Public Economics

Prerequisite: ECON 101 or ECON 102 Government intervention changes opportunities and incentives for individuals, families, businesses, and state and local governments. This course will provide students with an understanding of the reasons for and consequences of government intervention and policies. It combines public finance, which is how the government allocates resources, and public choice, which reflects the political decisions of voters and their elected representatives. We will apply economic tools to analyze public policy issues such as government intervention in combating environmental pollution, the introduction of education vouchers, the contours of health care and social security reforms, among others. Offered periodically.