Course Description
Government's economic role, with discussions of what governments should (or shouldn't) do, and of what they do in fact. Major tax and spending programs are critically examined, and proposals for changing them are considered.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
A course project or additional exam will be required of graduate students.
Athena Title
PUBLIC SECTOR ECON
Prerequisite
ECON 4010
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The class focuses on government's role in the economy. After introducing some analytic tools, the class discusses what role government should (or should not) play in the economy. Attention then turns to what government actually does as some large spending programs are described and analyzed. For the revenue side of government, the same progression is followed - tools, judging what is proper, and describing what is actually done.
Topical Outline
Empirical Tools Evaluation of Private Markets Public Goods Externalities Actual Government Behavior Social Security Welfare Policy Effects on Price of Taxation Effects on Behavior of Taxation Optimal Taxation The U.S. Income Tax Responses to Tax Incentives Consumption and Wealth Taxes Corporate Taxes State and Local Taxes
Syllabus