Public Policy at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy | University of Toronto

The seminar will provide both conceptual background, rooted in welfare economics, and practical applications, based on concrete case examples; it will include discussion of recent developments and controversies in the field. Topics to be addressed include:

• Relationship of cost-benefit analysis to welfare economics and financial analysis;
• Core concepts and basic techniques of cost-benefit analysis;
• Equity and efficiency criteria;
• Present value determinations and social discount rates;
• How to assess and apply cost-benefit results;
• Communication challenges for analysis at the policy level;
• Uncertainty and risk analysis;
• Importance and application of sensitivity analysis;
• Major policy issues in cost-benefit, discounting, and risk analysis;
• Advantages and pitfalls of quantitative techniques in policy settings.

This seminar does not assume a technical background, however, participants should have significant policy experience to inform their participation in group discussions. Participants will not be expected to perform full cost-benefit analysis, but the conceptual work of the seminar will enable a better understanding of quantitative techniques for policy development.

Instructor
Professor James M. Radner, School of Public Policy & Governance, obtained a B.A. from Harvard University, an M. Phil from the University of Cambridge, and a P.M.D. from Harvard Business School.

About the School
The University of Toronto’s School of Public Policy and Governance has two broad goals. The first is to form a hub for policy discourse, bringing researchers, pracitioners, and community members together in order to contribute to policy debates, development, and discussion around many aeas of expertise, both nationally and internationally. The second goal is to educate students enrolled in our innovative Master of Public Policy (MPP) program to be effective practitioners and leaders in public policy.

*A minimum 15 registrants are required for the session to proceed as scheduled.

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