Course content

Economics 2450A: Public Economics is a graduate-level course offered at Harvard University, focusing on the design and impact of public policies. The course is typically taught by Professor Stefanie Stantcheva and has been offered in various semesters, including Fall 2016 and Fall 2022.

scholar.harvard.edu

Course Content:

The curriculum covers both theoretical models and empirical research in public economics. Key topics include:

• Optimal Income Taxation
• Optimal Transfers
• Empirical Responses to Taxation
• Tax Enforcement
• Social Preferences
• New Dynamic Public Finance
• Capital Taxation

Lecture notes and reading lists are provided to students, with recommended readings highlighted for deeper understanding.

scholar.harvard.edu

Course Requirements:

To successfully complete the course, students are expected to:

1. Write a referee report on an assigned paper.
2. Develop a paper proposal on a public economics topic of interest.
3. Take a two-hour final exam at the end of the semester.

Office hours are available for additional support, and students are encouraged to participate actively.

scholar.harvard.edu

Additional Resources:

For those interested in exploring the course material further, a series of lectures by Professor Raj Chetty, covering topics such as tax incidence, efficiency costs of taxation, and optimal taxation, is available on YouTube.

youtube.com

These resources provide valuable insights into the field of public economics and are beneficial for both current and prospective students.