Course:
Session:
Time:
Location:
ECN 410 – Public Finance
Fall 2008
Monday-Wednesday-Friday - 9:00-9:50am
Old Main, Room 310
Instructor:
Phone:
Email:
Office:
Office Hours:
Website:
Dr. Riley Moore
(360) 438-4511
rmoore@stmartin.edu
Room 372
Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 10:00–10:50am
Tuesday/Thursday: 9:30-10:30am
Other times by appointment
http://homepages.stmartin.edu/fac_staff/rmoore/index.htm
Text:
Rosen, Harvey S., Public Finance., 8th Edition, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2008.
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) Group Research Paper Group Paper Presentation Homework Assignments
40%
30%
10 %
20%
Grade equivalents:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
W
AU
I
P
100 - 94
93 - 90
89 - 87
86 - 84
83 - 80
79 - 77
76 - 74
73 - 70
69 - 67
66 - 64
63 - 60
59 – 0
4.00
3.67
3.33
3.00
2.67
2.33
2.00
1.67
1.33
1.00
0.67
0.00
(withdrawal) - not computed in grade point average (GPA)
(audit) - not computed in grade point average (GPA)
(incomplete) - not computed in grade point average (GPA)
(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 assigned questions and problems at 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 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:
o Assisting another student on examinations, tests, quizzes or other assignments,
o
o
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 (08/25-08/29) -
Course overview
Chapter 1 - Introduction
Chapter 2 – Tools of Positive Analysis
Week 2 (09/01-09/05) -
Monday September 1, 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 (09/08-09/12) -
Chapter 4 – Public Goods
Video: Economics USA: Public Goods - Friday
Paper topic due on Friday
Week 4 (09/15-09/19) -
Chapter 5 – Externalities
Week 5 (09/22-09/26) -
Chapter 6 – Political Economy
Chapter 7– Education
Week 6 (09/29-10/03) -
Chapter 8 – Expenditure Programs for the Poor
Chapter 9 – Social Insurance I: Soc. Sec. & Unemployment Ins.
Week 7 (10/06-10/10) -
Chapter 10 – Social Insurance II: Health Care
Wednesday test Review
Friday October 10, No Class – Holiday: Fall Break
Week 8 (10/13-10/17) -
Mid-term (Chapters 1-10) - Monday
Chapter 11 – Cost-Benefit Analysis
Week 9 (10/20-10/24) -
Chapter 12 – Taxation and Income Distribution
Video: Economics USA: Reducing Poverty - Wednesday
Week 10 (10/27-10/31) -
Chapter 13 – Taxation and Efficiency
Chapter 14 – Efficient and Equitable Taxation
Week 11 (11/03-11/07) -
Chapter 15 – Personal Taxation and Behavior
Week 12 (11/10-11/14) -
Chapter 16 – Personal Taxation and Behavior
Chapter 17 – The Corporation Tax
Week 13 (11/17-11/21) -
Chapter 18 – Deficit Finance
Friday November 28, No Class – Holiday: Thanksgiving
Week 14 (11/24-11/28) -
Chapter 19 – Taxes on Consumption and Wealth
Chapter 20 – Public Finance in a Federal System
Week 15 (12/01-12/05) -
Presentations for Groups A & B - Monday
Presentations for Groups C & D - Wednesday
Group papers due on Wednesday
Friday December 5, No Class – St. Thomas Aquinas Study Day
Week 16 (12/08-12/11) -
Final – December 10 – 8am