Economics of State and Local Governments (337-0-20)

Instructors

Silvia Vannutelli

Meeting Info

Frances Searle Building 1421: Mon, Wed, Fri 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

State and local governments play an essential role in citizens day-to-day life, as they decide and deliver key public goods and services, such as education, transportation, health and welfare. This course uses applied tools of microeconomics and simple data analysis to acquaint students with various aspects of the subnational government sector, including expenditure, financing, and policy issues. We start by reviewing under what situation is the government provision desirable. We then study how levels of state goods and services are determined, and what are the main sources of revenues through which these expenditures are financed, including taxes and transfers from higher levels of government. Students will also learn the importance of political considerations and the role of state and local politics in influencing local government decisions. The course will end with policy analysis and applications. The main focus is going to be on the United States but we are also going to explore examples and issues faced by local governments around the world.

Registration Requirements

ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2

Learning Objectives

N/A

Class Materials (Required)

Jonathan Gruber Public Finance and Public Policy Fifth Edition ISBN-13: 978-1464143335, ISBN-10: 1464143331

Class Materials (Suggested)

Ronald C. Fisher, State and Local Public Finance, Routledge; 4th edition (September 3, 2018)

Class Notes

N/A

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-requisite: Students must have taken ECON 310-1 or MMSS 211-1 and ECON 281 or ECON 381-1 or MATH 386-1 or IEMS 304 or STAT 350 to successfully enroll in this course.