Provisional University Bulletin (2026-2027)

• Major (BA)

The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major provides a rigorous interdisciplinary framework for understanding the complex challenges of the modern world. It allows students to develop competencies in the theoretical, methodological, and historical intersections between philosophy, politics, and economics. By integrating the methods and tools of these three core disciplines, this program empowers students to view challenging issues from multiple perspectives. This holistic approach is particularly relevant in today’s interconnected society, where real-world problems rarely fit into a single academic discipline.

PPE majors will learn to:

• Identify and understand the ethical, conceptual, and methodological foundations of key questions in philosophy, politics, and economics.
• Model and evaluate complex problems by considering their ethical, political, and economic dimensions.
• Recognize and analyze tradeoffs between what is economically feasible, politically viable, and morally desirable, enabling students to develop comprehensive and thoughtful approaches to pressing global challenges such as income inequality, climate change, and international relations.
• Develop essential skills, including critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and persuasive communication–both written and oral–and the ability to synthesize knowledge across diverse disciplines.

The undergraduate curriculum of PPE, especially its emphasis on analytical, qualitative, and quantitative skills, ensures that students are well-prepared for engaged citizenship and for impactful careers in fields such as law, consulting, public policy, finance, and journalism, among others. Further, students will be prepared to pursue graduate study in several disciplines.

Knowledge

PPE students will:

• Be proficient in the use of data, economic modeling, and empirical analysis to assess political and economic phenomena.
• Comprehend the fundamental ideas, arguments, and debates in political philosophy, politics, and economic thought.
• Understand the normative and historical foundations of concepts in political philosophy, politics, and economics.

Skills

PPE prepares students to:

• Integrate diverse analytical tools and theoretical frameworks from philosophy, political science, and economics to understand complex societal issues. 
• Evaluate competing ethical and political theories and apply them to debates surrounding public policy, markets, and social life.
• Think critically and creatively about solving problems in public policy, markets, and social life; identify assumptions embedded in political and economic structures; and offer informed solutions to social and political challenges.
• Give informed and persuasive arguments – both in writing and speech – regarding questions in public policy, markets, and social life.

Social Justice

PPE contributes to the University’s goal of learning in the service of justice by:

• Offering students normative and empirical frameworks with which to reflect on their roles as citizens and decision-makers in a pluralistic, interconnected world.
• Offering a set of tools for students to understand the impact of public policy on various social and political problems and challenges.

Upon Graduating

PPE offeres students a rigorous academic foundation from which they can go on to pursue advanced academic work, or careers in politics, public policy, finance, law, and consulting.

Students wishing to declare a major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics should typically do so before the end of their fourth semester at Brandeis. Students should contact a member of the PPE Council to register their interest in the major, to discuss a provisional course plan, and to discuss the possibility of graduating with honors. Students are strongly encouraged to complete at least three qualifying courses during their first four semesters at Brandeis. These courses, which will count toward the eleven required for the major, are normally selected from among the constituent departments’ introductory courses. 

Students interested in pursuing honors in PPE should consult with a member of the PPE Council during their junior year to ensure they understand the eligibility requirements for the senior thesis and what to expect during the process. They should also begin identifying and reaching out to potential advisors during that year and must secure an advisor no later than the fall semester of their senior year, while enrolled in the capstone seminar.

PPE Program Administration

Betsy Brainerd, PPE Council
Professor of Economics

Jeffrey Lenowitz, PPE Council
Associate Professor of Politics

Kate Moran, PPE Council
Professor of Philosophy

PPE Affiliated Faculty

Faculty from the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Departments teach both the required and elective courses for the major and offer the capstone seminar on a rotating basis.

To satisfy the requirements for the PPE major at Brandeis, students will complete eleven courses, including a capstone seminar. Courses will be distributed as follows:

A. Three Core Courses (courses foundational to or most representative of the study of PPE)

1. One course from the list of core philosophy courses
2. One course from the list of core politics courses
3. Econ 10a (Introduction to Microeconomics)

B. One Methods Course: Methods courses are available in each department, and any of these will satisfy the methods requirement.

