This course uses tools from economics, law and other disciplines to analyze some of the most important problems facing the United States and the world. Enrollment is limited to 32 students, drawn equally from Booth and the Law School. Students will do directed research in teams of 2 business and 2 law students, developing feasible policy or private sector solutions to a problem of their choosing. Each team will submit a “white paper” on its chosen topic, and will make a presentation of its completed analysis in the last 2 weeks. The audience for these presentations will consist of the instructors, outside experts and fellow students. Grades will be based on these team projects and class participation.

Bus 33001, 33002, or 33101: strict. 33002 or 33101 preferred.

Law students are admitted by permission of the instructors. Booth students are admitted through their bidding procedure. Both Law and Booth students must have completed a course in intermediate microeconomics or its equivalent. Law students who have completed a course in Law and Economics may petition to take the class. Petitions will be judged on a case-by-case basis. Booth students should have completed a course satisfying the core microeconomics requirement of the Booth curriculum.

Teams will choose their own topics from a list provided by the instructors, or may design their own topic with instructor approval. One of the instructors will serve as a mentor for each team. Other University faculty will also serve as advisors. Each group will make a 45 minute presentation of their results in either the 9th or 10th class, and will submit an academic “white paper” on their chosen topic.

Grading will be based on the student presentations, the submitted white paper, class participation and within-team peer evaluations.