Course Overview

This course is designed to acquaint M1 students with key issues and
concepts in public economics and to provide them with theoretical
tools to study public policies and more generally the justification,
scope and consequences of state intervention in economic activities.

Learning Achievement

Competence

Course prerequisites

Undergraduate microeconomics

Grading Philosophy

Continuous examination (30)

Course schedule

THE COURSE WILL COVER: 
1. An overview of the role of the State in modern economies (1h) 

2. General equilibrium, efficiency & equity, welfare theorems (2 h) 

3. Restoring efficiency: market failure (externalities, public goods,
imperfect competition) and state intervention (4h) 

4. Restoring equity: redistribution, social welfare, nonwelfarist
approaches (2h) [exam: 30 min] 

5. Taxation: tax incidence, labor supply & incentives, tax reforms,
optimal commodity/income taxation, cost of public funds (6h) 

6. Social choice, collective decision making, voting (2h)[exam: 30
min]

Course type

Lecture course

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Other information

REFERENCES BIBLIOGRAPHY : 

The course is based on the book: Intermediate Public Economics, by
Hindriks, J. and G. Myles, MIT Press, 2006 (provided in pdf
format)Additional references: 

- Auerbach, A and MS Feldstein Handbook of Public Economics,
Amsterdam: North-Holland (volume 1, 1986; volume 2, 1987; volumes 3 &
4, 2002).  - Lambert, P. The Distribution and Redistribution of
Income: A Mathematical Analysis. (Manchester: Manchester University
Press, 2002).  - Salanié, B., The Economics of Taxation, MIT Press,
London, 2003.  KEY WORDS :Public Economics, taxation, public goods,
externalities, regulation, political economy. 

Duration: 18 hours

Language of instruction: English

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