Public Economics and Public Policy

This course focuses on the role of the government in the economy. The aim is to provide an understanding of the reasons for government intervention, the impact of public policies on the behavior of economic agents, and the best design of public policies. The course covers tax policy, welfare programs, social insurance, family policy, education, income and wealth inequality, gender inequality, tax evasion, labor supply and taxable income responses, migration, pensions and savings policy. Both theoretical and empirical analyses is brought to bear on each of these questions.