ECF3721

Public finance and fiscal policy

Not offered in 1998

6 points
* 3 hours per week
* Caulfield

Objectives On completion of this subject students should be able to understand the basic concepts and principles involved in the public finance and fiscal policy area, to evaluate current public debates in Australia on the issues of taxation and expenditure, and appreciate limitation of economic analysis in the public policy arena.

Synopsis This subject will cover topics such as effects of government expenditure, borrowing and taxation on resource allocation, national income and employment, prices and income distribution; normative and positive tax policy, tax incidence, efficiency, corporation financial policy, expenditure, evaluation, social insurance and public goods; issues in measuring and evaluation; the economic performance of government tax, expenditure, debt and other policies; their effects on private economic activity, saving, investment, labor supply; alternative policies and methods of evaluation; mechanisms of social choice, political processes and the politics of economic policy.

Assessment Written: 30%
* Examination (2 hours): 70%