Public Finance
Economics 130
Professor Stuart, Fall 2007


Office: North Hall, 2046. Hours: TR 10:15-11:15. Phone: 893-4791. Text: Rosen and Gayer, Public Finance. Grading: There will be a midterm covering chapters 1-6 for 30% of the grade and a final covering chapters 7-21 for 70% of the grade. Each exam will consist of three or four short-answer questions. A rough schedule is:

Sept. 27
  Introduction, Size of the Public Sector (chapters 1-3)
   
Oct. 2
  "
4
  "
     
9
  "
11
  Public Goods (chapter 4)
     
16
  "
18
  Externalities (chapter 5)
     
23
  Public Choice (chapter 6)
25
  Income Redistribution (chapters 7, 8)
     
30
  MIDTERM
Nov. 1
  Social Security (chapters 9)
     
6
  "
8
  Other Safety-Net Programs (chapter 10)
     
13
  Cost-Benefit (chapter 11)
15
  Tax Incidence (chapter 12)
     
20
  Tax Efficiency (chapter 13)
22
  Thanksgiving
     
27
  Optimal Taxes (chapter 14)
29
  Personal Income Taxes (chapters 15, 16)
     
Dec. 4
  Deficit Finance (chapter 18)
6
  Other Taxes (chapters 17, 19, 20), and Review
     
11
  FINAL, Tuesday 12:00-3:00 am