| This course examines the role of government in a modern economy. It develops a set of concepts that will allow students to evaluate policy alternatives. The following are among the particular topics likely to be addressed: externalities and environmental protection, education, the redistribution of income, health care, social insurance, taxation and tax reform, cost-benefit analysis, fiscal federalism, and state and local government finance. In each case, the focus is on whether intervention by government is appropriate, what the most effective form of any such intervention is, and how alternative policy interventions affect the private decisions made by citizens and business firms. Prerequisite: ECON 252 |
