Syllabus for SPRING 2007
This course begins with the assumption that our understanding of U.S. public
policy initiatives can be enriched via the comparative study of public policy. We
will ask how, why, and with what effect do other countries' policy initiatives vary from
U.S. efforts in the areas of health care, the environment, socioeconomic policy, and
immigration. The course begins with a cross-national assessment of the
political dynamics of public policy. We will then conduct an extended,
cross-national examination of several major policy issues -- with particular
attention paid to the dynamics of health policy and tax policy. Throughout the course we will be
attentive to similarities and differences in: the specific nature of the policy problems
at issue, the contents & results of the policies adopted, and the politics of the
policy process itself.
EVALUATION:
Class Participation -- 10%
Take-Home Essay #1 -- 10%
Mid-Term Exam -- 20%
Take-Home Essay #2 -- 10%
Policy Brief -- 30%
Final Exam -- 20%
PROCEDURES:
As a point of fairness to your classmates, the honor code must be observed at
all times and tests & written work must be handed in promptly. Tests must be handed in
at the end of the class period. Essays that have been turned in late will be penalized 5
points plus an additional 5 points for every additional 24-hour period. The class
participation grade will be largely determined by performance in the simulations. Make-up
exams will be given only under exceptional circumstances; do not assume that you will be
permitted to take a make-up test. Readings should be completed by class time of the date
listed. The professor reserves the right to alter this course outline as circumstances
demand. For further discussion of course policies, click here.
TEXTS:
Adolino, Jessica and Charles Blake. Comparing Public
Policies. Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2001.
Funigiello, Philip. Chronic Politics: Health Policy from FDR to George W.
Bush. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 2005.
Smith, Catherine. Writing Public Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2005.
Steuerle, C. Eugene. Contemporary U.S. Tax Policy. Washington, DC: Urban
Institute Press, 2004.
Additional readings will
be made available in online form.
COURSE OUTLINE:
 REMEMBER:
Many of the dates in this
syllabus are hyperlinked. Right-click on the active links to download outlines and tables
associated with the day's class session. A menu will pop up; left-click on "save
link as" to get a dialog box for downloading the file. Specify the appropriate
drive, folder, and file name and then left-click on save to download the file. These are
rich text format outline (RTF) files that are most compatible with WordŽ. From Word you
can modify formatting and/or print the outlines.
If your computer has Word installed, you also have the option of left-clicking on
the link to load the file immediately into Word for editing and/or printing.
PART I – PUBLIC POLICYMAKING in AFFLUENT SOCIETIES
Points of Emphasis: the policy process &
its political dynamics
WEEK ONE
Jan. 8 – Introduction
Jan. 10 – The Comparative Study of the Policy
Process
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 1-30
= Smith, pp. 1-18
Jan. 12 – The Scope of Government
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 31-45, 46-75
WEEK TWO
Jan. 15: KING HOLIDAY: no class today
Jan. 17 – The Politics of Policymaking
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 76-98, review 46-75
= BLACKBOARD reading in COURSE
DOCUMENTS section
PART II - PUBLIC POLICYMAKING re: HEALTH, WELFARE, & the
ENVIRONMENT
Points of Emphasis: policy
instruments; policy tradeoffs; national policies; the political dynamics of the policies
Jan. 19 – Comparative Health Policy: an Overview
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 208-241
{SIMULATION #1 assigned}
WEEK THREE
Jan. 22 – The German System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 224-227
= Funigiello, pp. 1-37
Jan. 24 – The Japanese System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 221-224
= Funigiello, pp. 38-87
Jan. 26 – Third World Perspective: The
Brazilian System
= BLACKBOARD reading in COURSE
DOCUMENTS section
= Funigiello, pp. 88-111
WEEK FOUR
Jan.
29 – The British System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 231-234
= Funigiello, pp. 112-158
Jan. 31 – The Canadian System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 211
= Funigiello, pp.159-186
Feb. 2 – The U.S. System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 217-221
= Funigiello, pp.187-218
= Smith, pp. 62-75
WEEK FIVE
Feb. 5 – The Politics of Reform in Action
(Inaction?) in 1993-1999
= Funigiello, pp. 219-276
{PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY due at 11:15am}
{ESSAY #1 assigned}
Feb. 7:
SNOW DAY: no classes at JMU
Feb. 9 – U.S. Health Politics in the 21st Century
= Funigiello, pp. 277-304
WEEK SIX
Feb. 12 – Simulation Preparation & Group
Meetings
NOTE: To review the simulation assignment & the group list, click on the link
above.