C. Six Exploration Courses

• Two philosophy courses from the list of exploration courses (or additional core philosophy courses)
• Two politics courses from the list of exploration courses (or additional core politics courses)
• Econ 20a (Introduction to Macroeconomics) and one other economics course from the list of exploration courses

Note: Core courses may satisfy the exploration requirement; however, further methods courses will not satisfy the exploration requirement.

D. One Senior Capstone Seminar

This required course will be offered in the fall semester for senior PPE majors (beginning AY 27-28). It will focus on a close reading of a few major texts in the field, and a significant portion of the course will be devoted to the writing of a senior research paper. For students graduating in AY 26-27, an independent study in PPE or an additional elective course may substitute for the senior capstone seminar with the permission of the PPE Council.

E. Foundational Literacies: As part of completing the PPE major, students must:

• Fulfill the writing intensive requirement by successfully completing any PPE or cross listed course with the WI designation.
• Fulfill the oral communication requirement by successfully completing any PPE cross listed course with the OC designation.
• Fulfill the digital literacy requirement by successfully completing any PPE or cross listed course with the DL designation.

F. Honors

Students who wish to earn honors in PPE should aim to develop their capstone research paper into a senior thesis and reach out to potential advisors no later than the fall semester of their senior year (while taking the capstone). During the spring semester, honors candidates would enroll in PPE 99b. Note that a minimum GPA of 3.5 is required to pursue the thesis in PPE.

G. Double counting and other restrictions:

1. Econ 10A and Econ 20A may double count with an Economics major/minor. However, the third Economics PPE exploration course from the list above would need to be unique– that is, it cannot be double-counted with an Economics major/minor.
2. Students may double count up to two courses toward their Politics major/minor
3. Students may double count up to two courses toward their Philosophy major/minor 
4. Students may not major in PPE alongside any combination of two of the following majors or minors: Politics, Economics, or Philosophy.

PHIL 21a Environmental Ethics
[ hum ]

Explores the ethical dimensions of human relationships to the natural world. Looks at environmental ethical theories such as deep ecology and eco-feminism and discusses the ethics of specific environmental issues such as wilderness preservation and climate change. Usually offered every third year.

PHIL 23b Biomedical Ethics
[ hum ]

An examination of ethical issues that arise in a biomedical context, such as the issues of abortion, euthanasia, eugenics, lying to patients, and the right to health care. The relevance of ethical theory to such issues will be considered. Usually offered every second year.

PHIL 111a What Is Justice?
[ hum ]

This course is a survey of important claims, theories, and arguments about justice in the Western philosophical tradition. Questions we will discuss include: What is justice (and injustice)? What makes someone a just person? What makes for a just society, and a just government in particular? How does justice interact with other things we care about, like equality, liberty, and personal relationships? What does justice require of us in how we treat people from different social groups? We will address these questions through interrogating both classic and contemporary philosophical texts. Usually offered every second year.

PHIL 120b Radical Social and Political Philosophy
[ hum ]

Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or political theory.

Explores a variety of works in the field of radical social and political philosophy and concentrates in particular on the early works of Marx, Foucault's theory of power, and contemporary philosophical arguments about racism and gender oppression. Usually offered every second year.
Marion Smiley

PHIL 128b Philosophy of Race and Gender
[ deis-us hum ]

Explores the nature of racism and gender oppression, as well as various remedies to them, including reparations, affirmative action, and policies of group representation at the state level. Usually offered every second year.

POL 173a Seminar: U.S. Foreign Economic Policy
[ oc ss wi ]

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or above.

Addresses the politics of  foreign economic policy in the United States, with special attention to the political institutions and domestic actors involved in formulating policies toward trade, the dollar, and foreign aid. Usually offered every second year.

POL 184a Seminar: Global Justice
[ djw ss wi ]

Prerequisites: One course in Political Theory or Moral, Social and Political Philosophy.

Explores the development of the topic of global justice and its contents. Issues to be covered include international distributive justice, duties owed to the global poor, humanitarian intervention, the ethics of climate change, and immigration. Usually offered every second year.

