Course:ECN 410 – Public Finance
Session:Fall 2006
Time:Monday-Wednesday-Friday- 2:00-2:50pm
Location:Old Main, Room 330
Instructor:Dr. Riley Moore
Phone:(360) 438-4511
Email:
Office:Room 372
Office Hours:Monday-Friday: 9 – 9:50am or by appointment
Website:
Text:Rosen, Harvey S., Public Finance., 7th Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2005.
Course Description:
Public finance deals with the economics of the public sector, including the impact of the government budget on resource allocation, income distribution and economic stabilization; principles and problems of budget determination, including both tax and expenditure aspects; tax shifting and incidence; and fiscal and debt management policies.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to demonstrate and show:
1. Understand the underlying theories, operation, and organization of public finance.
2. Analyze issues involving management and budgetary matters.
3. Understand quantitative and qualitative techniques for addressing public finance problems.
4. Understand group dynamics and to work in teams.
Course Evaluation:
2 Exams (20% each) -40%
Group Research Paper -30%
Group Paper Presentation -10 %
Homework Assignments20%
Grade equivalents:
A100 - 944.00
A- 93 - 903.67
B+ 89 - 873.33
B 86 - 843.00
B- 83 - 802.67
C+ 79 - 772.33
C 76 - 742.00
C- 73 - 701.67
D+ 69 - 671.33
D 66 - 641.00
D- 63 - 600.67
F 59 – 00.00
W (withdrawal) - not computed in grade point average (GPA)
AU (audit) - not computed in grade point average (GPA)
I (incomplete) - not computed in grade point average (GPA)
P (pass) - not computed in grade point average (GPA)
Course Assignments:
Exams
Students can expect two exams, a mid-term and a final, to be given as in class assessments. These exams will cover reading materials, homework problems, lectures and material presented by any guest speakers. They will consist of multiple choice, problems and essay questions. Each exam is worth 20 percent of your grade. No make-up tests will be allowed.
Homework
Assigned homework consists of each student answering the odd numbered questions and problems at the end of each chapter in written form. They are due at the beginning of the class on the Monday following the week the material was covered (see class schedule). Grades will be based on the number of correct responses. Late homework will not be accepted. Electronic submissions are accepted, but students submitting electronically must assume responsibility for keeping hard copies of their submissions and for periodically checking to make sure the submission have been received.
Group Research Paper
For the research paper, the group will select a topic that pertains to the subject matter of the course (see p.19 of your text for additional insights on doing research in public finance). In the field of public finance, there is a lot of disagreement about how to implement economic principles and this paper will work best if you choose a current area where multiple viewpoints are available.
Approval of the paper’s topic and topic sentence are required prior to commencing the paper. The paper should provide an in-depth investigation of the subject selected with an introduction and conclusion. We will discuss possible topic areas in class.
The paper will be graded on the group’s ability to present and analyze the various sides of the issue selected. The introduction to the paper should address the controversy, present the thesis or topic statement and preview the paper’s organization. The conclusion section of the paper should present the group’s own viewpoint based on the facts collected and presented.
A minimum of five different references (besides your text) should be utilized. It should be typewritten, double-spaced, follow either the APA or MLA format, and be a minimum of 10 pages in length (excluding cover page and bibliography/references). You should begin your paper by constructing an outline. I will be happy to review your outline and help you proceed from that point.
You can submit your topic statement for approval and your final paper electronically, but be sure to keep a hard copy in case of transmission problems.
Paper Presentation
For your group paper presentation, please construct a MS PowerPoint presentation. You will need in the presentation to define the topic area, present the various viewpoints you covered and end with your current thoughts on the topic. Thus you will need no more than five to ten slides. Your group presentation should be no longer than twenty minutes long. An “A” presentation will be concise and succinct and obviously practiced.
Class Expectations and Policies:
Regular and prompt class attendance is an essential part of the educational experience.
- Students are expected exercise good judgment regarding attendance and accept full responsibility for ensuring that work does not suffer from absences.
- Students are also expected to attend each class on time and expected to participate in class discussions. Please read the chapters in advance of the lectures so that you are in a position to participate. As a courtesy to your classmates, make every effort to arrive at class on time.
