Public Finance in Theory and Practice will provide students with an understanding of the economic role of government. The students will be provided with the tools to critically analyze problems/issues of the public sector using basic economic theory. The author takes a strong emphasis on policy analysis as a way to integrate theory. Integrated throughout the text is an international comparative perspective, allowing students to gain an understanding on various ways to organize government, create policies, collect revenue, and allocate funds. Unlike most public finance text in the market today, Ulbrich's voice represents a public choice approach.
PARTI GOVERNMENT AND THE MARKET
Ch.1 Government in a Market System
Ch.2 The Structure of Governments
Ch.3 Measuring the Size and Scope of Government
PARTII THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS
Ch.4 Efficiency: Public Goods and Externalities
Ch.5 Decision Making in the Public Sector
Ch.6 Equity and Income Distribution
Ch.7 Competition and Government
PARTIII FUNDING GOVERNMENT: TAXES, FEES, AND GRANTS
Ch.8 Principles of Taxation I: Efficiency and Equity Issues
Ch.9 Principles of Taxation II: Practical Problems in Tax Design
Ch.10 Taxes on Income
Ch.11 Taxes on Sales and Consumption
Ch.12 Taxes on Property and Wealth
Ch.13 Fees and Charges as a Revenue Source
Ch.14 Intergovernmental Grants in Theory and Practice
PARTIV GOVERNMENT SPENDING
Ch.15 Budgeting in the Public Sector: Forecasting, Cost-Benefit Analysis, and Debt Management
Ch.16 Public Education
Ch.17 Infrastructure, Capital Spending, and Public Sector Borrowing
Ch.18 Welfare, Social Security and the Social Safety Net
Ch.19 Health Care