What This Document Is
This document contains a fully worked-out answer key for Midterm Exam Two from ECO 5520/6520, a course in State and Local Public Finance at Wayne State University, offered in Fall 2008. It’s a comprehensive review of the instructor’s expectations and detailed responses to the exam questions, designed to illustrate a strong understanding of core concepts. The exam covers a range of topics central to the field of public finance, focusing on application of theoretical frameworks to real-world scenarios.
Why This Document Matters
This resource is invaluable for students currently enrolled in, or planning to take, a similar State and Local Public Finance course. It’s particularly helpful for those seeking to understand the level of detail and analytical rigor expected by the instructor. Reviewing this answer key can help you identify areas where your own understanding might be lacking, and refine your approach to problem-solving in public finance. It’s best used *after* attempting the exam yourself, as a tool for self-assessment and targeted study.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This document presents completed answers; it does not offer step-by-step guidance on *how* to arrive at those answers. It won’t substitute for a thorough understanding of the course material, lectures, and readings. Furthermore, the specific questions and emphasis may vary in subsequent offerings of the course. This is a snapshot of one particular exam, and shouldn’t be treated as a guaranteed predictor of future exam content.
What This Document Provides
* Detailed responses to five distinct exam questions.
* Analysis of tax types – regressive, proportional, and progressive – and their implications.
* Application of economic principles to real-world tax scenarios (e.g., sales tax on food, Medicare tax).
* Examination of supply and demand elasticity and tax incidence in specific markets (flash drives).
* Discussion of the property tax, including excise effects and the return to capital.
* Consideration of the impacts of property tax abatements on economic activity.
* Different versions of a question for undergraduate and graduate students.