- Level Foundation
- Duration 7 hours
- Course by Tel Aviv University
-
Offered by
About
If you really care about the big questions in the economies and societies of the 21st century, such as distributive justice - namely, inequality of income or wealth, and its correlation with economic growth - this course is meant for you. The knowledge you will gain can truly change your outlook on our world. "Economic Growth and Distributive Justice - Maximizing Social Wellbeing" is the second part of a two part course and it includes the following five lectures: (1) The excess burden of taxation (2) Tax incidence: who bears the economic burden of tax? (3) Progressivity: definition and ways to achieve (4) Low Income, Low Ability and the Optimal Income Tax Model (5) Designing the Tax and Transfer System that Maximizes Social Wellbeing If you haven't done that already, we strongly recommend that you register for the first part of the course: "Economic Growth and Distributive Justice - the Role of the State". Taking both parts of the course would enable you to obtain a fuller and more comprehensive knowledge about Economic Growth and Distributed Justice. The course is founded upon the elemental idea that the role of the state is to maximize the well-being - or simply the happiness - of its residents. In 9 fascinating, edifying lessons, using only simple words and decoding professional terminologies that sometimes baffle the intelligent layman, the course expounds many truths – both intuitive and unintuitive. Often using examples from the US and Europe, it does not however focus on policies in any particular region of the world, and is directly applicable to all countries around the globe. The course touches upon the essence of important concepts like efficiency and equity, inequality and poverty, gross domestic product, tax evasion and tax planning; it presents the work of Nobel Laureate James Mirrlees and his followers - promoting a coherent system that integrates tax and government expenditures to maximize social welfare; and illuminates a range of high-profile issues from their economic angle: • Climate change: the atmosphere and oceans as public goods, and how smart (Pigovian) taxation can be used to combat the rapidly increasing threats to our planet; • Technology as the engine of economic growth; • Taxing the rich: How can we mitigate the growing inequality problem? Should we impose a global tax on capital? The curriculum includes interviews with major figures in the fields of law and of economics: Harvard's Elhanan Helpman, Dan Shaviro from NYU and Richard Epstein from the University of Chicago and NYU. After successfully completing this course, you can expect to be able to: • better understand economic issues presented in the media • form an informed opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of presented social economic policies • define and measure inequality and poverty • define the connection between inequality (income, wealth) and economic growth • explain the foundations of economic growth • design a tax and transfer system to maximize the happiness of individuals All these will allow you to better understand the policies being developed around you, and to play a larger, more informed role in their development, as a conscientious citizen. In order to receive academic credit for this course you must successfully pass the academic exam on campus. For information on how to register for the academic exam – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/registration Additionally, you can apply to certain degrees using the grades you received on the courses. Read more on this here – https://go.tau.ac.il/b.a/mooc-acceptance Teachers interested in teaching this course in their class rooms are invited to explore our Academic High school program here – https://tauonline.tau.ac.il/online-highschool This course is a direct extension of the first part "Economic Growth and Distributive Justice Part I -The Role of the State", so if you have not yet taken it, we highly recommend you start your learning from there (https://www.coursera.org/learn/economic-growth-part-1/home/welcome). This course will temporarily close for enrollment from March 1st, 2022 to August 31st, 2022. During this time, the course will be closed for new enrolments. All of the course materials will continue to be able available to previously enrolled learners; however, the course staff will not provide support in the Discussion Forums during this period. Best, The Tel Aviv University TeamModules
Introduction
2
Videos
- Course promo
- Introduction
2
Readings
- Before we begin
- Recommanded Books
1.1 Social Efficiency: Consumer/Producer Surplus
1
Videos
- 1.1 Social Efficiency: Consumer/Producer Surplus
1.2 The Excess Burden of Taxation: Administrative and Compliance Costs, Evasion and Planning
1
Videos
- 1.2 The Excess Burden of Taxation: Administrative and Compliance Costs, Evasion and Planning
1.3 Excess Burden: The Change in Relative Prices
1
Videos
- 1.3 Excess Burden: The Change in Relative Prices
1.4 Measuring the Excess Burden of Tax: Focusing on Consumer Surplus
1
Videos
- 1.4 Measuring the Excess Burden of Tax: Focusing on Consumer Surplus
1.5 Measuring the Excess Burden of Tax: Focusing on Producer Surplus
1
Videos
- 1.5 Measuring the Excess Burden of Tax: Focusing on Producer Surplus
1.6 Measuring the Excess Burden of Tax: Consumer and Producer Surplus
1
Assignment
- week 1
1
Videos
- 1.6 Measuring the Excess Burden of Tax: Consumer and Producer Surplus
Recommended Reading - Week 1
1
Readings
- Recommended Reading - Week 1
2.1 The Law Cannot Determine Who Will Bear the Tax Burden
1
Videos
- 2.1 The Law Cannot Determine Who Will Bear the Tax Burden
2.2 Examples of Specific Taxes and Subsidies and their Unintuitive Burden
1
Videos
- 2.2 Examples of Specific Taxes and Subsidies and their Unintuitive Burden
2.3 What Determines the Tax Incidence?
1
Videos
- 2.3 What Determines the Tax Incidence?
