ECO 4554: Economics of State and Local Government

Calendar of Events and Due Dates

Fall Semester 2008∗

Week Dates Activities Comments

1 Monday, Topic 1: Textbook Reading Assignments
August 25- Microeconomic Fisher, Chapters 1-2; Chapter 4, pages 82-84 and appendix
Sunday, August Analysis of the
31 Public Sector You must be thoroughly familiar with the concepts of price
elasticity and income elasticity and be able to use them. You
should also be acquainted with the ranges of elasticity
estimates for local public services shown in Table 4-1.

Additional Reading Assignment

The Economist's Toolkit

Practice Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, August 31)

See "Initial Steps" on the Syllabus for instructions
2 Monday, Labor Day No class
September 1
Wednesday, Topic 1: Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,
September 3- Microeconomic September 7)
Sunday, Analysis of the Study Question 1-4.a and 1-4.b
September 7 Public Sector
(continued) Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, September 7)
Exercise 1
Exercise 1 Quiz
3 Monday, Topic 1: Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,
September 8- Microeconomic September 14)
Sunday, Analysis of the Study Question 1-4.c and 1-3
September 14 Public Sector
(continued) Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, September 14)
Exercise 2
Exercise 2 Quiz

∗
The schedule of topics and assignments in this calendar are subject to change. Assignments may be
added or deleted during the semester. Changes will be posted under Announcements on the course
website and/or announced in an e-mail message distributed to the class.
 ECO 4554: Economics of State and Local Government
Calendar of Events and Due Dates
Fall Semester 2008

4 Monday, Topic 2: Public Textbook Assignment

September 15- Choice Fisher, Chapter 3 (appendix optional)
Sunday,
September 21 We will not use indifference curve analysis in this course.
Therefore, you may omit the various appendixes that use
indifference curves. However, if you are familiar with
indifference curve analysis, you might find these appendixes
helpful.

Additional Reading Assignments

Marsha Mercer, "Cumulative Voting: System Gives
Minorities More Clout"
William Raspberry, "Let's Try Cumulative Voting"

Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,

September 21)
Study Question 2-2

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, September 21)

Exercise 3
Exercise 3 Quiz
5 Monday, Topic 3: Textbook Reading Assignment
September 22- Tiebout Model Fisher, Chapter 5
Sunday,
September 28 Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,
September 28)
Study Question 3-3

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, September 28)

Exercise 4
Exercise 4 Quiz
6 Monday, Topic 4: Reading Assignment
September 29- Optimal Fisher, Chapter 6
Sunday, October Jurisdictions
5 Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,
October 5)
Study Question 4-2

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, October 5)

Exercise 5
Exercise 5 Quiz
TEST October 1-2 Topics 1-3 Test available 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 1-8:00
p.m., Thursday, October 2
1
Topic 5: State Not assigned
and Local Debt

2
 ECO 4554: Economics of State and Local Government
Calendar of Events and Due Dates
Fall Semester 2008

7 Monday, Topic 6: User Textbook Reading Assignment

October 6- Charges Fisher, Chapter 8
Sunday, October
12 Additional Reading Assignment
Example 6-1: Tallahassee Utility Rates

Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,

October 12)
Study Question 6-1

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, October 12)

Exercise 6
8 Monday, Topic 7: Textbook Reading Assignment
October 13- Intergovernmen Fisher, Chapter 9 (omit pages 221-225; appendix optional)
Sunday, October tal Grants
19 Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,
October 19)
Study Question 7-2c

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, October 19)

Exercise 7
Exercise 7 Quiz
9 Monday, Topic 8: Textbook Reading Assignment
October 20- Principles of Fisher, Chapter 12 (appendix optional)
Sunday, October Tax Analysis
26 Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,
October 26)
Study Questions 8-2 and 8-3

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, October 26)

Exercise 8
Exercise 8 Quiz

3
 ECO 4554: Economics of State and Local Government
Calendar of Events and Due Dates
Fall Semester 2008

10 Monday, Topic 9: Textbook Reading Assignment

October 27- Property Tax Fisher, Chapters 13-14
Sunday,
November 2 You may omit "Land Value Taxation" (pages 362-64) and
"State Property Tax Credits" (pages 368-369) in Chapter 14.

Additional Reading Assignment

Shawn Tully, "A Tax upon Your House"
John Yinger, “Notes on the Incidence of the Property Tax”

Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,

November 2)
Study Question 9-2

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, November 2)

Exercise 9
Exercise 9 Quiz
TEST October 29- Topics 4 and 6- Test available 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 29-8:00
October 30 8 p.m., Thursday, October 30
2
11 Monday, Topic 10: Sales Textbook Reading Assignment
November 3- Tax Fisher, Chapter 15
Sunday,
November 9 Additional Reading Assignments
Taxing Internet Sales
Sales Taxes and E-Commerce

Discussion Board Assignment (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday,

November 9)
Study Question 10-3

Exercise (due 11:45 p.m., Sunday, November 9)

Exercise 10
Exercise 10 Quiz
12 Monday, Topic 11: Textbook Reading Assignment
November 10- Education Fisher, Chapter 19; Chapter 4, pages 84-87.
Sunday,
November 16 Additional Reading Assignment
Dan Selignmen, "The Big Lie"

4
 ECO 4554: Economics of State and Local Government
Calendar of Events and Due Dates
Fall Semester 2008

13 Monday, Topic 12: Textbook Reading Assignment

November 17- Transportation Fisher, Chapter 20
Sunday,
November 23 Additional Reading Assignments
Chana R. Schoenberger, "We Have the Technology To
Reduce Traffic Congestion"
Laura Meckler, "Making Public Highways Private"
Aaron Patrick, “Life in the Faster Lane”
Topic 13: Reading Assignment
Economic Fisher, Chapter 22
Development
Additional Reading Assignments
Charles J. Whalen, "Time for the Stadium Boom to Go
Bust?"
William P. Barrett, "Willis Carrier's Ghost"
14 Monday, Thanksgiving No Assignments
November 24- Week
Sunday,
November 30
15 Monday, Last Week of No Assignments
December 1- Class
Sunday,
December 7
TEST December 3-4 Topics 9-13 Test available 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 3-8:00
p.m., Thursday, December 4
3
Final Monday, Core In class, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
December 8 Principles and
Exam Make-up for
Missed Test(s)