- Docente: Stefano Toso
- Credits: 8
- SSD: SECS-P/03
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Politics Administration and Organization (cod. 9085)
Learning outcomes
The aim of this course is to provide the theoretical elements and the basic knowledge for the analysis of the allocative and redistributive role of the public sector. The student will learn the main institutional aspects and the methodology to analyze the economic effects of public intervention in the economy, through public expenditure and fiscal revenue.
Course contents
Part I - Theoretical rationales of public intervention.
Welfare economics and market failures. A case of market failure: the theory of public goods.
Part II - Theory of taxation
Public revenues. The progressive tax: methods for implementing the progressivity. Progressivity measures and redistributive effects of income taxation. Equity of taxation. Fiscal treatment of the family and the choice of tax unit. The distortionary effects of taxation on agents' choice.
Part III - Introduction to the the Italian fiscal system
The personal income tax (Irpef).
Part IV - Tax-benefit models and income redistribution
Introduction to the welfare state expenditure: theoretical rationales and ways of provision. The dilemma of social assistance expenditure: universalism vs selectivity. Tax-benefit schemes.
Readings/Bibliography
M. Baldini, L. Rizzo, Flat tax. Parti uguali tra disuguali?, Il Mulino, 2019.
P. Bosi, (a cura di), Corso di Scienza delle finanze, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2019, 8th edition [chapters I (parag. 1 and 2), II (only par. 1), III (except parag. 8), and VIII (parag. 1 and 4)].
P. Bosi, M.C. Guerra, I tributi nell'economia italiana, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2020 [chapters I, III].
S. Toso, Reddito di cittadinanza. O reddito minimo?, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2016.
Additional teaching material will be available on IOL during the course.
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Attendance will be regulated according to the University guidelines in compliance with the pandemic risk containment.
Assessment methods
The exam is aimed to verify the following teaching objectives: 1) knowledge of the theoretical tools which have been illustrated during the lectures, 2) capability to apply those tools to the analysis of the real and financial effects of the public sector intervention in the economy.
All students must take a written exam. Examples of past exam questions will be made available on line. Students pass the examination if and only if their mark in the written exam is sufficient (equal or greater than 18/30).
Teaching tools
A video-projector will be used in most of the lectures, for presentations with Power Point files.
Office hours
See the website of Stefano Toso
SDGs
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.