This course on public economics examines the economic role of the state and the potential and limits of economic policy. It was offered at the Fletcher School, Tufts University as course E215, during the academic years 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019.

The course analyzes the rationale for public goods and publicly provided private goods, the role and economic impact of taxation and government borrowing and the scope for public policies and regulation in the presence of economic inequality, externalities, asymmetric information, imperfect competition and other market failures.

Public policy is analyzed in areas such as defense, law and order, taxation, education, health, social security, the environment, the labor market, financial markets and oligopolistic markets. The role of monetary and fiscal policy in stabilizing the economy is also analyzed.

Link to the Course Website