Public finance / Harvey S. Rosen.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 577-593) and indexes.

Part One: Introduction1.Introduction:Public Finance and IdeologyGovernment at a Glance2.Tools of Positive Analysis:The Role of TheoryMethods of Empirical AnalysisConcluding Remarks3.Tools of Normative Analysis:Welfare EconomicsThe First Fundamental Theorem of Welfare EconomicsFairness and the Second Fundamental Theorem of Welfare EconomicsMarket FailureBuying into Welfare Economics Part Two: Analysis of Public Expenditure4.Public Goods:Public Goods DefinedEfficient Provision of Public GoodsThe Privatization DebateEducationPublic Goods and Public Choice5.Externalities:The Nature of ExternalitiesGraphical AnalysisPrivate ResponsesPublic Responses to ExternalitiesThe US ResponseImplications for Income DistributionPositive Externalities6.Political Economy:Direct DemocracyRepresentative DemocracyExplaining Government Growth7.Income Redistribution, Conceptual Issues:Distribution of IncomeRationales for Income RedistributionExpenditure Incidence8.Expenditure Programs for the Poor:A Quick Look at Welfare SpendingInstitutional SettingIssues in the Design of Welfare ProgramsThe Earned Income Tax CreditSupplemental Security IncomeMedicaidFood Stamps and Child NutritionHousing AssistancePrograms to Enhance Earnings9.Social Insurance I: Social Security and Unemployment Insurance:Why Have Social Insurance?Structure of Social SecurityEffects on Economic BehaviorLong-Term Stresses on Social SecuritySocial Security ReformUnemployment InsuranceConclusions10.Social Insurance II: Health Care:What's Special About Health Care?The US Health Care MarketThe Role of GovernmentThe Twin Issues: Access and CostShould Government's Role in Health Care Increase?11.Cost?Benefit Analysis:Present ValuePrivate Sector Project EvaluationDiscount Rate for Government ProjectsValuing Public Benefits and CostsGames Cost?Benefit Analysts PlayDistributional ConsiderationsUncertaintyAn Application: Are Reductions in Class Size Worth It?Use (and Nonuse) by Government Part Three: A Framework for Tax Analysis12.Taxation and Income Distribution:Tax Incidence: General RemarksPartial Equilibrium ModelsGeneral Equilibrium ModelsConclusions13.Taxation and Efficiency:Excess Burden DefinedExcess Burden Measurement with Demand CurvesDifferential Taxation of InputsDoes Efficient Taxation Matter?14.Efficient and Equitable Taxation:Optimal Commodity TaxationOptimal User FeesOptimal Income TaxationPolitics and the Time Inconsistency ProblemOther Criteria for Tax Design Part Four: The United States Revenue System15.The Personal Income Tax:Basic StructureDefining IncomeExcludable Forms of Money IncomeExemptions and DeductionsRate StructureChoice of Unit and the Marriage TaxTaxes and InflationTreatment of International IncomeState Income TaxesPolitics and Tax Reform16.Personal Taxation and Behavior: Labor SupplySavingHousing DecisionsPortfolio CompositionA Note on Politics and Elasticities17.The Corporation Tax: Why Tax Corporations?StructureIncidence and Excess BurdenEffects on BehaviorState Corporation TaxesTaxation of Multinational CorporationsCorporation Tax Reform18.Deficit Finance:How Big Is the Debt?The Burden of the DebtTo Tax or to Borrow?19.Taxes on Consumption and Wealth: Retail Sales TaxValue-Added TaxHall-Rabushka Flat TaxCash-Flow TaxEfficiency and Fairness of Personal Consumption TaxesIncome versus Consumption TaxationWealth TaxesEstate and Gift Taxes Part Five: Multigovernment Public Finance 20.Public Finance in a Federal System:BackgroundCommunity FormationThe Tiebout ModelOptimal FederalismProperty TaxIntergovernmental GrantsAppendix: Some Basic MicroeconomicsGlossaryReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index

Presenting research on public finance, this book is also aimed at undergraduates. It draws links between economic analysis and political issues.