Economics 28: Public Finance and Public Policy

Government policies exert a pervasive influence over the economy and the welfare of its inhabitants. This course aims to provide an understanding of the reasons for government intervention in the economy, as well as conceptual tools for analyzing the benefits of potential government policies and the reactions of individuals to policy interventions. The course first examines inequality and redistribution through the tax system. Next, it covers social insurance, externalities, public goods, and local government functions. Several lectures will be devoted to specific policy areas such as health care and the criminal justice system. A central goal of the course is to connect core economic concepts to current, real-world policy debates such as proposals for Medicare for All, Universal Basic Income, or defunding the police.

Overview

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