UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND  UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

EUROPEAN DIVISION

ACADEMIC YEAR 2001 - 2002

 

 

ECONOMICS 522 PUBLIC FINANCE

ECONOMICS 450 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC SECTOR ECONOMICS

 

Term III:  15 January – 7 March 2002

 

Location:  Kapaun Air Station                    Class Time: Tuesday & Thursday, 1845 - 2130

 

Professor:  Dr. William Beck                     Office Hours: By appointment

                                                                        Office Phone: Field Representative

                                                                        e-mail: wbeck@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

 

 

Course Description: This course exams the field of economics that studies government activities and alternate means of financing government activities.  We will discuss the basis for these government activities.  A crucial objective of the analysis is to understand the impact of government expenditures, regulations, taxes, and borrowing on incentives to work, invest, and spend income.  We will examine the principles for understanding the role of government in the economy and its impact on resource use and the well being of citizens.

 

 

Course Objectives: On successful completion of this course, the student should have a sound foundation in understanding the nature of the public sector and the role of public finance economics in shaping the economy of the United States or other developed nations.  The student should be familiar with the concepts of efficiency, market failure, public goods, externalities, taxation, deficits, debt, personal taxation, corporate taxation, and selected other topics.

 

Required Text:  PUBLIC FINANCE: A Contemporary Application of Theory and Policy by David N. Hyman (The Dryden Press, Seventh Edition)

                          

Evaluation:  The final grade in this course will be based on the following activities:

                                                            Weight

            Midterm Examination              20%

            Presentation                             10%

            Term Project                             40%

            Final Examination                    30%

 

The following scale will be used for all graded activities:

 A Þ 90 - 100%     B Þ 80 - 89%     C Þ 70 - 79%     D Þ 60 - 69%     F Þ Below 60%

Class Policies and Procedures:

 

    Attendance:  Regular class attendance is expected.  If you should miss a class meeting, it is your responsibility to obtain information concerning any material covered.

Tardiness is disruptive to all in the classroom.  Be on time.

 

   Make-up Evaluations: If you miss a graded activity for reasons of duty or illness, you must notify me with written documentation (in advance, when possible) if you wish to be permitted to be given a make-up evaluation.

 

   Assignments:  In order to receive full credit, assigned work must be submitted at the beginning of class on the scheduled due date.  Late assignments will be reduced one letter grade per calendar day.

 

   Plagiarism:  Plagiarized work will receive a grade of 0 (zero), whether copied in whole or in part.  See the University of Maryland, University College, European Division Catalog for the complete policy regarding plagiarism.

 

PLANNED CLASS SCHEDULE:

 

            Weeks 1 & 2:  Chapters 1 – 5

                                      [Study Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 Appendices prior to class]

 

            Weeks 3 & 4:  Chapters 10 - 12

                                      Mid-term Examination

 

            Weeks 5 & 6:   Chapters 14 - 17

 

            Weeks 7 & 8:   Selected topics/chapters  

                                      Final Examination

 

 

NOTE:  The course evaluations for the undergraduate and graduate students will be different.  The graduate examinations and project will focus on analytical issues and must present a more in-depth discussion than the undergraduate examinations and project.  During the first weekend, the specific distinctions will be discussed with students.  Each student will give a project presentation during the final weekend.

 

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:  Dr. Beck has over twenty years experience teaching at the college level; he has taught for Maryland in Asia and Europe at the undergraduate and graduate levels.  His teaching and writing have won numerous awards.  He has published in the fields of economics and statistics.  He teaches economics, business, mathematics, and statistics.  He holds a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a Master of Arts from the University of Michigan, and a PhD from the University of Colorado.