- Any student who misses three or fewer class meetings will receive a 2 percent bonus towards their final grade. In the event of an absence, you are responsible for all material missed. Make-up exams may be set in extreme emergencies only.
- Any "Academic Dishonesty" violation (see SMU Student Handbook for details) can result in an "F" in the course and may result in disciplinary action by the university. Academic dishonesty consists of any of the following acts:
- Assisting another student on examinations, tests, quizzes or other assignments,
or receiving assistance from a student without permission of the instructor.
- Using unauthorized materials for assistance during examinations, tests, quizzes or other assignments.
- Plagiarism is the act of using the words and ideas of others without giving proper credit.·This includes having another individual write a paper or take an examination for you, directly quoting material without using quotation marks or proper indentation, and not giving credit for another person's original ideas and organization.
Access/Disability Services:
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) mandates colleges and universities to provide "reasonable accommodation" to any enrolled student with a disability. The law protects the student's rights to have an equalized opportunity for learning and for participating in campus programs and activities. Students have the right to services and reasonable accommodations providing they meet the basic requirements to perform activities of the program.
Saint Martin's University Student Services includes a Disability Support Services office which works with students and potential students. We arrange those accommodations that allow our students to participate in classes and activities and have equal access to a full education here at the university alongside their fellow students, in whatever format the class is offered.
ECN 410 - Tentative Course Outline
Week 1 (08/28-09/01) - Course overview
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 –Tools of Positive Analysis
Week 2 (09/04-09/08) - Homework Due for Chapters 1 and 2
Monday September 4, No Class – Holiday: Labor Day
Appendix: Some Basic Microeconomics
Chapter 3 –Tools of Normative Analysis
Last day for changing or adding a class
Week 3 (09/11-09/15) - Homework Due for Chapter 3
Chapter 4 – Public Goods
Video: Economics USA: Public Goods - Friday
Paper topic due on Friday
Week 4 (09/18-09/22) - Homework Due for Chapter 4
Chapter 5 – Externalities
Week 5 (09/25-09/29) - Homework Due for Chapter 5
Chapter 6 – Political Economy
Chapter 7– Income Redistribution: Conceptual Issues
Week 6 (10/02-10/06) - Homework Due for Chapters 6 & 7
Chapter 8 – Expenditure Programs for the Poor
Chapter 9 – Social Insurance I: Soc. Sec. & Unemployment Ins.
Week 7 (10/09-10/13) - Homework Due for Chapters 8 & 9
Chapter 10 – Social Insurance II: Health Care
Wednesday test Review with Homework Due for Chapter 10
Friday October 13, No Class – Holiday: Fall Break
Week 8 (10/16-10/20) - Mid-term (Chapters 1-10) - Monday
Chapter 11 – Cost-Benefit Analysis
Paper Outline Review Services this week
Week 9 (10/23-10/27) - Homework Due for Chapter 11
Chapter 12 – Taxation and Income Distribution
Video: Economics USA: Reducing Poverty - Wednesday
Week 10 (10/30-11/03) -Homework Due for Chapter 12
Chapter 13 – Taxation and Efficiency
Chapter 14 – Efficient and Equitable Taxation
Friday, November 3 - Last day to withdraw from a class
Week 11 (11/06-11/10) - Homework Due for Chapter 13 & 14
Chapter 15 – Personal Taxation and Behavior
Friday November 10, No Class – Holiday: Saint Martin’s Day
Week 12 (11/13-11/17) -Homework Due for Chapter 15
Chapter 16 – Personal Taxation and Behavior
Chapter 17 – The Corporation Tax
Week 13 (11/20-11/24) - Homework Due for Chapters 16 & 17
Chapter 18 – Deficit Finance
Friday November 24, No Class – Holiday: Thanksgiving
Week 14 (11/27-12/01) - Homework Due for Chapter 18
Chapter 19 – Taxes on Consumption and Wealth
Chapter 20 – Public Finance in a Federal System
Week 15 (12/04-12/08) - Homework Due for Chapters 19 & 20
Presentations for Groups A & B - Monday
Presentations for Groups C & D - Wednesday
Group papers due on Wednesday
Friday December 8, No Class – St. Thomas Aquinas Study Day
Week 16 (12/11-12/15) - Final– TBA