OSUN-EDI Summer Workshop
June 11–18, 2023
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson
The Open Society University Network (OSUN) welcomes undergraduate applications for its summer workshop in Public Finance and Economic Policy. Organized and hosted by the OSUN Economic Democracy Initiative (EDI), this eight-day workshop is for undergraduate students interested in public policy to tackle economic instability and insecurity, and in understanding the financing capacity and policy space available to governments to pursue these aims.
All undergraduate students, regardless of whether they attend an OSUN institution, are welcome to apply. Applicants from partner OSUN institutions are eligible for financial assistance and are especially encouraged to apply.
OSUN students pursuing the OSUN Certificate in Public Policy and Economic Analysis may substitute their summer workshop participation for one of the certificate’s elective courses.
COVID and the climate crisis have taught us that governments must act decisively to tackle the most pressing challenges before us, and not leave solutions exclusively to private actors. These developments have led to a rethinking of the role of the state on a global scale. How shall we think about the policy options before different governments? What are their abilities to achieve them? What kind of real or financial constraints do they face? This workshop will provide students with a new framework for thinking about these questions and with concrete tools and techniques to explore these policy-relevant concerns.
Learning Objectives
During the OSUN-EDI Summer Workshop, students will:
1. Develop a new framework for thinking about economic stabilization, full and meaningful employment, poverty alleviation, and policies to address climate change and COVID related concerns.
2. Explore current research on rethinking the role of the state in economic policy and the nature of public finance.
3. Produce a basic stock-flow consistent analysis of government budgets, with an appreciation of institutional differences across countries.
4. Receive training in the balance-sheet approach to government spending and taxation.
5. Apply these methodological and analytical insights to policy-relevant questions.
6. Learn to communicate policy ideas effectively: write and speak for policy audience
Format
The Summer Workshop consists of a mix of traditional lectures, breakout discussions, group projects and assignments, and applied economic analysis.
To apply
Please fill out this Google Form, where you will upload the following documents:
- A letter of motivation
- Your current transcript
- A short email recommendation from your faculty or advisor
Costs
Space is limited and spots will be allocated subject to a successful application. For all accepted applicants, tuition, room and board are covered. Accepted OSUN participants are also eligible for additional flight assistance. Any other travel-related costs are the responsibility of the participant, including but not limited to visa fees; ground transportation to/from your departing/returning airport; ground transportation from the airport if you miss the free shuttle bus to campus.
For priority consideration, applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by October 30, 2022
Workshop Schedule
Day 1: Orientation, Campus Tour, Welcome Dinner
Day 2: Urgent Questions, New Insights
Day 3: Government Budgets in Context: A Macroeconomic Framework
Day 4: Connecting Stocks and Flows: The Balance Sheet Approach
Day 5: Bottom-Up Government Policies
Day 6: Further Explorations in Public Policy around the World
Day 7: The Legacy of the New Deal
Day 8: Communicating Economic Policy