11.422
15.655J, IDS.435J
11.122J, IDS.066J

Law, Technology, and Public Policy

Examines how law, economics, and technological change shape public policy, and how law can sway technological change; how the legal system responds to environmental, safety, energy, social, and ethical problems; how law and markets interact to influence technological development; and how law can affect wealth distribution, employment, and social justice. Covers energy/climate change; genetic engineering; telecommunications and the role of misinformation; industrial automation; effect of regulation on technological innovation; impacts of intellectual property law on innovation and equity; pharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; cost/benefit analysis as a decision tool; public participation in governmental decisions affecting science and technology; corporate influence on technology and welfare; and law and economics as competing paradigms to encourage sustainability. Students taking graduate version explore subject in greater depth. 

Nicholas Ashford
Fall
3-0-9
Graduate
Schedule
TR 3:30 - 5:00PM
Location
E51-057
Can Be Repeated for Credit
No
11.122
IDS.066J
11.422, 15.655, IDS.435

Law, Technology, and Public Policy

Examines how law, economics, and technological change shape public policy, and how law can sway technological change; how the legal system responds to environmental, safety, energy, social, and ethical problems; how law and markets interact to influence technological development; and how law can affect wealth distribution, employment, and social justice. Covers energy/climate change; genetic engineering; telecommunications and role of misinformation; industrial automation; effect of regulation on technological innovation; impacts of intellectual property law on innovation and equity; pharmaceuticals; nanotechnology; cost/benefit analysis as a decision tool; public participation in governmental decisions affecting science and technology; corporate influence on technology and welfare; and law and economics as competing paradigms to encourage sustainability. Students taking graduate version explore subject in greater depth. 

Nicholas Ashford
Fall
3-0-9
Undergraduate
Schedule
TR 3:30 - 5:00PM
Location
E51-057
HASS
S
Can Be Repeated for Credit
No
11.002J
17.30J

Making Public Policy

Examines how the struggle among competing advocates shapes the outputs of government. Considers how conditions become problems for government to solve, why some political arguments are more persuasive than others, why some policy tools are preferred over others, and whether policies achieve their goals. Investigates the interactions among elected officials, think tanks, interest groups, the media, and the public in controversies over global warming, urban sprawl, Social Security, health care, education, and other issues. 

Fall
4-0-8
Undergraduate
Schedule
TR 1:00 - 2:30PM (lecture)
R 7:00 - 8:00PM (R1)
R 8:00 - 9:00PM (R2)
F 10:00 - 11:00AM (R3)
F 11:00AM - 12:00PM (R4)
F 12:00 - 1:00 PM (R5)
F 1:00 - 2:00 PM (R6)
Location
4-270 (Lecture)
9-450 (Recitation Sessions 1-6)
HASS
CI
S
Can Be Repeated for Credit
No
11.466J
1.813J, 15.657J, IDS.437J

Technology, Globalization, and Sustainable Development

Investigates sustainable development, taking a broad view to include not only a healthy economic base, but also a sound environment, stable employment, adequate purchasing power, distributional equity, national self-reliance, and maintenance of cultural integrity. Explores national, multinational, and international political and legal mechanisms to further sustainable development through transformation of the industrial state. Addresses the importance of technological innovation and the financial crisis of 2008.

Nicholas Ashford
Fall
3-0-9
Graduate
Schedule
W 4:00 - 6:30PM
Location
E51-376
Can Be Repeated for Credit
No