Master of Science in European Economy
and Business Law

Updated A.Y. 2019-2020

Modulo 1
Analisi della fornitura di beni pubblici, implicazioni in termini di efficienza ed uguaglianza. Principi basw di tassazione ottima su beni e reddito in mercati competitivi  e con potere di mercato.

Agli studenti verranno forniti gli strumenti analitici per analizzare le questioni economiche. Questo permette anche di rafforzare le basi necessarie per coprire il programma del secondo ciclo di corsi e stimola lo studente ad un analisi critica ed originale sui principali temi economici trattati, favorendo anche potenzialità dal punto di vista della ricerca nel settore.

Struttura del modulo
Totale 10 lezioni,  36 ore.
Materiale

IL programma è diviso in 3 parti:

• An introduction to the basics of taxation
o Basic models of taxation (on demand and supply)
• Public provision of public goods.
o Samuelson’s Rule and Lindhal prices.
o Median income theorem.
o Vickrey-Clarke-Groves Mechanism
•  Tax Models
o Optimal commodity taxation.
a. Commodity taxation in competitive market. Ramsey’ rule.
b. Commodity taxation with market power.
o Optimal income taxation.
• Basics of Procurement
o What is public procurement
o Competitive procedures
o Auction and scoring rules

Bibliografia
Il libro di testo è generalmente abbastanza per coprire i temi trattati (Gruber, Myles-Hindricks, Myles, Rosen e Gayer). Il corso segue principalmente il libro  Intermediate Public Economics (2006).

Intermediate public Economics (2006), Hindriks & Myles (Ch. 5 1st edition or Ch. 6 2nd edition)

Inoltre, libri consigliati (ma non obbligatori)

Advanced Microeconomic Theory Jehle, Reny (più avanzato)
The Economics of Taxation, Salanie, B. (2002), MIT Press

Letture aggiuntive:

Samuelson, Paul A. 1954, “The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure,”  Review of  Economics and Statistics, 36, 4: 387-389.
Samuelson, Paul A.,,1955, “Diagrammatic Exposition of a Theory of Public
Expenditure,” Review of Economics and Statistics, 37, 4: 350-35

Tax Models – Optimal commodity/income taxation.
Intermediate Public Economics (2006), Hindriks & Myles (Ch. 14-15 first-edition or 15-16 2nd edition)
Salanie, B. (2002), The Economics of Taxation, MIT Press: there are several simple model of taxation in increasingly less simple set-ups). Commodity (indirect) taxation in Chapter 3. (useful reading)
The model are highly simplified (but with all the original message intact) versions of the original difficult contribution, Diamond and Mirrlees (AER 1971).

Further readings:
• Matthew, Weinzierl, and Yagan (2009) “Optimal Taxation in Theory and Practice” Journal of Economic Perspective.
• Mirrlees, J.A., (1971), ”An Exploration in the Theory of Optimum Income Taxation”, Review of Economic Studies, p.175-208
• Mirrlees, J.A. (1976) ”Optimal tax theory”, Journal of Public Economics, 6, pp.327-358
• Diamond, Peter A., and James A. Mirrlees, 1971, “Optimal Taxation and Public Production I: Production Efficiency,” American Economic Review, 61, 1: 8-27.
• Diamond, Peter A., and James A. Mirrlees, 1971, “Optimal Taxation and Public  Production II: Tax Rules,” American Economic Review, 61, 3: 261-278.
• Seade, J. (1982) ”On the Sign of the Optimum Marginal Income Tax”, Review of Economic Studies, 49, pp.637-643
• Tuomala, M. (1984) ”On the Optimal Income Taxation”, Journal of Public Economics, 23, pp.351-366
• Tuomala, M. (1985) ”Simplified formulae for optimal linear income taxation”, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 87, pp.668-72
• Ebert, U. (1992) ”A Reexamination of the Optimal Nonlinear Income Tax”, Journal of Public Economics, 49, pp.47-73
• Auerbach, Alan J., and James R. Hines, Jr., 2002, “Taxation and Economic Efficiency,” Chapter 21, in Handbook of Public Economics, volume 3, edited by Alan J. Auerbach and Martin Feldstein (Amsterdam: Elsevier): 1360-1383
• Slemrod, Joel,1990, “Optimal Taxation and Optimal Tax Systems,” Journal of Economic  Perspectives, 4, 1: 157-178.

