Abstract: The book provides an introduction to the key ideas of public economics. For this purpose, it takes as a case study the proposal for a basic income financed by a flat tax on all income. This radical reform of the income tax and social security systems has generated wide interest. The book reviews different areas of public economics: the theory of optimum taxation, public choice theory, general equilibrium analysis of incidence, numerical tax-benefit modelling, and econometric studies of work incentives. The author does not argue for or against the basic income proposal but believes that it should be on the agenda for serious discussion.

Keywords: basic income, incentives, income distribution, income tax, inequality, political economy, public economics, social security, tax-benefit models, taxation