2.4 Elasticity of Capital Supply Assuming full Mobility Across Borders
1
Videos
- 2.4 Elasticityof Capital Supply Assuming full Mobility Across Borders
2.5 Who Bears the Burden of Corporate Tax: Shareholders ?
1
Videos
- 2.5 Who Bears the Burden of Corporate Tax: Shareholders ?
2.6 Who Bears the Burden of Corporate Tax: Employees? Consumers? All Capital Owners?
1
Assignment
- week 2
1
Videos
- 2.6 Who Bears the Burden of Corporate Tax: Employees? Consumers? All Capital Owners?
Recommended Reading - Week 2
1
Readings
- Recommended Reading - Week 2
3.1 How Does the Government Redistribute Income?
1
Videos
- 3.1 How Does the Government Redistribute Income?
3.2 Redistributing Income Using Increasing Marginal Tax Rates
1
Videos
- 3.2 Redistributing Income Using Increasing Marginal Tax Rates
3.3 Achieving Progressivity Through Tax System without Increasing Marginal Tax Rates
1
Videos
- 3.3 Achieving Progressivity Through Tax System without Increasing Marginal Tax Rates
3.4 Achieving Progressivity with a Deduction
1
Videos
- 3.4 Achieving Progressivity with a Deduction
3.5 Achieving Progressivity with a Grant (or Public Good)
1
Assignment
- week 3
1
Videos
- 3.5 Achieving Progressivity with a Grant (or Public Good)
Recommended Reading - Week 3
1
Readings
- Recommended Reading - Week 3
4.1 An Integrated View of the Tax and Transfer (welfare) Systems
1
Videos
- 4.1 An Integrated View of the Tax and Transfer (welfare) Systems
4.2 Low Income Levels are Often Subject to Very High Marginal Tax Rates
1
Videos
- 4.2 Low Income Levels are Often Subject to Very High Marginal Tax Rates
4.3 An Interview with prof. Dan Shaviro
1
Videos
- 4.3 An Interview with prof. Dan Shaviro
4.4 Taxing Ability, Not Income: “Tagging” and Transfers In-Kind
1
Videos
- 4.4 Taxing Ability, Not Income: “Tagging” and Transfers In-Kind
4.5 Taxing Ability, Not Income: Welfare Ordeals
1
Videos
- 4.5 Taxing Ability, Not Income: Welfare Ordeals
4.6 Designing an Optimal Tax and Transfer System: The Model's Intuition
1
Videos
- 4.6 Designing an Optimal Tax and Transfer System: The Model's Intuition
4.7 Understanding the Intuition of the Optimal Income Tax Model: No Government Intervention
1
Assignment
- week 4
1
Videos
- 4.7 Understanding the Intuition of the Optimal Income Tax Model: No Government Intervention
Recommanded Reading - week 4
1
Readings
- Recommanded Reading - week 4
5.1 Designing an Optimal Tax and Transfer System: Flat Tax and a Grant
1
Videos
- 5.1 Designing an Optimal Tax and Transfer System: Flat Tax and a Grant
5.2 The Mirrlees Optimal Income Tax Model: Non-Linear Tax and a Grant
1
Videos
- 5.2 The Mirrlees Optimal Income Tax Model: Non-Linear Tax and a Grant
5.3 Demonstrating Why a High Marginal Tax Rate at Low Income Level is Optimal
1
Videos
- 5.3 Demonstrating Why a High Marginal Tax Rate at Low Income Level is Optimal
5.4 High Marginal Tax Rates at High Income Level: Patterns of Wealth Distribution, Elasticity, Tax Planning and International Tax Competition
1
Videos
- 5.4 High Marginal Tax Rates at High Income Level: Patterns of Wealth Distribution, Elasticity, Tax Planning and International Tax Competition
5.5 Richard Epstein Talking about the Risks Involved in Tax-Coerced Massive Redistribution
1
Videos
- 5.5 Richard Epstein Talking about the Risks Involved in Tax-Coerced Massive Redistribution
5.6 Discussing Thomas Piketty’s Book “Capital in the 21st Century”: Taxation of Capital; High Inequality as a Threat to Democracy
1
Videos
- 5.6 Discussing Thomas Piketty’s Book “Capital in the 21st Century”: Taxation of Capital; High Inequality as a Threat to Democracy
Conclusion of Part II
1
Assignment
- week 5
1
Videos
- Conclusion of Part II
Recommended Reading - Week 5
1
Readings
- Recommended Reading - Week 5
Final Exam
1
Assignment
- Final exam
Auto Summary
Unlock a deeper understanding of 21st-century economic and social issues with "Economic Growth and Distributive Justice Part II - Maximize Social Wellbeing." This course, led by Tel Aviv University, explores key topics like taxation, inequality, and economic growth through five insightful lectures. Ideal for those passionate about distributive justice, it's designed to broaden your perspective and enhance your role as an informed citizen. With a duration of 420 minutes, it offers flexible subscription options and is suitable for learners at the foundational level. Join now to maximize social wellbeing and gain valuable economic insights.

Professor Yoram Y. Margalioth