Procurement
Handbook of Procurement, Piga G., Spagnolo G. and Dimitri N.
Course Web Page
The material for this course (syllabus, notes, announcements, materials) will be posted online. It is essential to consult this link, as all information regarding this course will be available there.
Exercises
Exercises will be analysed during the lessons in the classroom with the active participation of students. Exercises questions will be downloaded from the course webpage. Some examples of the right answers will be provided on the course webpage, after each lesson. The day for the exercise section will be decide during the course according to the covered material.

Struttura esame
Tempo:  TRE ORE. 6 DOMANDE, 3 PER OGNI MODULO. PER PASSARE L'ESAME E' NECESSARIO UN VOTO DI 18 AL ALMENO A 4 DOMANDE. IL VOTO FINALE E' DATO DALLA MEDIA DEI VOTI DELLE 6 DOMANDE. 

 

Updated A.Y. 2018-2019

Module 1

Content
Detailed understanding of the provision of public good and its implications in terms of efficiency and equity. Principles of optimal income and commodity taxation in competitive market and under market power. The course also focuses on the role and use of common resources.
It is expected that the students will learn an analytical approach to the economic issues. This first module will help strengthen and ease the analysis of the second cycle of courses and make students able to develop and/or implement original ideas, potentially with original research in mind. 
Course schedule
Please note that the dates on which material will be covered are approximate. Total 10 classes for a total of 36 hours. Classes will begin promptly; there will be a break of approximately 10-15 minutes, at an appropriate point towards the mid-point of the class.
Material
The program of the course is divided into 3 main parts:
• An introduction to the basics of taxation
o Basic models of taxation (on demand and supply)
• Public provision of public goods.
o Samuelson’s Rule and Lindhal prices.
o Median income theorem.
o Vickrey-Clarke-Groves Mechanism
•  Tax Models
o Optimal commodity taxation.
a. Commodity taxation in competitive market. Ramsey’ rule.
b. Commodity taxation with market power.
o Optimal income taxation.
• Basics of Procurement
o What is public procurement
o Competitive procedures
o Auction and scoring rules

Main references
The main text books are in general good enough to cover this part of the program (Gruber, Myles-Hindricks, Myles, Rosen e Gayer). The course basically follows Intermediate Public Economics (2006).

Public provision of public goods

Intermediate public Economics (2006), Hindriks & Myles (Ch. 5 1st edition or Ch. 6 2nd edition)

Advanced Microeconomic Theory Jehle, Reny (more challenging)
The Economics of Taxation, Salanie, B. (2002), MIT Press
Further readings:
Samuelson, Paul A. 1954, “The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure,”  Review of  Economics and Statistics, 36, 4: 387-389.
Samuelson, Paul A.,,1955, “Diagrammatic Exposition of a Theory of Public
Expenditure,” Review of Economics and Statistics, 37, 4: 350-35

Tax Models – Optimal commodity/income taxation.

