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PUBLIC SECTOR ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT

1st section

Syllabus

EN IT

Learning Objectives

Knowledge and Understanding
Detailed understanding of the principles of public spending and taxation, and the implications, in terms of efficiency and equity, of the policies implemented by governments in these areas, with particular reference to the principles that should inform the provision of public goods, externalities, social security system. A part of the course will be devoted to the public economics of news media. This will help strengthen and extend the knowledge gained during the first part of courses and make students able to develop and/or implement original ideas, potentially with original research in mind.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding:
The notions, concepts and theoretical models learned can help students understand more clearly and organically the implications of government policies, and to assess the consequences of specific proposals.

Making Judgements:
The lessons learned can be used to evaluate critically, constructively and without bias the work of policy makers

Communication Skills:
The ability to select and present facts and complex mechanisms in a rigorous manner; to present complex subjects in a simple manner, communicating their findings and knowledge and their rationale, to specialist and non-specialist

Learning Skills:
The course aims to provide students with the fundamental knowledge to follow the theoretical and empirical debate in public economics and in the process of the formation of policy.

Presentational skills:
The students have to present a paper of their choice, within a set selected by the lecturer. A part of a lecture will be devoted to provide presentational skills.

FRANCESCO SOBBRIO

Prerequisites

Microeconomics

Program

Week 1: Public Goods and Externalities
Week 2: The Political Economy of Mass Media and Pension Systems
Week 3: Theory of Optimal Taxation

Books

Hindriks and Myles, Public Economics, MIT Press (1995)

Bibliography

- Hindriks and Myles, Public Economics, MIT Press (1995)
- Slides and lecture notes will be made available on the course webpage

Teaching methods

The module consists of lectures. Any necessary updates in regard to the lectures will be
made available on the course's web page.

Exam Rules

The student will be evaluated at the end of the course via a written test. The written test
consists of a mix of open-ended questions, multiple choice questions and exercises, with
which the student have to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical notions of public
economics, knowing how to apply them in practical cases demonstrating that he has
achieved the method of study and the learning ability necessary to continue the study of the
subject autonomously.

Insufficient (0-17):
Knowledge and Understanding: Significant deficiencies and/or inaccuracies in knowledge
and understanding of the topics.
Skills: Limited analytical and synthesis skills.

Sufficient (18-20):
Knowledge and Understanding: Adequate knowledge and understanding of the topics
with possible imperfections.
Skills: Sufficient analytical, synthesis, and independent judgment skills.

Adequate (21-23):
Knowledge and Understanding: Understanding of routine topics.
Skills: Correct analysis and synthesis skills with coherent logical argumentation.

Good (24-26):
Knowledge and Understanding: Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics.
Skills: Good analytical and synthesis skills with rigorously expressed arguments.

Very Good (27-29):
Knowledge and Understanding: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the
topics.
Skills: Remarkable analytical and synthesis skills. Good independent judgment.

Excellent (30-30L):
Knowledge and Understanding: Excellent level of knowledge and understanding of the
topics.
Skills: Exceptional analytical and synthesis skills and independent judgment. Arguments
expressed in an original way.

GIORGIO GULINO

Program

The module will focus on discussions of recent academic articles on various topics related to public economics.
Week 1: How political elections and electoral campaigns influence the public policies implemented by politicians when they are in office.
Week 2: Who decides to run as a politician, how they are selected, and what are the incentives of politicians once elected.
Week 3: How mass media have influenced the public policies implemented by politicians, both in the past and with the advent of new communication media.

Books

Academic papers distributed during the course

Bibliography

Slides and lecture notes will be made available on the course webpage

Teaching methods

The module consists of lectures and student presentations. Any necessary updates in
regard to the lectures will be made available on the course's web page.

Exam Rules

The final grade for the module will be based on:
1.Presentation of one of the articles that the instructor makes available to students during the course.
2.Analysis of a database that the instructor makes available to students, including both the codes used to analyze the database and a written report where students comment on and present the results of the analysis performed.
3.A written exam consisting of a mix of open-ended questions, multiple-choice questions, and exercises.

Insufficient (0-17):
Knowledge and Understanding: Significant deficiencies and/or inaccuracies in knowledge and understanding of the topics.
Skills: Limited analytical and synthesis skills.

Sufficient (18-20):
Knowledge and Understanding: Adequate knowledge and understanding of the topics with possible imperfections.
Skills: Sufficient analytical, synthesis, and independent judgment skills.

Adequate (21-23):
Knowledge and Understanding: Understanding of routine topics.
Skills: Correct analysis and synthesis skills with coherent logical argumentation.

Good (24-26):
Knowledge and Understanding: Fair knowledge and understanding of the topics.
Skills: Good analytical and synthesis skills with rigorously expressed arguments.

Very Good (27-29):
Knowledge and Understanding: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the topics.
Skills: Remarkable analytical and synthesis skills. Good independent judgment.

Excellent (30-30L):
Knowledge and Understanding: Excellent level of knowledge and understanding of the topics.
Skills: Exceptional analytical and synthesis skills and independent judgment. Arguments expressed in an original way.