Evolving Approaches to the Economics of Public Policy: Views of Award-Winning Economists

Authors

Jean Kimmel Editor, Western Michigan UniversityFollow

Publication Date

1-1-2016

DOI

10.17848/9780880995146

Abstract

For policymakers, economics is a useful tool in the development and evaluation of public policy. And like many sciences, economics is evolving to become more interdisciplinary in its approach. Today, economic theory is often used in conjunction with insights gleaned from psychology and sociology to create a more inclusive, real-world approach to implementing public policy. In this book, five award-winning economists tackle a diverse range of topics and show how applied economics has evolved to give policymakers a more nuanced approach to policy development. The award-winning economists included in this volume are Erica Field, Nancy Folbre, Avner Grief, David M. Kreps, and Michael J. Piore, and the topics they discuss include microfinance, human capital, societal institutions, worker motivation, and workplace regulation.

Files

Contents

1. Introduction / Jean Kimmel
2. Microfinance: Points of Promise / Erica Field, Abraham Holland, and Rohini Pande
3. The Once (But No Longer) Golden Age of Human Capital / Nancy Folbre
4. Society and State in Determining Economic Outcomes / Avner Greif
5. Motivating Consummate Effort / David M. Kreps
6. Efficient and Effective Economic Regulation in a Confusing Technological Environment / Michael J. Piore

Note

The chapters in this volume are based on lectures from the fiftieth Werner Sichel Lecture Series in 2013-2014 at Western Michigan University.

ISBN

9780880995139 (cloth) ; 9780880995122 (pbk.)

Subject Areas

LABOR MARKET ISSUES