Intermediate Public Economics (2006), Hindriks & Myles (Ch. 14-15 first-edition or 15-16 2nd edition)
Salanie, B. (2002), The Economics of Taxation, MIT Press: there are several simple model of taxation in increasingly less simple set-ups). Commodity (indirect) taxation in Chapter 3. (useful reading)
The model are highly simplified (but with all the original message intact) versions of the original difficult contribution, Diamond and Mirrlees (AER 1971).
Further readings:
• Matthew, Weinzierl, and Yagan (2009) “Optimal Taxation in Theory and Practice” Journal of Economic Perspective.
• Mirrlees, J.A., (1971), ”An Exploration in the Theory of Optimum Income Taxation”, Review of Economic Studies, p.175-208
• Mirrlees, J.A. (1976) ”Optimal tax theory”, Journal of Public Economics, 6, pp.327-358
• Diamond, Peter A., and James A. Mirrlees, 1971, “Optimal Taxation and Public Production I: Production Efficiency,” American Economic Review, 61, 1: 8-27.
• Diamond, Peter A., and James A. Mirrlees, 1971, “Optimal Taxation and Public  Production II: Tax Rules,” American Economic Review, 61, 3: 261-278.
• Seade, J. (1982) ”On the Sign of the Optimum Marginal Income Tax”, Review of Economic Studies, 49, pp.637-643
• Tuomala, M. (1984) ”On the Optimal Income Taxation”, Journal of Public Economics, 23, pp.351-366
• Tuomala, M. (1985) ”Simplified formulae for optimal linear income taxation”, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 87, pp.668-72
• Ebert, U. (1992) ”A Reexamination of the Optimal Nonlinear Income Tax”, Journal of Public Economics, 49, pp.47-73
• Auerbach, Alan J., and James R. Hines, Jr., 2002, “Taxation and Economic Efficiency,” Chapter 21, in Handbook of Public Economics, volume 3, edited by Alan J. Auerbach and Martin Feldstein (Amsterdam: Elsevier): 1360-1383
• Slemrod, Joel,1990, “Optimal Taxation and Optimal Tax Systems,” Journal of Economic  Perspectives, 4, 1: 157-178.

 

Procurement

Handbook of Procurement, Piga G., Spagnolo G. and Dimitri N.

Course Web Page
The material for this course (syllabus, notes, announcements, materials) will be posted online. It is essential to consult this link, as all information regarding this course will be available there.
Exercises
Exercises will beanalysed during the lessons in the classroom with the active participation of students. Exercises questions will be downloaded from the course webpage. Some examples of the right answers will be provided on the course webpage, after each lesson. The day for the exercise section will be decide during the course according to the covered material.
 

 

Exam

Time allowed THREE HOURS.
The exam has six questions, three for each module. To pass the exam it is necessary to obtain a mark of 18 in at least four questions. The mark for the written exam is given by the
average mark of the six questions.

Updated A.Y. 2017-2018

Module 1

Content
Detailed understanding of the provision of public good and its implications in terms of efficiency and equity. Principles of optimal income and commodity taxation in competitive market and under market power. The course also focuses on the role and use of common resources.
It is expected that the students will learn an analytical approach to the economic issues. This first module will help strengthen and ease the analysis of the second cycle of courses and make students able to develop and/or implement original ideas, potentially with original research in mind. 
Course schedule
Please note that the dates on which material will be covered are approximate. Total 10 classes for a total of 36 hours. Classes will begin promptly; there will be a break of approximately 10-15 minutes, at an appropriate point towards the mid-point of the class.
Material
The program of the course is divided into 3 main parts:
• An introduction to the basics of taxation
o Basic models of taxation (on demand and supply)
• Public provision of public goods.
o Samuelson’s Rule and Lindhal prices.
o Median income theorem.
o Vickrey-Clarke-Groves Mechanism
•  Tax Models
o Optimal commodity taxation.
a. Commodity taxation in competitive market. Ramsey’ rule.
b. Commodity taxation with market power.
o Optimal income taxation.
• Basics of Procurement
o What is public procurement
o Competitive procedures
o Auction and scoring rules

Main references
The main text books are in general good enough to cover this part of the program (Gruber, Myles-Hindricks, Myles, Rosen e Gayer). The course basically follows Intermediate Public Economics (2006).

Public provision of public goods

Intermediate public Economics (2006), Hindriks & Myles (Ch. 5 1st edition or Ch. 6 2nd edition)

Advanced Microeconomic Theory Jehle, Reny (more challenging)
The Economics of Taxation, Salanie, B. (2002), MIT Press
Further readings:
Samuelson, Paul A. 1954, “The Pure Theory of Public Expenditure,”  Review of  Economics and Statistics, 36, 4: 387-389.
Samuelson, Paul A.,,1955, “Diagrammatic Exposition of a Theory of Public
Expenditure,” Review of Economics and Statistics, 37, 4: 350-35

Tax Models – Optimal commodity/income taxation.

