Time Schedule:
Daniel F. Jacoby
BPOLST 501
Bothell Campus
Analysis of government expenditures and revenues. Uses economic theory to examine key pubic policies in areas such as health, education, and labor. Emphasizes policy rationales and impacts regarding efficiency and equity. Develops accounting concepts necessary for budgeting analysis. Prerequisite: Microeconomics. Offered: Sp.
Class description
In this course we'll look at public budgeting issues at the national, state and local levels. Students will also gain experience working with a community partner on a budget related project. Please be aware that this will require some commitment outside of regular class hours.
You'll learn the fundamentals of public choice theory. But you'll also learn the rudiments of accounting and their relationship to economic theory and use and misuse in decision making.
Student learning goals
Understand the significance of efficiency in using public resources, and the difficulty in measuring movements towards that the efficiency criteria.
To see how economic concepts contribute to defining public policy.
To comprehend that concerns with social justice are not always recocilable with the pursuit of efficiency and to recognize the importance of that fact.
To gain experience in a budgeting context that helps inform you of the benefits and costs of public choice theory.
To provide oral and written recommendations to community partners.
To learn to do some spreadsheet projections of long term budetary impacts.
General method of instruction
Although the course utilizes case studies and work with a community partner, there will also be at least one test. The community partnership project involves a group report and a self-reflection on learning outcomes from the project.
Recommended preparation
BPOLST 500 and Microeconomics.
Class assignments and grading
We'll use Gruber's Public Finance and Public Policy. We'll also use the Economic Report of the President.
Case studies writeups/discussions, community partner work and test(s).
