Introduction to Public Policy

Students will gain an introduction to the policy making process and the role of the policy maker in designing, implementing and evaluating public policies.  Each step in this process requires rigorous data analysis. Students will develop basic analytical tools and apply them in a hands-on policy analysis culminating in a capstone presentation. The afternoon Action Lab will guide students through the process in using data to make the case for a policy of their choosing.

Topics to be covered in class include defining and measuring well-being and ethical issues related to public policies, a description of the tools of the policy maker including monetary and non-monetary incentives, behavioral tools, conditionality in policies, and targeted policies.  Basic economic concepts important to policy makers will be described and discussed.

• Available for current high school students who are at least 15 years old
• This program is for high school students passionate about societal change, public policy, data analysis, and making a difference in the world. No prior experience in policy studies or economics is required—just a desire to learn and make an impact.
• The program's medium of instruction will be in English, so students should be comfortable in an English-speaking learning environment
• Applicants must be Hong Kong residents or be eligible to study in Hong Kong during the program period

Classes will be held Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 12:15 and the Action Lab will be held from 13:15 to 14:30. While each day varies slightly in format, a typical day includes:

• 9:30 to 10:45 – Lecture
• 10:45 to 11:00 – Mid-morning break
• 11:00 to 12:15 – Lecture
• 12:15 to 13:15 – Lunch
• 13:15 to 14:30 – Action Lab
• 14:30 to 16:00 – Campus available for optional group or individual work

Special events, excursions and guest speakers will be integrated throughout the program to provide additional real-world perspectives. The program concludes with individual and group presentations during the final two days.

Morning lecture content:

• The process for developing the policy project. 
• Evidence in the policy making process
• Types of policies and implementation tools
• Conditional and unconditional policies
• Labor market and human capital policies
• From evidence to action – scaling up a policy
• Introduction to policy evaluation.
• Market failure & cost benefit
• Equity or efficiency

• Elasticity and trade-offs
• Ethics of behavioral tools
• A policy interview – developing a narrative

Action lab content

• Sampling strategies

• Probability

• Modeling the analysis. 

• Nuances in data analysis on the road to causality: nonlinearity, sample statistics, correlation

• Types of variables
• Ethics of data collection and analysis  

• Analysis of variance

• Writing a research brief and a policy brief

• Data visualization

• AI and other data tools

For each of our Summer Academy programs, students will also have the opportunity to participate in sessions led by a UChicago admissions counselor to better understand the highly selective admissions process practiced by U.S. colleges and universities. Such sessions will give students a window into the role that essays play in the application and how an application is holistically reviewed for admission.

Dr. Rohen Shah is a Lecturer in the Department of Economics at Yale University. He received his PhD from the University of Chicago, where he specialized in behavioral economics. His research uses RCTs to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions. Before graduate school, Rohen co-founded the Ed Tech company DiagKNOWstics Learning. His other prior experiences include managing a state-wide tutoring company in Michigan, teaching high school math in Detroit, and making educational music videos through the non-profit SKULE.org.

Steeped in the University of Chicago's rich tradition of scholarship and innovation, Harris Public Policy faculty and students bring an exacting, data-driven perspective to the full spectrum of policy concerns. It's this point of view, rather than a particular policy domain, that has defined Harris since its founding, guiding us as we address today's most complex challenges and nurture a new generation of leaders driven to change the world.

• Early Bird Application Deadline: February 28, 2026
• Regular Application Deadline: April 15, 2026

1. Latest school transcript
2. Students’ statement of purpose (300 words max) 
3. Resume with list of extracurricular activities and personal achievements
4. (Optional?) English proficiency scores

TBD

• Program fee includes the course fee, use of the UChicago Campus in Hong Kong facilities, one meal and refreshments during on-campus days, excursion expenses, and shuttle buses to and from campus and Kennedy Town MTR Station. Program Fees are non-refundable once paid unless the program is canceled by the UChicago campus in Hong Kong.