There’s no time like the present to dive into the study of public finance. We won’t speak for the rest of world (lest we reveal our ignorance), but the talk here in D.C. has been all “Fiscal Cliff this, Debt Ceiling that…” We don’t know what it all means, of course, but it seems like it might be important, if a little distracting…we’ve got an Inauguration to run, people!

Still, ignorance it not always bliss…we should probably study up on ECON305: Public Finance, which now comes in an iTunes U flavor as well as Original.

So, if you’re eager to learn about “the natural tension between the desire for policies that optimize society’s welfare and the motivations that lead to actual tax and expenditure policy,” dive right on in.

Finance not your thing? Check out one of the 29 other courses we’ve put up on our iTunes U channel or one of the 279 on site to date. Let us know what you think!