Adjunct Instructor of Economics for Public Policy

University of Southern California

Sol Price School of Public Policy

Adjunct Instructor of Economics for Public Policy

Department of Public Policy

The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy invites applicants for an adjunct faculty position to teach in the area of economics for public policy. The successful candidate should possess a Ph.D. in economics or a related field; a Master’s degree may be acceptable with appropriate experience. The candidate will be able to teach the graduate course PPD 503 Economics for Public Policy (“Economic theory as applied to public policy; concepts of efficiency and equity, analysis of market failure and policy interventions”) in the Spring 2021 semester.  Preference will be given to candidates with prior teaching experience and excellent teaching evaluations.

Adjunct instructor responsibilities include delivery of course content, scheduling office hours and being accessible to students as appropriate, and grading. Each instructor is expected to provide students with a syllabus outlining the course goals, schedule and all requirements for the course under the direction of the Department Chair.

Course Description

This course will provide the economic foundations for public policy analysis. Students will learn how markets work, gain insight into the behavior of the individuals and firms that participate in these markets, and develop an understanding of the economic roles of consumers, producers, and the government in society. We will study conditions that can lead markets to fail, and in turn, policy options that can be used to correct for a variety of such failures. We will discuss the challenges associated with making policy choices that are intended to remedy these situations, with attention to the roles of both equity and efficiency in policy decisions.

About the Sol Price School of Public Policy: The mission of the Sol Price School of Public Policy is to improve the quality of life for people and their communities, here and abroad. We achieve this mission through education and research that promote innovative solutions to the most critical issues facing society, with a particular focus on governance, urban development, and social policy. The Price School offers Ph.D. programs in Public Policy and Management and Urban Planning; masters’ degrees in Public Administration, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Health Administration, Nonprofit Management and Leadership, and Real Estate Development; executive masters’ degrees; and three undergraduate degrees.  USC is one of the nation’s premiere research universities, and the Price School is a major contributor to the university’s reputation. Our school supports an array of thematic research centers with $35 million in active sponsored research, ranking third overall in funded research at USC on a per faculty basis. Much of the school’s research is conducted through its centers, institutes, and research groups.  For additional information, see our website: https://priceschool.usc.edu/

An Equal Opportunity Employer: USC is an equal-opportunity educator and employer, proudly pluralistic and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed and background. The University particularly encourages women, members of underrepresented groups, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply. USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship.

Apply for this Position: Applicants should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, one or more sample syllabi, and one or more sets of sample teaching evaluations.