Programme

OBJECT OF THE COURSE: the economic analysis of public intervention in the allocation and distribution of resources with a focus on the tax-transfer activities of the State.

PROGRAM - The course is divided into two modules:
I) Public intervention in the economic system
1. Foundations of Welfare Economics
2. Market failures
3. Non-market failures
4. The public budget

ii) The tax system
1. The functions of a tax system
2. Equity and efficiency of a tax system
3. Tax shifthing and incidence of taxes.
4. Composition of a tax system. Structure and effects of: personal income taxation; business taxatio; capital income taxation; property taxation and consumption taxation
5. The vertical distribution of fiscal powers.

Core Documentation

B. Bises, Lezioni di Scienza delle finanze, volumes 1 e 2, 2018 third edition in press

Type of delivery of the course

Lectures, class-work

Type of evaluation

A) A final exam, lasting 90 minutes, consisting of I) a written exam (students are asked to answer three of the four questions that are posed). To pass the exam, students have to answer at least one question pertaining the themes of the first volume and another on the themes of the second volume; II) an oral exam: - optional, if sufficiency is reached in the written test; - obligatory, if the written test is midly insufficient (from 15/18 to 17/18) With the exception of severe insufficiency, whatever the evaluation achieved, it is possible to re-take the exam in any of the following sessions. In case of severe insufficiency, one has to skip at least one session. B. Alternatively, it is possible to take the exam during the course. In this case, there will be a mid-term and a final exam, lasting 60 minutes each. The mid-term exam will take place on Monday April 29th and will concern Volume 1. The final exam will be on May 27th and will concern Volume 2. To be able to take the final exam, it is necessary to obtain at least 15/18 in the mid-term exam. Both exams will consist in a wider question (to be chosen between two questions) and two smaller questions (to be chosen among three questions). The final grade consists in the average between these two evaluations. Also in this case, an oral examination is contemplated. The characteristics are the same reported sub A. II) Students who do not take the final exams can take the exam in any of the planned sessions according to the procedures stated in A. Students who take the final exam but do not pass it or refuse the grade can take again the exam in any of the planned section, with the exception of the first one. Also in this case, the procedures are those stated in A.

Programme

SYLLABUS
I) Public intervention in the economic system:
1. Public intervention in the economy: economic justifications; theoretical settings; objectives and tools. The public sector in Italy.
2. Fundamentals of welfare economics.
3. Normative theories of social choice
4. Market failures and public intervention.
5. Formation and implementation of public decisions.
6. Budgetary policy in the context of the European Union.
II) The tax system:
1. Functions, requirements and problems of managing a tax system.
2. Equity and efficiency of a tax system.
3. Tax shifting and tax incidence.
4. The composition of a tax system. Structure and effects of taxes: personal income tax; business income and corporate taxation; the taxation of financial income; capital-based taxes; consumption taxes.
5. The assignment of fiscal powers to central and local governments.

Core Documentation

TEXT-BOOKS:
B. Bises, Lezioni di Scienza delle finanze – Parte I: L’intervento pubblico nel sistema economico, Giappichelli Editore, Torino, III edizione, 2019.
B. Bises, Lezioni di Scienza delle finanze – Parte II: Il sistema tributario, Giappichelli Editore, Torino, III edizione, 2019.

Type of evaluation

The exam includes the final written test and oral exam.

Programme

The program is divided in two parts:
I) The economic role of the State
1. The economic role of the State: economic rationales; theoretical framework; aims and scope.
2. Welfare economics.
3. Normative principles for redistribution.
4. Market failures and public intervention.
5. Government Budget and Public Debt

II) The tax system and the economic analysis of taxation

1. Aims and characteristics of tax systems.
2. Equality and Efficiency issues.
3. Tax shifting and tax incidence.
4. Effects of taxes: personal income tax; corporate income tax; wealth tax; consumption tax.

Core Documentation

Parte I
Da B. Bises, Lezioni di Scienza delle finanze. L’intervento pubblico nel sistema economico, Giappichelli Editore, Torino, III edizione, 2019.

Cap. 2
Cap. 3, except "Appendice".
Cap. 4, except "Appendice".
Cap. 5, except par. 3
Cap. 6, except parr. 6.2.2, 6.2.3, 6.2.4, par. 7
Cap. 8 par. 5
Cap. 9 par. 4.4
Cap. 10

Parte II
Da B. Bises, Lezioni di Scienza delle finanze. Il sistema tributario, Giappichelli Editore, Torino, III edizione, 2019 (in corso di pubblicazione).

Cap. 1
Cap. 2, esclusi i parr. 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 4.3, 4.4, 5.
Cap. 4, esclusi parr. 5.3.3, 5.4, 6, 7.
Cap. 5
Cap. 6, escluso il par. 5.3.
Cap. 7
Cap. 9, escluso il par. 2.2.2.
Cap. 10, esclusi i parr. 2.2.4, 2.3.2.

Type of delivery of the course

Classes (delivered in Italian)

Type of evaluation

Written exam