Public Economics

Catalog description

This course investigates the role of the public sector in the economy. The aim is to understand the reasons for government intervention, the response of economic agents to the governments and assessing the welfare effects of these influences. The course covers tax policy and inequality, social insurance programs, public goods, and the interaction between different levels of government. Special emphasis is on current policy issues such as education reform, health care reform, income tax reform, and the role of behavioral factors in designing effective policy. Students are expected to be familiar with one variable calculus and optimization techniques at the level required in Intermediate Microeconomics. Prerequisite: ECON-SHU 3 Microeconomics or ECON-UB 2 Microeconomics with Calculus. Fulfillment: Economics elective; Social Science Focus Political Economy 300 level course.