8 weeks,
excluding orientation
6–8 hours per week
entirely online
Weekly modules, flexible learning
1
A foundational understanding of the economic theories and models most relevant to public policy.
2
The confidence to apply economic reasoning to find solutions to the challenges facing public policy.
3
A set of skills that equips you to design and analyse public policies, enhancing your career prospects in public policy, government, and consulting.
This Economics for Public Policy online certificate course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 52 hours of learning.
Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on you. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.
Over the duration of this online certificate course, you’ll work through the following modules:
MODULE 1 Understanding the market
Explore the foundational economic principles underpinning real-world market behaviour and policy interventions.
MODULE 2 Intervening in the market
Unpack the various tools governments use to regulate markets and their broader implications for both consumers and producers.
MODULE 3 Taming market power
Examine how firms can exert control over markets and the ways governments intervene to maintain competition.
MODULE 4 Managing externalities
Consider the kinds of market disruptions caused by externalities and possible solutions for restoring balance.
MODULE 5 Providing public goods
Learn about government strategies and community-led actions aimed at solving the puzzle of public goods and common resources.
MODULE 6 Mitigating information asymmetry
Discover how unequal access to information shapes transactions and how businesses and policymakers work to address its challenges.
MODULE 7 Measuring the economy
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how GDP, inflation, and unemployment are used to measure economic welfare and guide policy.
MODULE 8 Growing the economy
Reflect on economic growth, its determinants, and policies to enhance it.
Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.
Luis Garicano
Professor of Public Policy
Luis Garacano’s research focuses on the intersection of technology, organisation, and economic outcomes, including wage distribution, productivity, and economic growth, with recent work addressing institutional reform in the Eurozone. In the course of his research, he has authored influential academic papers and contributed to international media.
Luis began his academic career at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business before holding various positions at LSE, including full professor in economics and strategy. He has been a visiting professor at Columbia, the London Business School, and MIT. Professionally, he has worked as an economist for the European Commission and McKinsey & Company, and served as a member of the European Parliament from 2019 to 2022.
“With economic frameworks influencing everything from taxation and regulation to economic development and social programmes, having a strong foundation in economics is essential to understand and design more effective public policies.”
This LSE online certificate course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter. Join a growing community of global professionals and benefit from the opportunity to:
Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from a world-leading social science university, entirely online and in your own time.
Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.
Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.