Civil Systems Investment Planning and Pricing (12-706) /
Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis (19-702) /
Economic Analysis of Private and Public Projects (73-359)

scott

Instructor: H. Scott Matthews

  • Office: Porter Hall 118-L
  • Office Hours: Monday after class (2-3), OR by appt.
  • Phone: 268-6218
  • Email: hsm@cmu.edu
  • TAs: Paulina Jaramillo, Office: PH 121, x8-8769; Office Hours: Mon 1030-1130am in CEE Lounge (PH 118 hallway)
  • Joe Marriott, Office: PH A1, x8-5550; Office Hours: Tues 430-530pm in CEE Lounge (PH 118 hallway)
Following is the most up to date course schedule. Lecture notes are linked in the 'Topic' column. While lecture notes may be available before class, they may be changed before or during class (e.g. if we do not cover all material). So check back between classes to ensure no content was changed.

Updated 11/14/2005

Date Topic(s) Assignment /
Supplements		 Reading / Sample Problems
M 29-Aug Course Introduction

Planning Process and Actors		 Clemen Chapter 1
W 31-Aug Estimation PS 1 Out

In-class exercise

Sample Estimation Text

Sample Estimation Spreadheet		 Mosteller Reading
F 2-Sept Discounting Review Penny Spreadsheet

RealNominal Spreadsheet 		Campbell Chapter 2
M 5-Sept No Class (Labor Day)  
W 7-Sept Discounting PS 1 Due
RealNominal Spreadsheet
Penny Spreadsheet
Borrowing/Depreciation Handout

PS 2 Out 		Clemen Chapter 2
Ex 2.9 - 2.11

Campbell Chapters 2,3
Ex 2.1-2.3, 3.3
M 12-Sept Borrowing, Depreciation

Taxes/Depreciation		 PS 1 Solutions

PS 1 Sample (best submitted)		 Campbell Chapter 4
Ex 4.1-4.4

Backup Readings:
Au Chapter 4,11 (Borrowing+Depreciation)

Au Chapter 12 (Taxes)
W 14-Sept

 Borrowing, Leasing, cont.

Social Discount Rate
Government BCA/Discount Rates		 LoanTax Spreadsheet RFF Handout
M 19-Sept

 Sensitivity/Uncertainty Analysis PS 2 Due

Sens Anal Sheet
Excel Data Tables Guide		 Clemen Chapter 5
Ex 5.11

Excel Add-ins (if you dont have @RISK)
W 21-Sept Foundations of CBA

Pareto Efficiency

Welfare Economics

Demand Estimation
 PS 3 Data Campbell Chapters 1,5
M 26-Sept Primary Markets PS 2 Solutions
PS 2 Spreadsheet		 Campbell Chapters 6,7
W 28-Sept

 Primary and Distorted Markets

Inefficient / Secondary Markets		  
M 3-Oct

 Decision Structuring PS 3 Due Clemen Chapter 3, 4 (up to p.119)
W 5-Oct Decision Analysis Treeplan spreadsheet Clemen Chapter 4
M 10-Oct Multi-Attribute Decisions PS 3 Solutions
PS 4 Out		 Clemen Chapter 15
W 12-Oct

 Economic Impacts
Report Writing (no notes) 		Kennywood BCA
Pricing/Costing Handout
Facility Handout 		Campbell Chapters 13, 14 (short!)
Kennywood Report
M 17-Oct Probability Project 1 Due Clemen Chapters 7, 8
W 19-Oct Subjective Probability
Distributions		 PS 4 Due
Final Project Info
F 21-Oct MidSemester Break
M 24-Oct Distribution Functions: Choosing and Using (no PPTs) HW 4 solutions
HW 4 Spreadsheet
Using Excel to Help 		Clemen Chapters 9, 10
W 26-Oct Monte Carlo Estimation Penny - Monte Carlo
Other Spreadsheet Examples 		Campbell Chapter 9
Clemen Chapter 11
M 31-Oct Travel Costs (In-class Case Study)  
W 2-Nov Value of Information

Facility Feasibility Case Study 		Facility Case Spreadsheet (after class) Clemen Chapter 12
M 7-Nov Risk Attitudes and Utility
Stochastic Dominance
 EVPI Spreadsheet Clemen Chapter 13
W 9-Nov Cost-Effectiveness / Cost-Utility Analysis HW 5 Due
Life Saving Handout Distributed

EPA Valuation of Seniors Handout 		Campbell Chapter 12
M 14-Nov

 Risk Analysis/Value of Life Life Saving Handout (w/ Appendix)
W 16-Nov EPA Valuation of Seniors

Tire Pressure Case Study
**Most Important are Exec Summary, Introduction, Target Population, Costs, Cost-Effectiveness sections

Final Rule (skim first few pages) 		PS 5 Solutions
PS 5 Spreadsheet
M 21-Nov

 No Class HW 6 Due
W 23-Nov No Class - Thanksgiving Break
M 28-Nov

In-Class Case Study: Clean Air Act

Multi-Effectiveness CEA 		PS 6 Solutions
PS 6 Spreadsheet 		 
W 30-Nov Landfill Electricity Case Landfill Case Spreadsheet
M 5-Dec Solar House Case Study HW 7 Due Solar House Paper
W 7-Dec Emissions Testing Case Study  
F 9-Dec Final Project Reports Due - 4pm  
Links to Course Materials
Course Syllabus and Schedule
Lecture Notes for this course will be posted periodically, depending on attendance.


Last Updated 8-29-2005 by hsm