The aim of this course is to provide basic knowledge of government intervention into liberal economies, using a microeconomic approach, with regard to fundamental normative and positive issues of public expenditure. The focus is on economic analysis of public sector policies and services.

Contents of this course are:

- research questions, issues and methods of public finance and public economics;

- basic knowledge of microeconomics;

- market failures: issues of efficiency and equity;

- government intervention into the economy: instruments; socio-economic evaluations; pros and cons;

- public goods, externalities, and other issues of market inefficiency;

- collective choice and institutions;

- theoretical approaches to inequality and redistributive public policy;

- introduction to cost benefit analysis; 

- public expenditure and welfare state, especially education, social services, health care services, unemployment and  pension schemes;

- fiscal federalism.

Those established by the School/degree regulations.

At the end of this course, on the economic analysis of social services and public policies, students should be able to demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of reasons and instruments of government intervention into liberal economies, especially with regard to the provision of social services (knowledge and understanding). Students should also be able to understand and discuss the fundamental pros and cons of government intervention, its limits and trade-offs (applying knowledge and understanding) . It is also expected that students will develop basic abilities to analyze and evaluate collective and social issues from the economics perspective (making judgements). Studens should be able to use technical economic language and communicate economic concepts and issues appropriately (communication skills). Students should be able to autonomously read texts, listen to discussions and think of economic policy matters (learning skills). 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures, case studies and seminars.

Attendance

At least 26 hours in classroom.

Course books

H.S. Rosen, T. Gayer, Scienza delle finanze, McGraw-Hill, 2018, appendice (appendix) and chapters 1, 3 to 7, 10 to 13, 21 (This book is a translation of "Public finance").

Students might want to use, in addition, the following book to improve their understanding of the course program:

P. Bosi (ed.), Corso di scienza delle finanze, il Mulino, 2019, chapters I, V, VIII (a digital edition is available on Pandoracampus).

Assessment

Students will be given a written test, with open questions, in order to assess whether the learning objectives of this course are met, and to what extent. The written test will last 45 minutes and they can use graphs to explain and discuss the questions asked. An oral examination may follow, provided the student passes the written test and wishes to try to improve the mark. Covid-19 regulations may suggest (or impose) not to give written exams. In this case, there will be an oral examination. Studentes can get up to 30 points in their written test, which is passed with 18 points. Covid-19 regulations may suggest (or impose) not to give written exams. In this case, there will be an oral examination. The number of points assigned to students will be based on degrees of their knowledge, ability to explain economic problems, the goodness of their answers, ability in the use of basic mathematical tools, and provision of examples. The first three criteria are the ones that will bear the most in their evaluation.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Attendance

Less than 26 hours in classroom.

Course books

H.S. Rosen, T. Gayer, Scienza delle finanze, McGraw-Hill, 2018, appendice (appendix) and chapters 1, 3 to 7, 10 to 13, 21 (This book is a translation of "Public finance").

Students might want to use, in addition, the following book to improve their understanding of the course program:

P. Bosi (ed.), Corso di scienza delle finanze, il Mulino, 2019, chapters I, V, VIII (a digital edition is available on Pandoracampus)

Assessment

Please see information provided for attending students.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Students with a good command of the Italian language are invited to look at further details provided in Italian (for this course). Students can request to sit the final exam in English, with an alternative reading list.