Urban Fiscal Policy

1 Course Unit

The purpose of this course is to examine the financing of governments in the urban economy. Topics to be covered include the causes and consequences of the urban fiscal crisis, the design of optimal tax and spending policies for local governments, funding of public infrastructures and the workings of the municipal bond market, privatization of government services, and public financial systems for emerging economies. Applications include analyses of recent fiscal crises, local services and taxes as important determinants of real estate prices, the infrastructure crisis, financing and the provision of public education, and fiscal constitutions for new democracies using South Africa as an example. Fall or Spring Prerequisite: ECON 2100 AND (ECON 2200 OR FNCE 1010) AND ECON 2300 AND ECON 2310 AND (MATH 1400 OR MATH 1070) AND (MATH 1410 OR MATH 1510 OR MATH 1080) 1 Course Unit