ECMC31 Economics of the Public Sector: Taxation Summer / 2012

Instructor Contact Information: Name: Mary-Anne Sillamaa Office hours: half hour before class and one hour after class; also by appointment Email: maryanne.sillamaa@gmail.com Telephone: 416-247-1686 (with voicemail) Class day/time: Thursdays 7 10 pm Class location: IC200 Course website: intranet Course Description: This course is about the economics of taxation. It looks at who really pays the taxes levied. It looks at the burden taxes impose on the economy. It looks at criteria for designing good taxes. The main features of the Canadian tax system are analyzed. Prerequisite(s): ECMB01 or ECMB02 Textbook/Required Course Materials: Recommended but not required: H.S. Rosen, B. Dahlby, R.S. Smith, and P. Boothe, Public Finance in Canada, Third Canadian Edition, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto. Required readings will be posted on the course intranet site. Lecture Notes and Other Announcements: Lecture notes, all other support material, and announcements will be posted on the course intranet site. Please download lecture materials and bring to each class. Evaluation and Grading: Component Theory assignment 1 Theory assignment 2 Final exam Weight/Value 25% 25% 50% Due Date June 7 July 5

ECMC31 / Summer 2012 / Management, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada www.utsc.utoronto.ca/mgmt

Topics to be covered (with Rosen text reference):

A. Basic Tax Theory

1. Introduction (Chapters 1, 2, and 3) 2. The Incidence of Taxation (Chapter 15) 3. The Efficiency Cost of Taxation (Chapter 16) 4. Optimal Taxation (Chapters 17 and 19) B. Evaluation of Canadian Taxes 5. Commodity Taxation in Canada (Chapter 20) 6. Personal Income Taxation in Canada (Chapter 18) 7. Business Taxation in Canada (Chapter 22) C. Advanced Concepts 8. Taxation and Growth; Tax Reform Theory Assignments: The first theory assignment covers Topics 1 and 2, including lecture material, tutorial material, and assigned readings. It will be due two weeks after Topic 2 is completed. The second theory assignment covers Topics 3 and 4, including lecture material, tutorial material, and assigned readings. It will be due two weeks after Topic 4 is completed. You may discuss the assigned questions with your classmates and the instructor while working on them, but you must submit your own answers. Copied answers will be penalized. If you cant attend class the day an assignment is due, please email it that same day. Final Exam: The final exam will concentrate on Topics 5 through 8, including lecture material, tutorial material, and assigned readings. You will however need to apply the concepts learned in Topics 1 through 4 in answering the questions on Topics 5 through 8. A one page hand-written exam aid sheet is allowed. Tutorials: The class will run for three hours every week. There will be a tutorial period in the third hour of many classes. Practice questions that were covered during the tutorial and their answers will be posted. Please ask any other questions during this period as well. Tutorial attendance is optional but the material covered is part of the course and will be tested. Help Outside of the Class: Office hours will be half an hour before class and, if needed, one hour after class. Office hours will be held in the classroom, if the classroom is available, otherwise outside in the management department waiting area. You may also phone. I can also come onto campus on weekends by appointment. I try to avoid answering technical questions by email. But, if it is last minute, email. Policy on Missed Assignments/Examinations: A make-up test covering topics 1 through 4 will be held later in the term for those who missed an assignment. Its mark will cover the marks of all missed assignments.
ECMC31 / Summer 2012 / Management, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada www.utsc.utoronto.ca/mgmt 2

Academic Support The Department of Management, in collaboration with the UTSC library, will be providing academic research support in the IC Building. To refine your research skills or to learn more about various scholarly resources, please contact the Librarian for Management and Economics students. Lola Rudin, Subject Librarian, Management and Economics Room IC375 Office hours: Monday & Thursday, 1:00 3:00pm or by appointment Email: lrudin@utsc.utoronto.ca Web: http://guides.library.utoronto.ca/utsc_mgmt The English Language Development Centre (ELDC) helps students develop the critical thinking, vocabulary and academic communication skills essential for achieving academic and professional success. Personalized support includes: RWE (for academic writing); Communication Cafs (oral); Discussion Skill-Building Cafs; Vocabulary Cafs; seminars/workshops; personal ELD consultations; drop-in sessions. http://ctl.utsc.utoronto.ca/eld/ The Writing Centre (TWC) offers invaluable services to students (learn to become a better writer!) and offers many different kinds of help: drop-in sessions, individual consultations, workshops, clinics, and online writing handouts. http://ctl.utsc.utoronto.ca/twc/ Academic Misconduct Students should note that copying, plagiarizing, or other forms of academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Any student caught engaging in such activities will be subject to academic discipline ranging from a mark of zero on the assignment, test or examination to dismissal from the university as outlined in the academic handbook. Any student abetting or otherwise assisting in such misconduct will also be subject to academic penalties. Last But Not least Good luck with the course. I hope you enjoy it.

ECMC31 / Summer 2012 / Management, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada www.utsc.utoronto.ca/mgmt