POL 187b Conservative Political Thought
[ ss ]

Focuses on American and European thinkers, with an emphasis on critics of equality and unlimited commercial and civil liberty. Readings include political philosophy and literature. Authors may include Burke, Oakeshott, Calhoun, Conrad, Hayek, Macintyre, and Strauss. Usually offered every second year.

POL 190b Seminar: Democratic Theory
[ ss ]

Explores in depth the nature, virtues, and limitations of democracy as a way of organizing political affairs. Brings together classic texts, for example, Rousseau's Social Contract, with more recent topical readings on topics like democracy and nationalism. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 83a Statistics for Economic Analysis
[ dl qr ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a. Students must earn a C- or higher in MATH 10a, or otherwise satisfy the calculus requirement, to enroll in this course. May not be taken concurrently with ECON 184b or repeated by students after the successful completion of ECON 184b.

A first course in statistical inference. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, normal and binomial distributions, sampling distributions, point and interval estimation, properties of estimators, hypothesis testing, regression, and analysis of variance. Usually offered every semester.

PHIL 6a Introduction to Symbolic Logic
[ hum ]

Symbolic logic provides concepts and formal techniques that elucidate deductive reasoning. Topics include truth functions and quantifiers, validity, and formal systems. Usually offered every year.

PHIL 143a Foundations of Decision Theory and Game Theory
[ hum ]

What does it mean for a decision to be rational? How do the beliefs, desires, and preferences of rational agents interact when they cooperate or compete? In this course, we will explore the philosophical underpinnings of decision theory and game theory, which attempt to answer these questions within a framework developed by a motley collection of philosophers, economists, mathematicians, computer scientists, and evolutionary biologists. Usually offered every second year.

POL 50b Political Science Methods: Research, Design, and Modes of Analysis
[ qr ss ]

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher. May not be taken for credit by students who took POL 100b in prior years.

An introduction to nonstatistical research methods for analyzing political processes. Moves from selecting problems to composing a focused research question, examining relevant theory, conceptualizing variables, generating hypotheses, research design, research operations, and analysis. Uses examples from comparative, international, and American politics. Usually offered every second year.

POL 51b Data and Politics
[ dl ss ]

Teaches students the basic of research design and covers advanced methodologies related to the intersection of data and politics. The class is a hands-on, workshop style class that directly teaches methodological skills and techniques used in political science. Each of the five modules will conclude with a tools workshop in which students use real data and a realistic policy scenario in order to demonstrate their mastery of the module. This class will help students develop the following core skills: thinking critically about arguments, based on evaluation of evidence; articulating reasoned arguments clearly, both orally and in written form; familiarity with a variety of research methods for understanding politics, including visualization tools, computer content analysis, network analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), and game theory; ability to use the concepts and methods of political science to conduct research and analysis. Usually offered every second year.

POL 52a Basic Statistics for Social and Political Analysis
[ dl qr ss ]

Provides a foundation in statistics focusing on descriptive statistics, inference, hypothesis testing and the basics of regression analysis. Becoming familiar with basic statistics will help you to prepare for a career as a social scientist. Usually offered every year.

POL 53b Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis
[ dl qr ss ]

Prerequisite: POL 52a or equivalent statistics course, or permission of the instructor.

Examines the most common empirical methods used by policy analysts in the study of public policy. Emphasis on descriptive statistics, regression analysis, research design and data collection, and the substantive components of policy analysis. Students will be introduced to and develop proficiency in the R statistical program/language. Usually offered every year.

PHIL 101a Living a Human Life: Don't Screw It Up
[ hum ]

PHIL 107b Kant's Moral Theory
[ dl hum ]

An examination of the main philosophical issues addressed in Kant's Critique of Practical Reason from the perspective of their relation to works specifically belonging to his ethical theory: the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals and the Metaphysics of Morals. Usually offered every second year.

PHIL 112a Social Contract Theory and its Critics
[ hum wi ]

Prerequisite: One course in philosophy or political theory. 
 

Explores a variety of normative arguments for and against the legitimacy of the state that have been put forward by key figures in the history of western political philosophy; e.g. Hobbes, Kant, Rousseau, Hume, and Dewey. Usually offered every second year.

