Includes index.

Contents: Part 1: Getting started: 1. Introduction -- 2. Tools of positive analysis -- 3. Tools of normative analysis -- Part 2: Public expenditure: Public goods and externalities: 4. Public goods -- 5. Externalities -- 6. Political Economy -- 7. Education -- 8. Cost-benefit analysis -- Part 3: Public expenditure: social insurance and income maintenance: 9. The health care market -- 10. Government and the market for health care -- 11. Social security -- 12. Income redistribution: conceptual issues -- 13. Expenditure programs for the poor -- Part 4: Framework for tax analysis: 14. Taxation and income distribution -- 15. Taxation and efficiency -- 16. Efficient and equitable taxation -- Part 5: The United States revenue system: 17. The Personal income tax -- 18. Personal taxtion and behavior -- 19. The corporation tax -- 20. Deficit finance -- 21. Fundamental tax reform: taxes on consumption and wealth -- Part 6: Multigovernment public finance: 22. Public finance in a federal system.