Community Activist? Free Eight-Week Course Starts Saturday, Oct. 4
This course, fully funded by the Charles Koch Foundation and designed by Cal State Northridge economist Shirley Svorny, will run for eight Saturdays from Oct. 4 to Nov. 22 from 8:30 – 11:30 am on the CSUN campus. Brunch is included.
The objective is to expose individuals with an interest in public policy – including community activists, political staffers, students studying political science, or just voters – to the economic way of thinking.
| Oct. 4 | The Basics of Economic Policy Analysis |
| Oct. 11 | Why is healthcare so expensive in the U.S.? |
| Oct. 18 | Social Security, Medicaid, Pensions: Can we make good on the promises? |
| Oct. 25 | Trade and Immigration |
| Nov. 1 | The Contribution of Public Institutions to Private Society |
| Nov. 8 | How to be a Careful Consumer of Economic Information |
| Nov. 15 | Policies for a Prosperous Populace (labor market policies, environmental policies, as examples) |
| Nov. 22 | The Great Recession: Financial Regulation and the Banking System |
We hope, upon completion, students will be able to:
- Critically analyze policy initiatives.
- Explain the effect of institutions and policies on incentives and outcomes.
- Distinguish the benefits and costs of policy proposals.
- Evaluate the consequences of specific public policies and regulations.
- Question whether data or other empirical findings have been falsely presented to justify a specific policy initiative.
To sign up (25 participants will be selected):
Contact Shirley at [email protected]. Or you may reach her at 818-677-4504 (leave a message).