Feb. 14:
SNOW DAY: no classes at JMU
Feb. 16 – HEALTH POLICY SIMULATION Day I
WEEK SEVEN
Feb. 19 – HEALTH POLICY SIMULATION Day II
Feb. 21 – HEALTH POLICY SIMULATION Day III and Simulation Debriefing
Feb. 23 – U.S. Social Policy in
Comparative Perspective
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 243-275
{ESSAY #1 due on 2/23/07at 11:15am}
Feb.
23 – The Tragedy of the Commons & Environmental Policy
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 317-359
= INFOTRAC
"The
Tragedy of the Commons" Environment v40, #10 (Dec. 1998): 4-13
WEEK EIGHT
Feb.
26 – U.S. Air Quality Policy in Comparative Perspective and pre-test
review
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 317-359
Feb. 28 – MID-TERM
Mar. 2 – RESEARCH WORKSHOP: Writing Policy Briefs
= Smith, pp. 19-61, 93-110
= BLACKBOARD sample policy brief
Mar. 3-11: SPRING BREAK: no class...
PART III - PUBLIC POLICYMAKING re: BUDGETS, TAXATION, &
IMMIGRATION
Points of Emphasis: policy
instruments; policy tradeoffs; national policies; the political dynamics of the policies
WEEK NINE
Mar. 12 –
The Basics of Fiscal Policy
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 144-152
Mar.
14 – U.S. Fiscal Policy in Comparative Perspective
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 152-176, 360-365
Mar.
16 – Comparative Tax Policy: An Overview
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 178-207
= Steuerle, pp. 1-30
{SIMULATION #2 assigned}
WEEK TEN
Mar.
19 – GUEST LECTURER: Natalie Kistner
= Steuerle, pp. 35-64
Mar.
21 – The German System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 161-163,
192-195
= Steuerle, pp. 67-97
Mar. 23 – Third World
Perspective: The Brazilian System
= BLACKBOARD reading in COURSE
DOCUMENTS section
= Steuerle, pp. 101-124
WEEK ELEVEN
Mar.
26 – The French System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 163-166,
195-198
= Steuerle, pp. 127-148
Mar.
28 – The British System
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 166-169,
198-200
= Steuerle, pp. 153-168
Mar. 30 – VIDEO on tax politics
= Steuerle, pp. 169-208
WEEK TWELVE
Apr. 2 – U.S. Tax Politics in the 1980s
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 154-155,
187-189
= Steuerle, pp. 209-232
{ESSAY #2 assigned}
Apr.
4 – Tax Reform under Bill Clinton & George W. Bush
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 156-158,
189-190
= Steuerle, pp. 235-257
Apr. 6 – Simulation Preparation
NOTE: To review the simulation assignment, click on the link
above.
WEEK THIRTEEN
Apr. 9 – TAX POLICY SIMULATION Day I
Apr. 11 – TAX POLICY SIMULATION Day II
Apr. 13 – TAX POLICY SIMULATION Day III
WEEK FOURTEEN
Apr. 16 – Simulation Debriefing & an Introduction to Immigration
Policy
= Adolino & Blake, pp. 107-142
{ESSAY #2 due at 11:15am}
Apr. 18 – VIDEO on immigration politics
Apr. 20 – RESEARCH WORKSHOP
WEEK FIFTEEN
Apr. 23 – U.S. Immigration Policy in Comparative Perspective
= review Adolino & Blake, pp. 107-142
{POLICY BRIEF due at
11:15am}
Apr. 25 – U.S. Immigration Politics and Policy over Time
= BLACKBOARD reading in COURSE
DOCUMENTS section
Apr. 27 – The Immigration Debate and Course Wrap-Up & pre-exam review
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday 5/2/07 from 10:30am to 12:30pm
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