Intermediate Public Economics (2006), Hindriks & Myles (Ch. 14-15 first-edition or 15-16 2nd edition)
Salanie, B. (2002), The Economics of Taxation, MIT Press: there are several simple model of taxation in increasingly less simple set-ups). Commodity (indirect) taxation in Chapter 3. (useful reading)
The model are highly simplified (but with all the original message intact) versions of the original difficult contribution, Diamond and Mirrlees (AER 1971).
Further readings:
• Matthew, Weinzierl, and Yagan (2009) “Optimal Taxation in Theory and Practice” Journal of Economic Perspective.
• Mirrlees, J.A., (1971), ”An Exploration in the Theory of Optimum Income Taxation”, Review of Economic Studies, p.175-208
• Mirrlees, J.A. (1976) ”Optimal tax theory”, Journal of Public Economics, 6, pp.327-358
• Diamond, Peter A., and James A. Mirrlees, 1971, “Optimal Taxation and Public Production I: Production Efficiency,” American Economic Review, 61, 1: 8-27.
• Diamond, Peter A., and James A. Mirrlees, 1971, “Optimal Taxation and Public  Production II: Tax Rules,” American Economic Review, 61, 3: 261-278.
• Seade, J. (1982) ”On the Sign of the Optimum Marginal Income Tax”, Review of Economic Studies, 49, pp.637-643
• Tuomala, M. (1984) ”On the Optimal Income Taxation”, Journal of Public Economics, 23, pp.351-366
• Tuomala, M. (1985) ”Simplified formulae for optimal linear income taxation”, Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 87, pp.668-72
• Ebert, U. (1992) ”A Reexamination of the Optimal Nonlinear Income Tax”, Journal of Public Economics, 49, pp.47-73
• Auerbach, Alan J., and James R. Hines, Jr., 2002, “Taxation and Economic Efficiency,” Chapter 21, in Handbook of Public Economics, volume 3, edited by Alan J. Auerbach and Martin Feldstein (Amsterdam: Elsevier): 1360-1383
• Slemrod, Joel,1990, “Optimal Taxation and Optimal Tax Systems,” Journal of Economic  Perspectives, 4, 1: 157-178.

 

Procurement

Handbook of Procurement, Piga G., Spagnolo G. and Dimitri N.

Course Web Page
The material for this course (syllabus, notes, announcements, materials) will be posted online. It is essential to consult this link, as all information regarding this course will be available there.
Exercises
Exercises will be assigned in advance and analysed during the lessons in the classroom with the active participation of students. Exercises questions will be downloaded from the course webpage. Some examples of the right answers will be provided on the course webpage, after each lesson. The day for the exercise section will be decide during the course according to the covered material.

Students’ presentations
These will be assessed and the student will be allowed to choose whether to have them included as an element of the final evaluation of the course.
The aim of the presentation is to transfer and communicate new knowledge to a group of people who have a general knowledge of economics or finance, but not necessarily in possession of complete familiarity with all aspects of that topic.
A skill that will be evaluated in the presentation is the ability to choose what needs to be explained and what you can assume that the public knows. "Wasting" time in explaining topics that the students of the master already know is not a good use of one's time.
The presentations will be held in the last week of the course.
The teacher will provide a list of articles (available on the web), and each student must choose an article from those.
In general, however, there will be wide choice regarding the topics to which students might be examined in each session.
The presentation in PowerPoint (or Beamer pdf) must be sent to the teacher’s email address by the deadline communicated during the course.

The presentation will last no more than 15 minutes. This limit may be reduced at 13 minutes depending on the number of presentations

Written and verbal suggestions on presentation techniques will be given during the course.

Each presentation will receive a detailed individual comment from the teacher

Updated A.Y. 2015-2016

Vedi la sezione del materiale didattico