This second course in the “Economics of Public Policy” sequence will use the tools of economic analysis to understand the role of state, local, and federal governments in economic activity. We will explore market failures and other reasons for public policy interventions, common forms of intervention, the effects of public policy on economic outcomes, and the political economy of policy formation. We will analyze topics relevant to today’s public policy debates, including but not limited to taxation, health, occupational safety, education, energy and the environment, income inequality, and climate change.