PUBPOL 5220

Public Finance: Economics of the Public Sector

Course Description

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2024-2025.

This course covers topics in public economics, macroeconomics, and political economy. The course will use the tools of economics to consider when and how the government should intervene in the economy, and how different levels of government might intervene differently. We will also devote some coverage to fiscal and monetary policy tools, basics of the business cycle, and determinants of economic growth. Both theory and applications will be covered.

When Offered Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: PUBPOL 5210 or equivalent intermediate micro-economics.

• Explain and identify conditions justifying government intervention in markets.
• Analyze the theoretical impact of possible interventions using indifference curves, budget constraints, and supply and demand functions.
• Evaluate the economic costs and benefits associated with major government programs, including social insurance and tax policy.
• Apply the theoretical tools of economic analysis to evaluate the substantive impact of existing government policies, both in the US and internationally.
• Explain the role of government in providing macroeconomic stability and determining economic growth.

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