PHIL 115a The Philosophy and Ethics of Technology
[ hum wi ]

From TikTok to Meta, and from CRISPR to ChatGPT, gamification, Extended Reality, and the struggle against climate change, dramatic advances in technology are shaping our world and our lives like never before. This course investigates the moral, social, and political implications of these and other new technologies. How should we understand privacy and surveillance in the age of metadata? Will emerging biotechnologies and life-tracking metrics allow us to re-engineer humanity? Should we edit our genes or those of our children to extend human lives and enhance human abilities? Can geoengineering resolve the climate crisis? How will AI and robotics change the work world? Can machines be “conscious” and what would it mean if they can? Will AI help us reduce bias and combat bigotry, or make things worse? What does the explosion of social media mean for human agency? How can we live an act in meaningful ways in a world increasingly dominated by technological and capital forces?

This course will explore how technology and our attitudes towards it are transforming who we are, what we do, how we make friends, care for our health, and conduct our social and political lives. In doing so, we will also investigate fundamental philosophical and ethical questions about agency, integrity, virtue, “the good,” and what it means to be human in an uncertain and shifting world. Special one-time offering, spring 2024.

POL 51b Data and Politics
[ dl ss ]

Teaches students the basic of research design and covers advanced methodologies related to the intersection of data and politics. The class is a hands-on, workshop style class that directly teaches methodological skills and techniques used in political science. Each of the five modules will conclude with a tools workshop in which students use real data and a realistic policy scenario in order to demonstrate their mastery of the module. This class will help students develop the following core skills: thinking critically about arguments, based on evaluation of evidence; articulating reasoned arguments clearly, both orally and in written form; familiarity with a variety of research methods for understanding politics, including visualization tools, computer content analysis, network analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), and game theory; ability to use the concepts and methods of political science to conduct research and analysis. Usually offered every second year.

POL 108a Seminar: The Police and Social Movements in American Politics
[ deis-us ss wi ]

Analyses American mass political movements, their interaction with police, and their influences on American politics. Topics include the relationship between social movements and various political institutions. Explore various theories with case studies of specific political movements. Usually offered every third year.

POL 116b Civil Liberties and Constitutional Interpretation
[ deis-us ss ]

May not be taken for credit by students who successfully completed LGLS 116b previously.

The history, politics, and theory of civil liberties and civil rights in the United States, with emphasis on the role of constitutional interpretation. Focus on speech, religion, affirmative action, policing, and prisoner rights. Readings from Supreme Court cases and legal/political philosophers. Usually offered every year.

POL 119a Seminar: Red States, Blue States: Understanding Contemporary American Voters and Parties
[ dl ss ]

What are the root causes of contemporary partisan polarization and how do we explain the observed differentiation in partisan leanings across red and blue states?  In this seminar, students will pursue guided, independent research on voter and party behavior. Because of the focus on primary research, students are encouraged, although not required, to have taken POL 52A (or an equivalent) prior to enrolling in POL 119. Usually offered every year.

POL 120b Seminar: The Politics of Policymaking
[ ss ]

Examines the connection between politics and policymaking to identify the political determinants of public policy. Emphasis on the ways that American institutions, long-term political trends, and political actors interact to influence policy outcomes. Case studies across a wide range of policy areas (such as health care, tax policy, immigration, and abortion policy) used to illuminate key themes. Usually offered every year.

POL 123a Seminar: Political Psychology
[ dl ss wi ]

Open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

Explores public opinion, political socialization, and political behavior through the lens of psychology. Applying psychological theory to traditional topics in political science is emphasized. Usually offered every year.

POL 129b Internet and Politics
[ dl ss ]

Prerequisite: POL 10a, POL 11b, POL 14b, or POL 15a.

Explores the effects of the Internet on politics and society. Covers issues of Internet governance and institutions, the rise of the global network economy, and the effects of the Internet on social identity. Contemporaneous events and issues such as the digital revolutions, the digital divide, fake news, and coordinated disinformation campaigns are also covered in detail. Usually offered every year.

