Equality of Opportunity: Theory, Evidence, and Policy

Recent evidence highlights the potential for early interventions in mitigating inequality of opportunity. This course introduces students to the economics of such interventions. The course covers the datasets, quantitative tools, and theoretical frameworks that economists employ to answer policy-relevant questions impacting the lives of children. Topics of interest include the role of K–12 public education on intergenerational mobility, the causal effects of foster care, and the long-run economic consequences of early-life circumstances and government transfer payments. Recommended prerequisite: ECON 204D.