Course Prerequisites: Finance 3340

Course Objectives

• This course is an overview of the methods used to finance the public sector.
• We will start with the economics of the public sector and then study the principles of taxation, including the theory and methods used to raise funds.

• We will then examine government expenditures, including:

1. the budgeting process,
2. redistribution programs,
3. social security, health care,
4. and national defense.
5. We will also study the Federal Reserve System and it's activities.

This will be a small class, so rather than the traditional lecture, note taking, and memorizing facts, I will expect everyone to participate in a class discussion each class period. The topics covered will be pertinent to the current subject matter, which you should have already read and be familiar with.

• We will have a mid-term exam on or about February 14.

• Each student will keep a "Public Events Diary." This diary can be kept in a notebook form of your choosing, and will contain at least one entry each day of an event pertaining to public finance. Your interpretation and the source of the event should be included. I will pick up the notebooks on 16 February, 13 March, 10 April, and 30 April for review and grading.

• The final exam will be a 15-20 minute presentation of your choosing. I will grade this presentation on how appropriate it is to public finance (specifically, to this course,) your knowledge of your subject, the quality and depth of your research on the subject, and your appearance (no ball caps etc.) This is not a `dress up' occasion, normal class attire will be fine.

• I will rely on the textbook only as a guide and as an authority on public finance. The material in your diaries can be a starting point for class discussion. I would also like you to watch/listen to one hour of news programs or discussions each week. Examples are C-span morning programs, Money Line and/or Crossfire in the evenings, any talk radio, or the Sunday morning news programs. A good strategy would be to sample several of these programs over the semester. The program you listened to/watched should be logged in your diary and include time, show, guests if any, and topics discussed.