Economics of Public Policy Course | IISER Mohali | Prof. Debdulal Saha
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 269 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Economics & Social Sciences, Economics |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate/Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 24 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Economics of Public Policy: Bridging Theory and Practice for a Better Society
Public policy shapes the world we live in, from the quality of our education and healthcare to the stability of our economy and the health of our environment. But what are the economic principles that underpin effective policy? How do governments decide between competing priorities like efficiency and equity? A new 12-week course, Economics of Public Policy, offered by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali, delves deep into these critical questions.
About the Course
This comprehensive course is designed to develop a deeper understanding of the economic foundations of public policy—an area often underexplored in traditional curricula. It moves beyond abstract theory to examine how core economic concepts directly inform the design, analysis, and evaluation of real-world policies. The course explores a broad spectrum of pressing issues, including economic growth, welfare, healthcare, education, labour markets, climate change, and urbanization.
Led by Prof. Debdulal Saha, an expert with extensive research and teaching experience in development economics and informal economies, the course is tailored for undergraduate and postgraduate students in economics and social sciences, as well as public policy practitioners from governmental and non-governmental organizations.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Debdulal Saha
Prof. Debdulal Saha is an Assistant Professor in Economics at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IISER Mohali. His rich academic journey includes a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Kassel, Germany, and over six years of teaching at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Guwahati.
His broad research and teaching interests span development economics, applied microeconomics, the informal economy, labour economics, urban studies, and public policy. He is the author of Informal Markets, Livelihood and Politics: Street Vendors in Urban India and co-author of Financial Inclusion of the Marginalised, bringing grounded, empirical insight to the course content.
Who Should Enroll?
- Students: Undergraduates and Postgraduates in Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, and Development Studies.
- Practitioners: Professionals working in government, think tanks, NGOs, and international organizations involved in policy design and analysis.
- Prerequisites: A foundational knowledge of intermediate microeconomics and basic macroeconomics is recommended to fully engage with the course material.
Course Layout: A 12-Week Journey
The course is meticulously structured to build knowledge from fundamental concepts to complex applications.
| Week | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | Introduction to public policy, the policy process, and core economic principles. Overview of macroeconomic components and growth models (Harrod-Domar, Solow). |
| Weeks 3-5 | Microeconomic foundations: utility, choice, demand & supply, market structures, and the concept of market failure. |
| Weeks 6-7 | Deep dive into externalities (positive/negative), Coase theorem, and government solutions like corrective taxes and pollution markets. |
| Week 8 | Social choice theory, trade-offs between efficiency and equity, public choice, and government failure. |
| Week 9 | Economics of uncertainty, risk, and information problems (adverse selection, moral hazard). |
| Week 10 | Macroeconomic policy: aggregate demand, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and their interactions. |
| Weeks 11-12 | Comprehensive analysis of taxation: structure, economic impacts, equity, incidence, and optimal tax theory (Ramsey's Rule). |
Essential Reading and Resources
The course draws on a rich bibliography from leading economists and policy scholars, ensuring students engage with seminal and contemporary texts. Key readings include:
- Gruber, J. - Public Finance and Public Policy
- Stiglitz, J.E. - Economics of the Public Sector
- Mankiw, N.G. - Principles of Economics & Macroeconomics
- Acemoglu & Robinson - Why Nations Fail
- Drèze & Sen - An Uncertain Glory: India and Its Contradictions
- Akerlof, G.A. - The Market for 'Lemons'
- Buchanan & Tullock - The Calculus of Consent
This course represents a unique opportunity to understand the powerful tools of economics needed to critically analyze and contribute to the public policy debates that define our collective future. Whether you aim to shape policy or simply understand the forces that shape your society, the Economics of Public Policy course provides an essential foundation.
Enroll Now →