Department of Economics Econ 353 ... - University of Alberta

Department of Economics

Econ 353 X50 (Taxation Policy and Structure) Winter 2019

Instructor:

Iryna Nekhayevska

Office:

Tory 8-25

E-mail:

[email protected]

Office Hours

: Wednesday 5:00pm–6:30pm, extended office hours prior to assignments/exams

Course Location/Days/Time:

T 1 91, Wednesday 6:30pm–9:30pm (Jan.7–Apr.10, 2019)

Course Website: E-Class

General Office:

Tory 8-14 (closed for lunch between 12:00 - 1:00 pm)

Course Description:

Analysis of the structure of the tax system with emphasis on Canadian system, its role and performance attaining economic and social goals.

Prerequisite is Econ 281 or equivalent. Otherwise consent of the Department of Economics is required. Please ensure the prerequisite requirement is met or your registration will be cancelled.

Course Objectives and Expected Learning Outcomes

:

This course introduces students to the Canadian tax system, its basic understanding and evolution, considerations in tax system design, tax incidence and its economic effects, and alternative taxes and their relative merits. Upon successful completion of the course, the students should have a good understanding of the existing Canadian tax structure and conceptual basis for assessing the current system and tax alternatives.

Textbooks:

Rosen, Harvey, Jean-Francois Wen and Tracy Snoddon, Public Finance in Canada (Fifth Canadian Edition), McGraw-Hill-Ryerson (2016).

Important Dates:

First Day of Class: Wednesday, Jan.9, 6:30pm-9:30pm Add/Delete Date: Friday, Jan.18

50% Withdrawal Date: Wednesday, Feb.6 Withdrawal Date: Wednesday, Apr.3

Last Day of Class: Wednesday, Apr.3, 6:30pm-9:30pm Final Exam Date: Wednesday, Apr.10, 6:30pm-8:30pm

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Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings:

Dates (tentative) Chapter number Chapter Title^*

January 9 1 Introduction to Public Finance in Canada

January 16 3^** The Economic Roles of Government

January 23 14 Taxation and Income Distribution

January 30 15 Taxation and Efficiency

February 6 16 Efficient and Equitable Taxation

February 13 17 The Personal Income Tax

February 20 reading week, no class February 27 Midterm

March 6 18 Personal Taxation and Behaviour

March 13 21 The Corporation Tax

March 20 19 Consumption Taxation

March 27 22^*** Payroll Taxes

April 3 20 Taxes on Wealth and Property

April 10 Final

*Additional material may be included into the class notes and handouts.

** Material partially covered in ch.9 p.179-184 (Asymmetric Information In the Health Insurance Market, How Adverse Selection Can Cause Failure in the Insurance Market, Moral Hazard and Market Failure), ch.5 p.80 (Nature of Externalities), 94-96 (Regulation and Negative Externalities, Subsidies and Positive Externalities, Regulation and Positive Externalities) and ch.4 p.64-66 (Public Goods Defined), 72-73 (The Free-Rider Problem), the remainder added by the instructor.

*** Material partially covered in ch.10 p.205-206 (Employment Insurance Today) and ch.11 p.229-236 (The Old Age Security Program, The Canada Pension Plan), the remainder added by the instructor.

Components of Course Grade:

Type of Activity

Weight Scheduled Dates

Assignment #1 10% Posted on e-class Feb.6, due Feb.13 beginning of class Assignment #2 10% Posted on e-class Mar.27, due Apr.3 beginning of class

Midterm exam 35% Feb.27, classroom TBA, 6:30-8:30pm (Chapter 1, 3, 14, 15, 16) Final Exam 45% Apr.10, classroom TBA, 6:30-8:30pm (Chapters 17, 18, 21, 19, 22,

20 -85% and rest - 15%)

In this course:

Grading:

Final grades are determined according to the University Calendar section 23.4.

Grades reflect judgements of student achievements made by instructors. These judgments are based on the individual performance as well as the overall performance of the group (that is, the final grades are “curved”). There is no fixed grade distribution for the course. The class average is expected to be B, but individual classes may vary and B+ or B- is also possible.

Past Evaluative Material:

Exam practice exams are provided.

Attendance:

Regular attendance is essential for optimal performance in any course. While there is no explicit attendance policy and no marks are given for class participation, students who choose not to attend lectures must assume whatever risks involved.

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Policy for Late or Missed Assignments:

No late assignments are accepted. There is no weight transfer for assignments.

Missed Midterm Exams:

No make-up exams are provided. Should a student miss a midterm for legitimate reason, the submission of the request form or any other appropriate document is required for its weight to be transferred to the final (the request form is entitled “Request for Excused Absence or Deferral of Term Work”). The approval for an excused absence is not granted automatically, so the student is responsible for contacting the instructor within two business days of the absence or as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to adjust the cumulativity of the final to make up for the missed course material.

Deferral of term work is a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferral will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferral is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.

Deferred Final Examination:

Should a student miss a final for legitimate reason, the application for a deferred final exam is required to the student’s Faculty of study.The instructor cannot grant final deferrals. The deferred final will be different.

Student Responsibilities:

Academic Integrity:

The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.

All students should consult the Academic Integrity website. If you have any questions, ask your instructor.

An instructor or coordinator who is convinced that a student has handed in work that he or she could not possibly reproduce without outside assistance is obliged, out of consideration of fairness to other students, to report the case to the Associate Dean of the Faculty. See the Academic Discipline Process.

Recording of Lectures:

Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).

Disclaimer:

Any typographical errors in this syllabus are subject to change and will be announced in class and posted online. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.

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Student Resources:

The best all-purpose website for student services is: https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students.

Accessibility Resources:

(1 – 80 SUB)

The University of Alberta is committed to creating work and learning communities that inspire and enable all people to reach their full potential. Accessibility Resources promotes an accessible, inclusive, and universally designed environment. For general information to register for services visit the Accessibility Resources webpage.

The Academic Success Centre:

(1-80 SUB)

The Academic Success Centre offers a variety of workshops on effective study and exam strategies. There are in-person and online sessions available for a modest fee.

The Centre for Writers:

(1-42 Assiniboia Hall)

The Centre for Writers offers free one-on-one writing support to students, faculty, and staff.

Students can request consultation for a writing project at any stage of development. Instructors can request class visits and presentations.

Health and Wellness Support:

There are many health and community services available to current students. For more information visit the Health and Wellness Support webpage.

Office of the Student Ombuds:

The Office of the Student Ombuds offers confidential interviews, advice and support to students facing academic, discipline, interpersonal and financial difficulties.

Learning and working environment:

The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.

Copyright: Iryna Nekhayevska, Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta 2019