Economics of Education

4.0 credits

This course applied theoretical and empirical methods of economics to the analysis of elementary and secondary education in the United States. Topics include, but will not be limited to: education investment decisions of individuals and society; measuring the returns to education; the production of human capital with a focus on the role of school inputs' and evaluating recent k-12 education reforms (high-stakes testing, school choice,school finance) and higher education reforms (financial aid, affirmative action). Students will learn about the practical challenges of education research and how to distinguish good empirical research from bad. Assignments will include both solving theoretical problems and critiquing current research.