Summer 2026 - ECON 912 G100
Selected Topics in Economics (4)
Class Number: 2088
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
May 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
BurnabyMay 11 – Aug 10, 2026: Thu, 2:30–3:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Gordon Myers
gmmyers@sfu.ca
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Offered by arrangement.
COURSE DETAILS:
Description
This course studies the economic role of government from a normative perspective. Important topics are: Welfare economics; Pareto Efficiency; the First and Second Theorems of Welfare Economics; Public Goods; Externalities; Asymmetric information and mechanisms, Altruism; Inequality; and Behavioral public economics.
Course Outline and Readings
1) Introduction to Public Economics (notes, M1, and HM1)
2) Welfare Economics: A Good Society from an Economics Perspective (notes)
a. Assumptions and Principles Underlying Welfare Economics
b. Characterizing a Good Society
i) Pareto Efficiency
ii) The Overall Welfare Condition and the Best Outcome
c. Results Regarding a Good Society
3) Complete Decentralization and Competitive Markets (notes, M2, HM2)
a. Markets and Efficiency (First Theorem of Welfare Economics)
b. Markets and Distribution (Second Theorem of Welfare Economics)
c. “Fairness”
4) Public Goods (notes, M9, HM6, V23)
a. About Public Goods
b. Welfare Maximization and Pareto efficiency with Public Goods
c. Private (Market) Provision of Public Goods
d. Asymmetric Information and the Groves-Clarke Tax
e. An Application of the Clarke tax to Budgeting (MY22)
f. Experiments
5) Externalities (notes, M10, HM8, V24)
a. Pareto Efficiency with externalities
b. Private Market Behavior
c. Coase Theorem
d. Asymmetric Information and the Compensation Mechanism
6) Distributive Justice (notes and MY25 and HM13 and HM14)
a. Parochial Altruism
b. The Impossibility of Lump sum Taxation and the Failure of the Second Theorem
c. Second-Best Efficiency
d. Inequality
e. Operationalizing the Welfare Function
f. Guaranteed Annual Income
7) Behavioural Public Economics and Behavioural Public Choice—if time permits (HM3, BT18, MY 25, and MY23)
Grading
NOTES:
Two term tests (25% each) and a final exam (50%). Term test 1 is Tuesday June 23 and term test 2 is Tuesday Aug 4.
Materials
RECOMMENDED READING:
Texts on Reserve/Recommended Reading
Hendricks and Myles, Intermediate Public Economics, 2nd Edition. HM
Myles, Public Economics, 1st Edition. M
Varian, Microeconomic Analysis 3rd Edition V
Some Further Readings on Reserve
Bernheim and Taubinsky, Behavioral Public Economics in Handbook of Behavioral Economics I, BT18
De Palma et al Imperfect Public Choice, MY23
Gruber Public Finance and Public Policy 2022, G22
Myers A Mechanism for Budgeting Faculty Support Services: Ask the Deans,
MY22
Kimbrough et. al. Domesticated Preferences MY25
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Graduate Studies Notes:
Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.