PUBLIC ECONOMICS: GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE
Economics 231, Spring 2008
Mon/Wed 11:00-12:20, Economics 304
This course covers the role of government expenditures in the economy. We will begin with a discussion of optimal government expenditure and the public goods problem. We then cover political economy and public finance. Next, we consider public finance in a system with multiple jurisdictions. We cover cost-benefit analysis and program evaluation, and review empirical research on public education. Each topic in the course will be motivated by the theoretical work in the relevant area, but the emphasis of the course is empirical. A main goal of the course is to teach you how to conduct and evaluate empirical research on government expenditure programs. The most important topics in government expenditures that are not included in this course are social insurance, and redistribution (which are covered in Julie Cullen’s winter public economics course).
Professor Nora Gordon
Office: Economics 328
Phone: (858) 534-2988
Email: negordon@ucsd.edu
Office hours: Mondays 2:30-3:30 (also for undergraduate class) or by appointment (Wednesday afternoons are best)
Spring 2008 Syllabus pdf html (with links to some readings)
Winter 2006 Final Exam Fall 2004 Final Exam Winter 2003 Final Exam