ADV TOP IN PUBLIC POLICY

Understanding of Labor Market Models and Inequality I developed a solid grasp of the neoclassical model of labor supply and demand, especially how market forces determine wages and employment under different assumptions. For example, I learned how competitive equilibrium is shaped by both employer and worker decisions and why policy interventions like minimum wages or mandated benefits can sometimes make workers worse off—even when well-intentioned  I was introduced to the idea of the modern workplace as a form of “private government,” as outlined by Elizabeth Anderson. This challenged me to rethink assumptions about freedom and power, especially how employees are subject to unaccountable authority during and even beyond work hours. This insight helped me view labor policy not just in economic terms, but also in ethical and political terms

DiD design

I definitely further developed some skills with econometrics and reading/interpreting economic analysis. Moreover, I feel like I have a really good overview of labor markets and where the scholarly literature is on that, as well as where it has come from (knowing now about various institutions and how their effects fit in with different theories of how markets should work).

I learned about methods of estimating the causal effects of policy, such as difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity, and instrumental variables designs. I also learned more about monopsony power and how it changes the impacts of policy from a competitive labor market.

Neoclassical model, Private Government model, and various inequality issues in the labor markets