POL 134b Seminar: The Global Migration Crisis
[ djw ss wi ]

Looks at immigration from the perspectives of policy-makers, migrants, and the groups affected by immigration in sender nations as well as destination countries. Introduces students to the history of migration policy, core concepts and facts about migration in the West, and to the theories and disagreements among immigrant scholars. Usually offered every second year.

POL 141a Seminar: Elections and Electoral Systems in Comparative Perspective
[ djw dl ss wi ]

Introduces students to the scientific study of elections and electoral systems from a comparative standpoint. Students will be exposed to social scientific literature on elections, analyze these processes from a comparative perspective, and learn how to use digital tools, such as ArcGIS and online mapping software (GIS) to analyze electoral processes. Usually offered every year.

POL 161b Good Neighbor or Imperial Power: The Contested Evolution of US-Latin American Relations
[ djw oc ss wi ]

Studies the ambivalent and complex relationship between the U.S. and Latin America, focusing on how the exploitative dimension of this relationship has shaped societies across the region, and on how Latin American development can be beneficial for the U.S. Usually offered every year.

POL 168b American Foreign Policy
[ ss ]

Overview of America's foreign policy since 1945. Topics include the Cold War era, the economic competitiveness of the United States, the role of the United States in selected world regions, the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy, the U.S. participation in the United Nations, post-Cold War foreign policy, and the making and implementing of foreign policy. Usually offered every year.

POL 189a Marx, Nietzsche, and Twentieth-Century Radicalism
[ ss ]

Comparison of two powerful and influential critiques of modern politics and society. Explanation of Marx's work, both for its own insights and as a model for radical theorists; and of Nietzsche's work as an alternative conception of radical social criticism. Usually offered every second year.

POL 192b Seminar: Topics in Law and Political Theory
[ ss ]

Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or higher. May be repeated for credit if different topic.

Interplay among law, morality, and political theory. Specific topics vary from year to year. Usually offered every year.

ECON 28b The Global Economy
[ ss wi ]

Prerequisites: ECON 2a or ECON 10a and ECON 20a. ECON 20a may be taken concurrently with ECON 28b.

Applies the basic tools and models of economic analysis to a wide range of topics in international economics. Usually offered every semester.

ECON 35b History of Taxation
[ oc ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

Traces taxation from the origins of coinage (560 BCE) to the proposed global minimum corporate tax (2021+). We examine taxes within the supply-and-demand model, including discussions of deadweight loss and allocative efficiency. Additionally, the course focuses on the political economy, welfare, and equity impacts of taxation. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 55a American Economic History
[ deis-us oc ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a. Formerly offered as ECON/HIS 55a.

Analyzes the sources of American economic growth from colonial times until the end of the twentieth century. Topics include immigration, land policy, industrialization, and the increasing role of government in shaping economic performance. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 57a Environmental Economics
[ oc ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

Investigates the theoretical and policy problems posed by the use of renewable and nonrenewable resources. Theoretical topics include the optimal pricing of resources, the optimal use of standards and taxes to correct pollution problems under uncertainty, and the measurement of costs and benefits. Usually offered every year.

ECON 59b The Economics of Education
[ ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

An introduction to economic analysis of the education sector. Topics include the concept of human capital, private and social return on investment in education, cost-benefit analysis of special educational programs, and issues in the financing of education. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 65b Governance, Bureaucracy, and Economic Development
[ djw ss wi ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

Analyzes the role of institutions, governance, and bureaucracy in economic development. Topics include transaction costs, role of institutions, governance performance indicators, causes and consequences of corruption, anti-corruption policies, principal-agent theory and bureaucratic behavior. The course also includes a detailed case study on the role of governance and bureaucratic reforms in China's economic success since 1980. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 69a The Economics of Race and Gender
[ deis-us oc ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

The role of race and gender in economic decision making. Mainstream and alternative economic explanations for discrimination, and analysis of the economic status of women and minorities. Discussion of specific public policies related to race, class, and gender. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 70a American Fiscal Policy
[ ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

Examines Federal and State level tax and spending decisions with a focus on debt crises, the financing of wars and infrastructure, and the political debates surrounding choices made. Theories of monetary and fiscal policy will be presented and evaluated. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 76b Labor Economics
[ ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a.

