Public Economics

Public Economics is primarily concerned with the role of government in a market economy. Relationships between theory and application as well as between public economics and political systems will be emphasized, with analytical and empirical approaches to such issues as:

  • Theory of public goods
  • Tax incidence
  • Public choice
  • Models of urban economics
  • Design of fiscal systems
  • Income redistribution
  • Fiscal federalism
  • Cost-benefit analysis

Required Course Work

Two courses from the following list are required:

Economics 81500, Special Topics in Macroeconomics; Economics of the Welfare State 
Economics 85100, Public Finance I (recommended as the foundational course in this field )
Economics 85200, Public Finance II
Economics 85600, Inequality, Economic Opportunity, & Public Policy 
Economics 88100, Urban Economics I

Faculty

Miles Corak - Professor -  profile photo

Miles Corak

Professor

  • Economics

Professor

  • Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality
Paul Krugman faculty photo

Paul Krugman

Distinguished Professor

  • Economics

Distinguished Scholar

  • Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality

Faculty members of the Ph.D. Programs in Philosophy and Political Science may also have relevant interests.