Taxes, Spending, Regulation and Evaluation

Catalog description

This survey course is focused on principles of how government revenue is and can be raised, the role of spending in establishing priorities and policy choices, and regulation of commercial activities. Students will learn the principles and theory of tax policy, and spending and regulatory law by building on a foundation of human experience dating to the ancient world. They will also learn about widely-believed myths about public finance policies. Case study evaluation of policies at different times and places will be a running theme throughout class discussions. The course will enable students to comprehend and help shape proposed tax policies.