This class deals with methods and theory of program evaluation in health economics and selected social policy fields. It comprises three main parts:

• Introduction, Political economy and social context of program evaluation
  

• Overview about methods for econometric impact evaluation (RCT, Matching, RDD, DiD, IV)
  

• Basics of economic evaluation in Social Policy and Health Policy (cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness)

The first part primarily consists of lectures on the above topics. In the second part, students present and discuss papers from the literature where evaluation methods have been applied to evaluate social/health policy programs. In the third part, student groups are asked to come up with a research design for a given policy evaluation problem and present it in class.

Class language is English.

After this course students ...

1. are aware of the importance of the social context of program evaluation,
   
2. are familiar with the causality concept in impact evaluation and its prerequisites,
   
3. are familiar with different econometric approaches how to identify program effects,
4. are familiar with different approaches to relate benefits of a program to its costs and draw conclusions about efficiency,
5. are able to critically reflect on different methods of impact and economic evaluation in terms of their limitations and benefits,
   
6. are able to develop a basic research design for a given program evaluation call and have improved their presentation skills.
   

We tolerate a maximal absence of 8 hours without consequences.

Lectures

Small group works

Project work

Discussion

Paper presentations

• 35% Written exam (individual), open questions, 90 minutes; lecture notes are relevant for exam
• 10% Seminar presentation (small group, 2 pers.)
• 20% Call for Evaluation & written research design (big group, ~ 5-6 pers.)
• 10% Presentation of that research design (big group ~ 5-6 pers.)
• 15% Review of research design of a different group (individual)
• 10% Active participation in class

You must not miss more than 8 hours of class (It's a PI).