Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2024 - ECON 392 D100

Public Economics: Role of Government (3)

Class Number: 2354

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 6 – Aug 2, 2024: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 201 with a minimum grade of C-; 60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The study of the normative rationale for government in a market economy through an analysis of distributional issues, public goods, externalities, non-competitive market structures, and asymmetric information. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

ECON 392 focuses on the role of government—more of the expenditure side—of public economic (and ECON 393 will deal with the taxation side). This course studies the economic role of government through an analysis of Pareto efficiency, Walfare economics, public goods, externalities, and inequality; and if time permits, the course will also examine the main government expenditure programs in Canada, such as health care, employment insurance, public pensions, and public education.

Topics:

 

Unless indicated otherwise, topics refer to the corresponding chapters in the textbook. Additional readings may be provided during the course delivery.

 

Topics will include (time permitting):

  1. Introduction to Public Economics
  2. Overview of Welfare Economics
  3. Program Evaluation
  4. Public Goods and the Privatization Debate
  5. Externalities
  6. Income Distribution and Automatic Stabilizers
  7. Deficit Financing and Public Debt
  8. Fiscal Federalism
  9. Social Insurance and Health Care
  10. Employment Insurance and Automatic Stabilizers
  11. Public Pensions and Intergenerational Accounting
  12. Public Education

Grading

  • Lecture/Tutorial Participation, and Quizzes/Assignments 25%
  • 1st Midterm Exam 20%
  • 2nd Midterm Exam 20%
  • Final Exam 35%

NOTES:

  1. Further information will be provided in the first week.
  2. Quizzes/assignments will include a significant writing component, which require clean and clear communication, and a considerable proportion of the score will be for effective communication.
  3. The tentative dates for the midterm exams will be announced in the first week, but they are subject to change in the event of unforeseen and unavoidable interruptions to class schedules like campus closures.
  4. If you show substantial improvement in your final exam, then more weight may be given to your scores in it when computing your final grades (this does not apply if you do not show up for the midterm exam).
  5. Your final grades may be curved/adjusted using a linear transformation.

 

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Public Finance in Canada, 6th Edition. Harvey S. Rosen, Ted Gayer, Lindsay Tedds, Trevor Tombe. McGraw-Hill, 2023.

(A former edition is fine.)


RECOMMENDED READING:

 

Other readings will be available on Canvas.


Department Undergraduate Notes:

Please note that, as per Policy T20.01, the course requirements (and grading scheme) outlined here are subject to change up until the end of the first week of classes.

Final exam schedules will be released during the second month of classes. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the entire final exam period until you receive confirmation of your exam dates. 

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) at 778-782-3112 or caladmin@sfu.ca.

***NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html