in informed discussions about their potential implications for student outcomes.