Objectives
The course – which is entirely tought in English – provides an introduction to the economic analysis of public policy issues, concerning the Government’s spending, financing and regulatory activities. The above issues will be tackled within the European Union context.
The course – which is entirely tought in English – provides an introduction to the economic analysis of public policy issues, concerning the Government’s spending, financing and regulatory activities. The above issues will be tackled within the European Union context.
teacher profile teaching materials
I.1 Consumers' and Firms' behaviour
I.2 Demand, Supply, and market equilibrium
I.3 Welfare Economics
I.4 Market failures
I.4 Social Justice and Equity
Part II. The Economics of Public Spending and Welfare Programs
II.1 Models of Public Spending and Welfare
II.2 Public spending on education
II.3 Public spending on health services
II.4 Pensions
II.5 Income redistribution and poverty
Part III. The Economics of Market and Environmental Regulation
III.1 Market regulation
III.2 Environmental regulation
Part IV. Economic Foundations of Fiscal Federalism
IV.1 Economic justifications of fiscal federalism
IV.2 The financing of sub-national governments
Part V. Fiscal Policy and Taxation in the European Context
V.1 Objective and tools of fiscal policy
V.2 Some economics of European Union construction and functioning
V.3 The harmonisation of national Value Added Tax systems
Rosen H.S., Gayer T. (2014), Public Finance. Tenth edition. McGraw-Hill
Ch. 1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20
Cullis J., Jones P. (2009), Public Finance & Public Choice. Third edition. Oxford University Press
Ch. 12, sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7.1
Programme
Part I. Introduction to Economics and Public EconomicsI.1 Consumers' and Firms' behaviour
I.2 Demand, Supply, and market equilibrium
I.3 Welfare Economics
I.4 Market failures
I.4 Social Justice and Equity
Part II. The Economics of Public Spending and Welfare Programs
II.1 Models of Public Spending and Welfare
II.2 Public spending on education
II.3 Public spending on health services
II.4 Pensions
II.5 Income redistribution and poverty
Part III. The Economics of Market and Environmental Regulation
III.1 Market regulation
III.2 Environmental regulation
Part IV. Economic Foundations of Fiscal Federalism
IV.1 Economic justifications of fiscal federalism
IV.2 The financing of sub-national governments
Part V. Fiscal Policy and Taxation in the European Context
V.1 Objective and tools of fiscal policy
V.2 Some economics of European Union construction and functioning
V.3 The harmonisation of national Value Added Tax systems
Core Documentation
Reference textbooksRosen H.S., Gayer T. (2014), Public Finance. Tenth edition. McGraw-Hill
Ch. 1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20
Cullis J., Jones P. (2009), Public Finance & Public Choice. Third edition. Oxford University Press
Ch. 12, sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7.1
Type of delivery of the course
Classroom lessonsType of evaluation
The assessment of attending students is based: - 70% on group or individual assignment to be delivered during the course (presentations, project work, etc.) - 30% on a final written exam on the programme's items excluded by individual or group assignment The assessment of not attending students is based on a written exam on the whole programme. Overall the assessment aims at matching the following intended learning outcomes: 1. Identify the main justifications for goverment intervention and of fiscal federalism. 2. Illustrate modes of intervention in education, health, social security and redistributive policy. 3. Distinguish the various dimensions of inequality. 4. Discuss the main trade-offs emerging with market and environmental regulation policies. 5. Illustrate the role of fiscal policy. 6. Illustrate the economic aspects of EU construction and tax harmonisation.