Bookstore

Harvey Rosen's scholarly and up-to-date Public Finance continues to be the market-leading book. The book takes its readers to the frontiers of current research, yet remains accessible to undergraduates. Although it draws upon the latest research, the book never loses sight of the reality it is supposed to describe, always drawing the links between economic analysis and current political issues.

Public Finance

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