Case Study

Case Study

The case memorandums should be typed, double-spaced, with normal margins, pitch, etc. and should not exceed one page. Additional pages may be attached that contain appendices, tables, calculations, etc. However, the one page memorandum must be able to “stand on its own.”

You are encouraged to work with other members of the class to discuss and analyze the cases. However, each student should prepare her or his case memorandum individually and must fully understand the process used to arrive at the recommendation.

When you are analyzing the case studies and preparing your case memorandums, you should keep the following in mind. First, there will be guidance on how to analyze each of the case studies provided in this file. Second, the cases in the reader describe real situations in which a public or private decision maker must sift through often voluminous information in order to determine which course of action is most appropriate. Typically the exhibits contain as much (or more) important information as the text.

Your task, much like that of a real world policy maker, is to decide what information in the case is pertinent. In many situations some of the information provided is superfluous or contradictory. Each case is self-contained meaning no outside reading or research should be required to supplement the information provided. In addition, while it is usually healthy to be skeptical, if you encounter information in the case that you doubt, you should assume all the material is correct.
Third, each case study is different and there is no fail-safe approach to tackling one.

Nevertheless, there are some basic questions you may find useful to ask (and attempt to answer):
Who are the principal actors in the case?
What are the long run goals of each? What are the short run incentives of each? How is each rewarded?
What are the options available?
What is the decision to be made?
Are the apparent constraints really constraints or might some be loosened? Are the long run alternatives different than those in the short run?
What are others likely to do in response to each alternative?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option? Which are quantifiable?
What bounds can you put on those that are not quantifiable? Can the problem be broken into several simpler problems?

Unlike problems in a problem set, there is no unique “right” answer. Usually there are several different approaches to solving the problem. Some of these differing approaches may be equally valid while others may be less valid.

Fourth, there is a standard format you should use when preparing your memorandums. The first section should contain your recommendation. The second section should contain the three strongest arguments supporting your recommendation. The third section should contain the three strongest arguments against your recommendation. And, remember, the case memorandums must be double-spaced and must be no more than one page in length.

Fifth, you should be aware of some common mistakes that are made when analyzing cases:
• One common mistake is to make recommendations that are too general. The more specific the recommendation the easier it will be to see the advantages and disadvantages of the chosen course of action.
• A second common mistake is to make recommendations or statements that are not supported by facts provided in the case.
• A third common mistake is to believe analysis is not necessary to make a recommendation. Remember the purpose of the case studies is to apply policy analysis tools and concepts to policy issues. All cases will involve using some economic principles and most will require data manipulation; analysis of a case is INCOMPLETE without these components.
• Finally, don’t forget what you are trying to accomplish with the memorandum. Do not include extraneous sentences or ideas. Review each sentence and ask “does this sentence add value to my argument?” If it fails to contribute anything to the recommendation you are making and the rationale for the recommendation, purge it immediately!
The questions below are designed to raise some of the questions you might find it useful to think about in developing your recommendation.

Case 1: California Water Pricing
1. How should water be priced in California? (Your recommendation)
2. If the current pricing scheme is to be changed, how should the changes be implemented?
3. Which farmers would be most severely damaged by significantly higher prices for water?
4. Which crops and which regions of California would be most affected by a change in the pricing of water?
5. Marginal cost pricing will most likely cause a shift of water usage away from agricultural pursuits toward urban uses. Is such a shift appropriate? Why?
6. If farmers were allowed to sell the water they are using on the open market, how would this compare to marginal cost pricing?

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