This thorough and lucid exposition of public sector economics sets out fundamental theories which students can cement their understanding of through web based applications.This book: offers a penetrating and deeper analysis of the theories than competing titles; includes website applications, which will allow students to apply their own learning to local and relevant real world examples; provides a balanced view of important concepts including mainstream theories; and maintains a strong theoretical focus throughout the book.The author has much experience teaching public sector economics. A comprehensive and penetrating exposition of public sector economic theory, this book provides a balanced and thorough view of mainstream concepts with a strong theoretical focus throughout. Web based examples will reinforce for students how these theories can be applied in a local and relevant real world context.
Pt. I Introduction 1
1 The Foundations of Public Sector Theory 3
2 Market Failures 17
3 The Fundamental Theorems of Welfare Economics 39
App Variable Factor Supplies 54
Pt. II Public Expenditure Theory and Policy 57
4 The Social Welfare Function and the Quest for Distributive Justice 59
5 Applying the Social Welfare Function 79
6 Externalities: Theoretical Issues 99
7 Externalities: Policy Considerations 121
8 Nonexclusive Goods 143
9 Decreasing Cost Services: the Natural Monopolies 159
10 U.S. Transfer Payments: the Public Choice Perspective 177
11 Practical Issues in Designing Transfers to the Poor 195
12 Social Insurance: Social Security 211
Pt. III Tax Theory and Policy 241
13 The Pursuit of Equity in Taxation 243
14 Applying Ability-to-Pay Principles: Federal Personal Income Tax 265
15 Taxes and Inefficiency: the Excess Burden of Taxation 289
16 The Trade-off Between Equity and Efficiency in Taxation 311
17 Taxes, Transfers, and Private Information 325
18 Tax Incidence: Theoretical Issues 343
19 Tax Incidence: Applications 363
App CRS, Unequal Factor Intensities, and the Production Possibilities Frontier 388
Pt. IV Cost-Benefit Analysis 391