Course Syllabus

 Course Details

V371 Financing Public Affairs

Fall 2026, Section # 6135

Monday and Wednesday   7:05pm- 8:20pm

SPEA- PV169

 Course Description

SPEA-V 371 – A survey of economic and political theories of market failures, public expenditure evaluation, economic stabilization, systems of redistribution, and fiscal federalism.  Examples and applications to contemporary government decisions.

 Learning Outcomes 

Students should be able to do the following at the end of this course:

• Describe the government’s major expenditures and sources of revenue.
• Discuss the fiscal position of federal and state governments, as well as future trends.
• Use correct terminology to describe taxes and expenditure programs.
• Describe the structure and function of major taxes and expenditure programs.
• Explain the impact of major tax and expenditure programs using appropriate economic models. 

 Course Materials

Required e-text: Public Finance- A Contemporary Application of Theory to Policy, by David N. Hyman- 12th Edition.  Additional readings may be posted on Canvas.

 Course Requirements

Your final course grade will be based on the following components:

Assignments (9 of 10)                                  20%

Attendance                                                      5%

Exam 1                                                           25%

Exam 2                                                           25%

Exam 3                                                           25%

Total                                                                      100%

 Grading Scale

Grading Scale

100 – 92.5 =  A                       92.4 – 89.5 = A-          89.4 – 86.5 = B+

86.4 – 82.5 = B                       82.4 – 79.5 = B-          79.4 – 76.5 = C+

77.4 – 72.5 = C                       73.4 – 69.5 = C-          69.4 – 66.5 = D+

66.4 – 62.5 = D                       62.4 – 59.5 = D-          59.4 lower F