Urban Fiscal Policy

Unit 1 – Urban Economic Theories

Unit 2 – Municipal Revenue Sources

Unit 3 – Local Government Expenditures

Unit 4 – Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations

Unit 5 – Urban Public Goods and Services

Unit 6 – Property Tax and Assessment in Cities

Unit 7 – Municipal Debt and Borrowing

Unit 8 – Urban Development Financing

Unit 9 – Fiscal Federalism

Unit 10 – Budgeting and Financial Management in Cities

Unit 11 – Urban Fiscal Challenges and Crises

## What do you learn in Urban Fiscal Policy

Urban Fiscal Policy covers the financial aspects of city management and governance. You'll explore how cities raise and spend money, including taxes, budgeting, and public services. The course dives into urban economic challenges, infrastructure financing, and the impact of fiscal decisions on urban development. You'll also learn about municipal bonds, property taxes, and intergovernmental fiscal relations.

## Is Urban Fiscal Policy hard?

Urban Fiscal Policy can be a bit tricky, especially if you're not a numbers person. There's a good amount of economic theory and financial concepts to wrap your head around. But don't stress too much - most students find it manageable with some effort. The real challenge is applying the concepts to real-world urban issues, which can be complex but also pretty interesting.

## Tips for taking Urban Fiscal Policy in college

1. Use [Fiveable Study Guides](https://fiveable.me/cram-mode) to help you cram 🌶️
2. Stay on top of current urban fiscal issues by reading local news
3. Practice analyzing city budgets - they're usually available online
4. Form a study group to discuss complex concepts like Tax Increment Financing
5. Use visual aids like charts to understand budget allocations
6. Watch documentaries like "Meredith Monk: Inner Voice" for urban development context
7. Don't just memorize - try to understand how fiscal policies affect real cities
8. Attend city council meetings to see fiscal policy in action

## Common pre-requisites for Urban Fiscal Policy

1. Introduction to Microeconomics: This course covers basic economic principles, supply and demand, and market structures. It's essential for understanding urban economic dynamics.

2. Public Finance: This class explores government revenue, expenditure, and debt management. It provides a solid foundation for diving into urban-specific fiscal issues.

3. Statistics for Social Sciences: You'll learn about data analysis and interpretation in this course. It's crucial for understanding urban fiscal data and policy research.

## Classes similar to Urban Fiscal Policy

1. Urban Economics: Focuses on economic issues specific to cities, including land use, housing markets, and urban growth. It complements Urban Fiscal Policy by providing broader economic context.

2. Public Policy Analysis: Teaches methods for analyzing and evaluating public policies. It's great for understanding the impacts of fiscal decisions on urban communities.

3. Municipal Management: Covers the operational aspects of city governance. This course dives into the practical application of fiscal policies in urban settings.

4. Urban Planning: Explores city development, zoning, and land use. It provides insight into how fiscal policies shape urban landscapes and vice versa.

## Majors related to Urban Fiscal Policy

1. Urban Studies: Focuses on the complex issues facing cities, including economic, social, and political challenges. Students learn to analyze urban problems and develop solutions.

2. Public Administration: Prepares students for careers in government and nonprofit sectors. The curriculum covers policy implementation, budgeting, and public service management.

3. Economics: Provides a broad understanding of economic theories and their applications. Students learn to analyze economic data and policies at various levels, including urban economies.

4. Political Science: Examines political systems, institutions, and policies. Students gain insight into how urban fiscal policies are shaped by political processes and power dynamics.

## What can you do with a degree in Urban Fiscal Policy?

1. City Budget Analyst: Evaluates city financial data and prepares budget reports. They play a crucial role in helping city leaders make informed fiscal decisions.

2. Urban Economic Development Specialist: Works on strategies to boost local economies and attract businesses. They often deal with tax incentives, grants, and other financial tools to promote urban growth.

3. Municipal Bond Trader: Buys and sells municipal bonds on behalf of investors or cities. They need to understand urban fiscal health and bond markets to make informed trading decisions.

4. Policy Researcher: Conducts studies on urban fiscal issues for think tanks or government agencies. They analyze data, write reports, and provide recommendations to policymakers.

## Urban Fiscal Policy FAQs

1. How does Urban Fiscal Policy relate to gentrification? The course explores how fiscal decisions can impact neighborhood demographics and property values. You'll learn about the complex relationship between urban investment, tax policies, and community displacement.

2. Are there any field trips in this course? Some professors organize visits to local government offices or invite guest speakers from city finance departments. It really depends on your specific class and instructor.

3. Do we need to know advanced math for this course? Basic math and statistics are usually sufficient. The focus is more on understanding concepts and their applications rather than complex calculations.

Finance

1.4 Monocentric city model

1.1 Central place theory

1.3 Bid rent theory

1.2 Urban agglomeration economies

1.5 New economic geography

1.6 Urban growth theories

1.7 Gentrification and neighborhood change

2.2 Sales and use taxes

2.3 Income taxes

2.1 Property taxes

2.5 Intergovernmental transfers

2.4 User fees and charges

2.7 Tax increment financing

2.6 Special assessments

3.2 Education

3.1 Public safety (police and fire)

3.3 Infrastructure and public works

3.5 Social services

3.4 Parks and recreation

3.6 Debt service

3.7 Administrative costs

4.1 Federal-state-local fiscal relationships

4.2 Grants-in-aid systems

4.3 Revenue sharing

4.4 Unfunded mandates

4.5 Cooperative agreements

4.6 Fiscal decentralization

5.1 Theory of public goods

5.2 Tiebout model

5.3 Spillover effects

5.6 Public-private partnerships

5.4 Economies of scale in service provision

5.5 Privatization and contracting out

6.1 Property tax base and rates

6.2 Assessment methods and practices

6.3 Tax limitations and exemptions

6.4 Property tax administration

6.5 Property tax incidence

6.6 Land value taxation

7.1 Types of municipal bonds

7.2 Bond issuance process

7.3 Credit ratings and risk assessment

7.4 Debt capacity and limitations

7.5 Refunding and restructuring

7.6 Municipal bankruptcy

8.1 Tax increment financing

8.2 Business improvement districts

8.3 Impact fees

8.4 Special purpose districts

8.5 Public-private partnerships

8.6 Land value capture

9.1 Principles of fiscal federalism

9.2 Vertical and horizontal fiscal imbalances

9.3 Intergovernmental grants

9.4 Fiscal competition among jurisdictions

9.6 Fiscal autonomy and local discretion

9.5 Fiscal equalization

10.1 Budget process and cycle

10.2 Types of budgets (line-item, program, performance)

10.3 Capital budgeting

10.4 Financial reporting and auditing

10.5 Fund accounting

10.6 Fiscal forecasting

11.1 Structural deficits

11.3 Infrastructure maintenance and replacement

11.4 Economic shocks and recessions

11.5 Demographic changes and fiscal stress

11.6 Fiscal emergency management

11.2 Pension and OPEB liabilities

Browse all Urban Fiscal Policy Key Terms

About Us

Resources

Stay Connected

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

About Us

Resources

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

Back

Next