What is the difference between the International Development Track and the Public Policy track?

The DEDP program, which has recently been renamed Data, Economics, and Design of Policy, now offers two different Tracks to earn the Program Credential: the International Development Track and the Public Policy Track.

The broad objective of the DEDP MicroMasters program remains the same: to prepare learners to address the world's most pressing challenges using the tools of modern economics. The DEDP MicroMasters Program's three Core Courses teach these tools, covering the principles of economics, probability & statistics, data analysis, and practical skills for designing and running randomized evaluations.

International Development: This Track applies the tools acquired in the Core Courses to explore issues prevalent in societies experiencing massive and persistent poverty. The Track offers the Elective Courses Challenges of Global Poverty, Foundations of Development Policy, and Political Economy and Economic Development. These courses delve into the key questions asked by scholars studying poverty today, using real-life empirical examples from low- and middle-income countries. They examine topics like determinants of decisions made by low-income households, the value and impact of microfinance, and the relationship between economic development and political institutions.

Public Policy: This Track builds upon the tools acquired in the Core Courses to address a range of public policies. The Track offers the Elective Courses Good Economics for Hard Times and Microeconomic Theory and Public Policy. These courses tackle various policy issues, encompassing local policies—like minimum wage & employment, food stamps & consumer welfare, and the economics of risk & safety regulation; as well as global issues—such as trade, climate change, and immigration. They provide insights into the forefront of public policy debates.