© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 Economics 5520/6520 – Winter 2015 Syllabus and Course Page State and Local Public Finance Allen C. Goodman

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, 2 – 3, or by appointment –Note: I am in my office most of the day 3-4 days per week. I am most willing to meet with students whenever I am not teaching, and I am most responsive to queries. Students who do well in the course are most often those who contact the instructor with questions or concerns. … you’re not trying! Economics 5520/6520 – Winter 2015 If you can’t find me …

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 More Office location: 2145 FAB Phone: 313/ ; Department and Course Web-site:

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 Cell phones, text-messaging They make me very crabby. If you are a police officer or a physician, keep it on the “vibrate” setting. Otherwise … turn it off and put it away.

Cell Phones

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 This course provides an introduction to the economic foundations of state and local issues, particularly those related to taxes and public expenditures. Where possible, we will use the Detroit metropolitan area and the State of Michigan as “laboratories.” The text material will be: –State and Local Public Finance 3/E, by Ronald Fisher (F)State and Local Public Finance 3/E It is out-of-print but I have Prof. Fisher’s permission to distribute it. It will be available on my website in PDF form. You may print it for yourself, or download it. Economics 5520/6520 – Winter 2015

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 There will be 2 in-class mid-term exams and a final exam. The mid-term exams will be: –Wednesday, February 11 – 20% of course grade –Wednesday, March 11 – 20% of course grade. The final exam will be, as scheduled : –Friday May 1 at 1:20 pm – 3:50 pm. It will be worth 25% of the course grade. Economics 5520/6520 – Winter 2015

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 Other in-class assignments will make up 35% of your grade. These will include presentations, short writing assignments, including materials available on the University’s personal computing facilities and the World Wide Web. The assignments will be tailored to the progress of the class. You will be expected to use EXCEL spreadsheet programs in these assignments. This course DOES SATISFY the writing-intensive requirement. Economics 5520/6520 – Winter 2015

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 Economics 6520 Masters level course Additional questions on exams Slightly more complex papers Some more math Any graduate student in the class should be signed up for ECO 6520

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 The Curve Absences - Attendance records will be kept. Students who miss more than 20% of classroom time will have their grades reduced by one increment (for example, from B+ to B, or B- to C+).

Other Things New York Times Detroit Free Press Detroit News WSU Libraries –Science Direct –Wiley –JSTORE © Allen C. Goodman, 2015

A Discussion Question How would you react to the statement The government doesn’t provide anything for me. or: Taxation is the same as confiscation.

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 What Do Governments Provide? Examples of government provided goods and services. At what level?

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 How are they paid for? Taxes –Sales –Income –Excise –Property User Charges –Examples? Some taxes (gasoline, tires) Serve as user charges. Why?

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 Metropolitan Areas

© Allen C. Goodman, 2015 Levels at which services are provided Municipality County District Whole State

© Allen C. Goodman, ,141 US Counties