CARLETON UNIVERSITY

Department of Economics

Public Sector Economics: Expenditures: ECON 4402A

 

Professor: Minh Quang Dao 

Office: D 888 LA (Loeb)       Office Hours: Tuesdays 2:00-4:00 PM or by appointment

Phone: (613) 520-2600x3752             Email: mqdao@connect.carleton.ca

Class Times:  Fridays, 11:35-2:25     Location: Southam Hall 501

 

This course is a discussion of the theory of government expenditures and an examination of empirical attempts to quantify the theory.  It analyzes social welfare, unemployment insurance, public pensions, health care, and education programs in the Canadian federation.

 

Prerequisites: ECON 2002 and ECON 2003 with an average grade of C- or better, or ECON 2001 with a grade of C- or better.

 

Required Textbook: Rosen, Dahlby, Smith, and Boothe, Public Finance in Canada, 2nd Canadian Edition.

 

Exams:

Mid-Term Examination (October 20)                                                                         40%

 

Note: There will be no deferred mid-term exam offered.  If you miss the mid-term, the assigned weight will be added to the final exam.

 

Final Examination (comprehensive, covering material since September 7, 2006)      50%

(December 1)

 

Weekly Assignments                                                                                                  10%

 

Course Outline

 

Part I—Introduction

            Chapter 1: Introduction to Public Finance in Canada

            Chapter 2: Normative Analysis

 

Part II—A Framework for the Analysis of Public Expenditure

            Chapter 4: Public Goods

            Chapter 5: Externalities

 

Part III—Political Economy

            Chapter 8: Public Choice

 

Part IV—Public Expenditures in Canada

            Lecture: Principles of Expenditure Analysis

            Chapter 10: Social Welfare Programs

            Chapter 11: Unemployment Insurance

            Chapter 12: Public Pensions

            Chapter 13: Health Care

            Chapter 14: Education

 

Failure to take the final examination will result in the grade of ABS.  Deferred final examination is only allowed in cases of medical emergency which must be properly documented.  Students must contact the Registrar’s Office to take the deferred final exam.  Please consult the online version of the 2006/2007 Calendar for additional information on course requirements.

 

Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations in the course need to contact a coordinator at the Paul Menton Centre (PMC) for Students with Disabilities to complete the necessary letters of accommodation.  They then need to make an appointment to discuss their needs with the instructor at least two weeks prior to the first in-class exam.  The deadline for submitting completed forms to the PMC for scheduling exam accommodations is November 6. 2006.