This course focuses on development of analytical tools and their application to key policy issues relating to aspects of spending, taxing and financing activities of the government and its effects on economic activity. We will study the rationales for government intervention in market economies and their associated trade-offs, such as in relation to issues related to asymmetric information in markets, presence of externalities and public goods. Moreover, this course will also cover topics such as on public expenditure theory and its practice; presence of market efficiency and market inefficiency; government failure and market failure aspects; taxation in theory and practice; tax incidence and tax avoidance matters; reforms in tax systems; intergovernmental fiscal relations; fiscal deficits and government debt. While the examples are largely drawn from the United States, examples are also drawn from around the world.