Economic Thinking for Current Events and Public Policy

Modern news headlines often feel overwhelming, but economic principles offer a clear lens to evaluate social issues, government spending, and public policy decisions. This course introduces foundational economic concepts that enable you to critically assess news stories, evaluate social safety nets, and understand the broader economic impacts of public health and social challenges. What you'll learn: - Understand fundamental concepts of public economics, social safety nets, and resource allocation - Analyze how government policy decisions impact economic activity and individual well-being - Examine public health measures and social challenges through economic trade-offs and incentives - Explore modern behavioral economics concepts that influence public policy and social behavior - Apply structured economic frameworks to critically read and interpret news coverage The course begins with core economic terminology and foundational policy definitions before guiding you through practical analyses of social safety nets, market disruptions, and policy evaluation models. Designed for complete beginners with no prior background in economics, this course provides accessible tools for reading current events with analytical clarity. Start building your economic literacy and gain a deeper understanding of today's social issues.