Public Finance Katherine Sauer, Ph.D. ECO 4300 AD 530-Q 303-556-3037 Fall 2011 ksauer5@mscd.

edu __________________________________________________________________________________ Public Finance is the study of the role of government in the economy. When should the government intervene? How might the government intervene? What is the effect of the intervention? Why do governments choose to intervene in the way that they do? Basic Economic Tools (weeks 1 2) Ch 3: Empirical Tools

Ch 2: Theoretical Tools

Ch 4: Intro to Budgets

Addressing Market Failures (weeks 3 7) Ch 5-6 Externalities Ch 7-9 Public Goods Ch 10 State / Local Government Ch 11 Education Exam 1: October 4th Learning Objectives: - Explain ways in which the market can fail. - Describe and analyze various government responses to market failures. Ch 12-14 Ch 15-16 Ch 17

Redistribution (weeks 7 11) Social Insurance Health Insurance Income Distribution Exam 2: November 1st Learning Objectives: - Describe types of redistribution programs. - Analyze the effects of redistribution programs.

Taxes (weeks 11 15) Ch 18 Ch 19-20 Ch 21-23 Ch 24 Ch 25 Intro to Taxes Implications Individual Taxes Corporate Taxes Tax Reform Exam 3: December 8th Learning Objectives: - Explain methods by which the government raises revenue through taxes. - Analyze the consequences of taxes.

Learning Objective: Apply the tools of public finance to a current issue.

Course Activities class participation 5%

homework 9/8

homework 9/29

homework 10/27

homework 12/6

online quizzes

15%

Exam 1 10/4 20%

Exam 2 11/1 20%

presentation 5% 12/13 or 12/15

Exam 3 12/8 20%

research paper 12/1 15%

To prepare for class participation, the successful student will read the text in advance and complete the assigned comprehension questions. To receive credit for class participation, students should actively contribute to discussion and solving in-class problems.

There are four homework assignments. The assignments can either count for 10% of your grade or 15% of your grade. If you choose to have the homework assignments weighted at 10%, then you will complete the online quizzes for at least half of the chapters for the other 5% of your homework grade. The due date for the online quizzes is the start of class on exam days. If you choose to have the homework assignments weighted at 15%, then you solely submit the 4 homework assignments. Please choose your assignment option by September 1st during class.
Exams consist of multiple choice, short answer and longer problems. Make up exams are only given in the gravest of extenuating circumstances.

Using the tools of public finance, you will write a 5 page research paper which provides an analysis of a current public policy issue. Details of the paper will be discussed during the semester. Your paper is due at the beginning of class on Thursday December 1st. Electronic submissions are not accepted (no shifting the printing costs). Late papers are subject to a 10 percentage point reduction each calendar day. You will also give a presentation on your research during our final exam period (date TBA).

Course Resources

Our required course textbook is Public Finance and Public Policy by Jonathan Gruber. Third Edition Worth Publishers ISBN: 9781429219495 Visit http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/gruber/3e for free student resources like flashcards, quizzes, and power point slides.

Office Hours are a resource to assist you outside of our class time. You do not need an appointment to see me during office hours please just stop by. You may also make an appointment in advance to see me during other days. Please note my schedule for this fall. Tuesdays & Thursdays Citizens Guide Office Hours Public Finance Office Hours Principles of Micro Principles of Micro

9:30-10:45 11-12:15 12:30-1:45 2-3:15 3:30-4:45 5-6:15

KC 203 AD 530-Q KC 203 AD 530-Q KC 203 KC 203

My office is located in the (old) Administration building in room 530-Q.

Source: Google Maps 3

Course Policies Course Prerequisites The prerequisite for this course is ECO 2020. You are expected to be familiar with market diagrams, welfare and efficiency concepts, and elasticity. Proficiency in solving algebra problems is assumed. _________________________________________________________________________________ Course Grading Scale 89.5% and up A 79.5% to 89.4% B 69.5% to 79.4% C 59.5% to 69.4% D 59.4% and below F ________________________________________________________________________________ Missed Assignments and Exams Assignments: Late homework is not accepted unless there is a grave extenuating circumstance. Participation: If you are in class and actively participating, then you will receive full credit for that days participation. Two participation scores will be dropped from your grade. Exams: A make up exam is given only in grave extenuating circumstances. Research Paper:
Late papers are subject to a 10 percentage point reduction each calendar day. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Grade Disputes Sometimes you might interpret a question differently than I intend. If you have a dispute or disagreement with grading, please observe the following procedure:
1. Observe a 24 hour cooling off period. 2. Submit in writing an explanation of your argument/dispute/ disagreement. Include supporting evidence from class resources. 3. Your case will be reviewed by our next class period. You can set up an appointment to meet with me to discuss my response.

This process helps me improve the way that I write and grade questions. It is not meant to be scary or argumentative. **If your only dispute is an incorrect calculation of your grade, let me know as soon as possible. A submission in writing is not necessary.** 4

Email Please use your @mscd email address when emailing me. If you do not, you run the risk of my email filter program deciding that your message is spam. Please do not use the email feature in BlackBoard/Web CT to email me. Write directly to me at ksauer5@mscd.edu . (In the past messages sent through that system had frequently gotten lost.) Please try to use proper sentences and punctuation when writing to me. I am old and cant always figure out what your short-hand abbreviations are trying to say ___________________________________________________________________________________ Disability Accommodations Any student eligible for and needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a disability is required to go to the Access Center Office so that accommodations can be arranged. Accommodations will not be granted prior to my receipt of your faculty notification letter from the Access Center. Please note that accommodations are never provided retroactively. Once I am in receipt of your official Access Center faculty notification letter, I would be happy to meet with you to discuss your accommodations. All discussions will remain confidential. Auraria Library, Suite 116 303-556-8387 mscd-accesscenter@mscd.edu http://www.mscd.edu/~access/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Religious Holidays The college policy of observing all religious holidays will be abided by in this class. A prior indication of any religious-related absence is appreciated. ____________________________________________________________________________________ No Credit (NC) Grades During the first 10 weeks of class, you may opt for NC through MetroConnect online. You do not need a signature from me. After the 10th week, I do not have authorization to grant you a NC. The Fall 2011 NC deadline is Monday October 31st. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Student Code of Conduct Metropolitan State College of Denver has a Student Conduct Code and every student is expected to be familiar with it particularly regarding the policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. Available online: http://www.mscd.edu/policies/student_code_of_conduct/student_conduct_code.shtml

Academic Calendar / Important MSCD Dates Last day to drop with 100% tuition refund: No classes, Labor Day: Last day to drop with 50% tuition refund and course deleted from transcript: Last day to drop with NC grade: No classes, Fall Break: Final exam week: Grades available online:

Sunday August 28th Monday Sept. 5th Wednesday Sept. 7th Monday Oct. 31st Nov 21st Nov 28th Dec 12th 17th Friday Dec. 23rd

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