Issue memo requirements

Issue memo requirements COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course introduces students to economic concepts and tools as applied to different aspects of public administration—from policymaking (what should government do?), to production decisions (who should produce the goods and services?), and the internal management of public organizations (if public organizations are involved in service production and delivery, how can their performance be improved?). Topics to be covered include competitive markets, market failures, government failure, contracting out and privatization, and application of market-based strategies to public institutions and organizations. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: You will use a textbook to learn the topics covered in the first half of the course: Krugman, Paul, Robin Wells and Kathryn Grady. 2011 Essentials of Economics. 2nd ed. NY: Worth Publishers (ISBN-13: 978-1-4292-1829-0; ISBN-10: 1-4292-1829-0) Issue Memo: Each student will submit a single-authored issue memo of 5 single-spaced pages. Instructions on writing the memo can be found below. Examples of graded issue memos can be found on the Blackboard course site under ‘Syllabus and Other Course Materials.” Instructions for writing the issue memo: The topic of the issue memo should be related to the Issue Report that I listed in the next page. (Be sure to follow the memo components) Issue memo components: Heading: The heading segment follows this general format: TO: (client’ name and job title) FROM: (your name, with the assumption that you are a staff member) DATE: (complete and current date) SUBJECT: (what the memo is about, highlighted in some way) Opening segment: The opening paragraph includes: the purpose of the memo, the context and problem, and the specific tasks. Before indulging the reader with details and the context, give the reader a brief overview of what the memo will be about. The introduction should be brief, and should be approximately the length of a short paragraph. Context: The context is the event, circumstance, or background of the problem as well as the existing or proposed policy to address the problem. You may use a paragraph or a few sentences to establish the background. Include only what your reader needs, but be sure it is clear. Task segment: One essential portion of a memo is the task statement where you should describe what you are doing. If the action was requested, your task may be indicated by a sentence opening like, "You asked that I look at...." Discussion: The discussion segment is the longest portion of the memo in which you include all the details that support your answers to the task questions. The discussion segments include the supporting ideas, facts, and research that back up your argument in the memo. Include strong points and evidence to persuade the client to follow your recommended actions. Be sure to apply the concepts and ideas from the class readings/lectures/related media in you analysis. Closing Segment: After the reader has absorbed all of your information, you want to close with a courteous ending that states the specific action the client can take. Make sure you consider how the reader will benefit from the desired actions and how you can make those actions easier. References: You required to use at least ten references for your memo. See below for possible sources that can be used for your research. Possible sources for the memo: ? Books and journal articles ? Research done by non-partisan organizations such as the Brookings Institution, Pew Charitable Trusts, Urban Institute among others ? Research from partisan sources such as the Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, Center for American Progress, among others. Please indicate in your memo whether the organization that sponsored or released the research is partisan or not. ? Research produced by government organizations such as the Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, Office of Budget and Management, departments and agencies ? Research produced by university centers or institutes Note: Wikipedia, newspaper opinion columns, and blogs are not acceptable sources for graduate-level research. The issue memo should be based on the issue report. Issue report Problem: Sustainability of the Social Security program Policy: Privatization of Social Security: “The US Social Security program is intended to provide a safety net protecting American workers and their families in the event of retirement, disability, and early death. Moving Social Security benefits into private accounts is one proposal to prevent Social Security's predicted future financial shortfall. Privatization of Social Security would allow workers to control their own retirement money through personal investment accounts.” Client: AARP, Inc. (American Association of Retired Persons) Tasks: 1) Identify the advantages and disadvantages of privatizing Social Security; 2) If the system is to be privatized, how can the disadvantages be addressed?; 3) If the current system is retained, how can we address the sustainability issues?; 4) Recommend specific policy actions for consideration by AARP. Module 9 (Mar 23-28): Privatization and Deregulation Required readings: 1. Vickers, J. and G. Yarrow 1991. Economic Perspectives on Privatization. Journal on Economic Perspectives. 5(2): 111-13214 2. Moss, D. 2010. Reversing the Null: Regulation, Deregulation, and the Power of Ideas. Working Paper 10-080. Harvard Business School Optional readings: 3. Clifford, W. 1993. Economic Deregulation: Days of Reckoning for Microeconomists. Journal of Economic Literature 31(3): 1263-1289 4. Megginson, W.L. and J.M. Netter. 2001. From State to Market: A Survey of Empirical Studies on Privatization. Journal of Economic Literature 39: pp. 321–389