RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN AND FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR PUBLIC ECONOMICS

摘要

This paper describes several of the most important research advances in public economics during the last three decades. These include an improved theoretical understanding of the incentive problems in tax design, an expanded base of knowledge on how taxes and social insurance programs affect household and firm behavior, and a heightened recognition of the political economy of tax and expenditure policy design. The paper closes with several suggestions for promising directions for future research in the field of public economics.