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Course 2009-2010 a.y.

8202 - PUBLIC ECONOMICS


MM-LS - AFC-LS - CLAPI-LS - CLEFIN-LS - CLELI-LS - DES-LS - CLG-LS - M-LS - IM-LS - ACME-LS - EMIT-LS
Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English


Go to class group/s: 31

MM-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - AFC-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLAPI-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLEFIN-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLELI-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - DES-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLG-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - M-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - IM-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - ACME-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - EMIT-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI)
Course Director:
ALESSANDRA CASARICO

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: ALESSANDRA CASARICO


Course Objectives

 

The aim of the course is to lay the groundwork for an understanding of Public Economics at a master level.

The course is composed by three main parts.

  • The first part analyses the government expenditure with a special focus on social security and education. The approach is mainly theoretical and builds on recent literature in Public Economics and Macroeconomics.
  • The second part of the course examines public policies in an open economy, with a view on multiple jurisdictions and migration decisions issues: we discuss how national policies can be sustained in the presence of international labour and capital movements.
  • The last part covers issues related to gender gaps in participation and wages: causes and policies aimed at reducing them.



Course Content Summary
 

The Welfare State: An Introduction

Social Security
-Pension systems, savings and the accumulation of physical capital
-Pensions and the labour supply
-Pensions and demographics
-Pension design and reform.
-Pensions and risk-sharing

Education
-Private versus Public Provision
-Financing of Schools
-The redistributive effects of education and education financing

Public Policy in Open Economy
-Fiscal competition
-Migration and migration policies

Gender
-Gaps in wages and participation
-Public Policies to reduce gender gaps


Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Written exam. For students who regularly attend the class, a presentation based on topics agreed upon during the course can complement part of the written exam.


Textbooks

Reference texts are:

  • HINDRICKS, MYLES, 2005, Intermediate Public Economics, MIT Press.
  • MYLES, Public Economics, CUP, 1998.
  • J. GRUBER, Public Finance and Public Policy, Worth Publishers, 2005.
  • AEURBACH, FELDSTEIN (eds.) Handbook of Public Economics, vol.2 and 4, North-Holland.
  • N. BARR, The Welfare State as Piggy Bank, Part III, OUP, 2001.

Most of the course will be based on articles from scientific journals and working papers. A complete and up-to-date list with an indication of the compulsory readings will be provided at the beginning of the course by each instructor.

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)
Last change 26/05/2009 15:31
 

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