Public Finance
Economics 130
Professor Stuart, Winter 2008


Office: North Hall, 2046. Hours: TR 2:00-3:00. 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:

Jan. 8
  Introduction, Size of the Public Sector (chapters 1-3)
10
  "
   
15
  "
17
  "
     
22
  Public Goods (chapter 4)
24
  "
     
29
  Externalities (chapter 5)
31
  Public Choice (chapter 6)
     
Feb. 5
  Income Redistribution (chapters 12,13)
7
  MIDTERM
     
12
  Social Security (chapters 11)
14
  "
     
19
  Other Safety-Net Programs (chapter 9,10)
21
  Cost-Benefit (chapter 8)
     
26
  Tax Incidence (chapter 14)
28
  Tax Efficiency (chapter 15)
     
Mar. 4
  Optimal Taxes (chapter 16)
6
  Personal Income Taxes (chapters 17, 18)
     
11
  Deficit Finance (chapter 20)
13
  Other Taxes (chapters 19, 21, 22), and Review
     
18
  FINAL, Tuesday 12:00-3:00 pm