Public Finance and Public Policy

Catalog description

When should the government intervene in the economy and how might it do so? Why do governments choose to intervene in the ways they do and what are the effects of those interventions. This course provides an advanced exploration of the field of public finance and public policy using applied microeconomic theory and engaging with academic research and data analysis. Topics may include externalities and public goods; the efficiency, distributional, and revenue effects of taxation; social insurance programs such as Social Security and unemployment insurance; voting and political economy; and health insurance, among others. ECON 6540 is the masters level equivalent and is open to graduate students only.