MPPA 505 - Public Sector Governance

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This course provides an examination of the institutions and processes involved in developing, influencing and forming public policy as informed by macro level processes such as our changing national ideology, emerging and established social movements, governmental/legal systems, and political ideologies and practices. While a primary focus is on the Canadian governance system, comparisons with other models in the global environment are also considered. The course also provides learning in the basic economic tools and micro-economic models relevant to current policy and public sector choices, including the role of government in public financing for social programming within a market-oriented economy. Students learn about public goods, externalities, competition versus monopoly, opportunity cost, economic efficiency and equity; how microeconomics is used in public policy analysis, and methods of economic analysis. Case studies will be used, as well as policy alternatives and recommendations to broaden students’ policy analysis skills.