Public Economics

Public Economics

Major Courses

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School of Economics and Management

2Year

KCCBG2MCA1

2.00Credits

講義 (Lecture)

Fall semester 2026

(Fall semester)

Kuninori NAKAGAWA

School of Economics and Management

English

9／11

Wednesdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m., by appointment in advance. The room where meetings are held will be appointed on every occasion.

via Universal Passport

1◎／3◎／2〇

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N/a

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Purpose
The aim is to provide an understanding of the reasons for government intervention in the economy.
Goal
Students will analyze the benefits of possible government policies, and can understand the response of economic agents to the government's actions.

Public goods, Externalities, Role of government.

Outline
Public economics uses the tools of microeconomics and empirical analysis to study the impact of government policies on economic behavior and the distribution of resources in the economy. This course focuses on the role of the government in the economy.
Schedule
1, Introduction to Public Economics
2, Welfare Analysis
3, Pareto Efficiency
4, Public Goods
5, The Samuelson rule
6, Externalities
7, Midterm Exam
8, Congestion
9, Pigovian tax
10, Imperfect competition
11. Regulation
12. Quasi-Public Goods
13. Local Government Revenue
14. Vote with Their Feet
15. Some Comments on the Course Topic

In-person

Classes will be conducted in person. In the event of unavoidable circumstances, such as an infectious disease outbreak, sessions may be delivered remotely. Any changes will be communicated promptly through the  Universal Passport.

Fully permitted

Students are expected to use AI in an appropriate and responsible manner.

The following books are required for the evaluation by reading reports.
A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears), PublicAffairs (2021/9/14), ISBN-13 ‏: ‎978-1541788497
No textbook is specified for more studying on the lecture content. I will give instructions as needed after the course starts.

Pamela Herd and Don Moynihan, Administrative Burden: Policymaking by Other Means. New York,  Russell Sage Foundation,  2018.  

If you understand microeconomics, no special preparation is required. It is recommended that students spend approximately 4 hours studying after each class.

Interactive classes could be held with the instructor depending on the number of students participating in the class.

To validate the course, students are required to:
1. attend all lectures and actively participate in class;
2. take the exam.

Exams (40%)
There is a midterm and a final, each worth 20% of your grade. The final exam focuses on material from the second half of the course and will be held during the final exam period set by the registrar.

Reading Reports (30%)
You will read the book “A Libertarian Walks Into a Bear: The Utopian Plot to Liberate an American Town (And Some Bears).”
The book is divided into three parts. You must submit three separate reading reports for each part.
The submission date will be notified through Universal Passport after the course begins.

Comment papers and Mini tests (30％)
Class Participation is required as a prerequisite for taking the exam.
I expect that all students will come to lecture regularly and contribute to the class.

via Universal Passport

Microeconomics is required.

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