PUBLIC ECONOMICS: TAX POLICY

Credit Hours: 3 · Graduate

Provides an economic analysis of the theory and practice of tax policy, focusing on the evaluation of alternative tax systems in terms of equity, efficiency, and simplicity. Analyzes the effects of various taxes on individual and business behavior, including labor supply, saving, and investment including the calculation of effective tax rates. Discusses general equilibrium modeling of the economic and distributional effects of alternative tax systems and tax reforms. Special topics include the choice between income-based and consumption-based taxation, tax incidence, optimal taxation, and state and local public finance.