Analysis of competitive and less-than-competitive markets. Rationale for alternate methods of paying workers (e.g., hourly wages, piece rates, bonuses). Sources of wage differentials among jobs and workers. The U.S. labor movement, the process of collective bargaining, and the economic effects of unions. Effects of government interventions in the labor market, such as the minimum wage and occupational safety regulation. Extent and effects of discrimination in the labor market. Inequality in the distribution of wages. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 122b The Economics of the Middle East
[ nw ss wi ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a or the equivalent. Does not count toward the upper-level elective requirement for the major in economics.

Examines the Middle East economies ' past experiences, present situation, and future challenges ' drawing on theories, policy formulations and empirical studies of economic growth, trade, poverty, income distribution, labor markets, finance and banking, government reforms, globalization, and Arab-Israeli political economy. Usually offered every year.

ECON 134b Public Sector Economics
[ oc ss ]

Prerequisites: ECON 80a and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor.

The effect of tax and expenditure policies on economic efficiency and equity. Topics include externalities and public goods, public choice, cost-benefit analysis, income redistribution, social security, and health care. Also discussion of the U.S. tax system, public debt, and state and local finance. Usually offered every year.

ECON 140a Economic Growth
[ oc ss ]

Prerequisites: ECON 20a and ECON 83a.

Aims to answer why some countries are rich and others are poor. It explores the underlying determinants of economic growth using both theoretical and empirical approaches. Proximate Determinants, including physical capital, human capital, and technology, are examined in comparison with Deep Determinants, including geography, institutions, culture, religion, and historical events. Usually offered every year.

ECON 143a Behavioral Economics
[ ss wi ]

Prerequisites: ECON 80a and ECON 83a.

Uses insights from psychology and the tools of microeconomic theory to study how our choices deviate from those of the perfectly rational, fully informed, self-interested “homo economicus” and considers the normative implications of our choices and potential public policy interventions. Usually offered every year.

ECON 150b Urban and Regional Economics
[ ss wi ]

Prerequisite: ECON 80a.

Examines the main economic forces that lead to the establishment and growth of cities and economic regions. Develops theories of urban and regional growth. Analyzes patterns of firm location, agglomeration, city growth and urban land use. Usually offered every third year.

ECON 161a International Macroeconomics and Finance
[ ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 82b.

Applications of international economic theory--regarding trade, the balance of payments, investments, and exchange rates--to the management of import/export firms and multinational corporations. Usually offered every year.

ECON 172b Money and Banking
[ ss wi ]

Prerequisites: ECON 82b and ECON 83a or permission of the instructor.

Examines the relationship of the financial system to real economic activity, focusing especially on banks and central banks. Topics include the monetary and payments systems; financial instruments and their pricing; the structure, management, and regulation of bank and nonbank financial intermediaries; and the design and operations of central banks in a modern economy. Usually offered every year.

ECON 175a Introduction to the Economics of Development
[ djw ss wi ]

Prerequisite: ECON 2a or ECON 10a or permission of the instructor. Does not count toward the upper-level elective requirement for the major in economics.

An introduction to various models of economic growth and development and evaluation of these perspectives from the experience of developing and industrial countries. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 176a Health, Hunger, and the Household in Developing Countries
[ djw nw ss ]

Prerequisites: ECON 80a and ECON 184b or permission of the instructor.

Examines aspects of poverty and nutrition that are confronted by households in low-income countries. Examines these issues primarily from a microeconomic perspective, although some macroeconomic angles are explored as well. Usually offered every second year.

ECON 178a Empirical Analysis of Labor Market Institutions
[ deis-us oc ss ]

Prerequisite: ECON 184b.

Uses real-world data and empirical analysis to examine how labor market structure and policies can shape workers’ career and life trajectories and inequalities. Offers first-hand quantitative data analysis experience using various labor market data to measure the effect of technological innovation, immigration, minimum wage, and policy changes. Learns how to develop predictions from microeconomic theory on labor market and worker outcomes and critically evaluate applied microeconomic papers. Usually offered every year.