PP455E      Half Unit
Empirical Methods for Public Policy

This information is for the 2024/25 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Daniel Sturm and Dr Gharad Bryan

Availability

This course is compulsory on the Executive Master of Public Administration and Executive Master of Public Policy. This course is not available as an outside option.

Pre-requisites

There are no formal pre-requisites, but recommended advance readings will be distributed ahead of the course. Familiarity with the material covered in the EMPA/ EMPP Introduction to Statistics module is assumed.

Course content

The course introduces students to the quantitative evaluation of public policies. The focus of the course is on practical applications of techniques to test the effectiveness of public policy interventions. The course begins with an overview over the key benefits of randomized experiments in the evaluation of public policies. Next the course covers a number of techniques that are widely used in the evaluation of public policies, including difference-in-differences regressions, regression discontinuity approaches and matching. It concludes with an introduction to cost-benefit analysis.

Teaching

A one-week modular teaching block. This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures delivered in one week.

The default mode of instruction is in-person in the classroom at LSE. Remote attendance is available in case of challenges preventing in-person attendance. 

Formative coursework

One mock examination will be provided.

Indicative reading

A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

Essay (50%, 2000 words) and online assessment (50%).

Online assessments take place on the third weekend after module teaching concludes. A 2,000 word essay is due on the sixth Sunday after module teaching concludes. Further details will be provided at the Executive MPA/ Executive MPP programme inductions.

Student performance results

(2020/21 - 2022/23 combined)

Classification % of students
Distinction 28.4
Merit 43.2
Pass 27.3
Fail 1.1

Key facts

Department: School of Public Policy

Total students 2023/24: Unavailable

Average class size 2023/24: Unavailable

Controlled access 2023/24: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills