91211 - ECONOMIA PUBBLICA

Learning outcomes

Two modules characterize the exam in Public Economics. Giuseppe Pignataro will teach Module 1, while Luca Bonacini will teach Module 2.

This new exam in a MA degree like PAO is motivated by the need to answer many curiosities that involve the investigations of public choice and interventions. The purpose would be to explain these topics without using analytical/mathematical tools that often drive students away from studying this type of economic process.

With full coordination of our teaching proposal, we will develop a series of sequential topics related to the issue of inequality and poverty together with welfare and taxation measures looking at potential public interventions in Italy.

By the end of the course, the student will be able to understand moderately advanced tools in public economics and process the issues at the center of economic debate.

Course contents

The proposed syllabus is a preview for guidance with the idea of drawing some simple guidelines ONLY based on the selected topics. Additional materials will be provided in due course.

This is an experiment made for the second time of studying topics in public economics after the reform of the PAO. We will choose the exact programs to develop based on the needs that emerged/suggested by the participating class.

        Module 1

• Public Economy - the role in the society
• Focus on Inequality and the issue of Poverty.
• Market structure and the need for public interventions
• Inequality of Opportunity and Merit
• Public Incentives and Causality
• Educational Processes and Case Studies

  Module 2

• Welfare Economics
• Market Failures and Public Interventions
• Taxes - taxonomy and progressivity
• The mechanisms of the public debt
• Welfare State

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1

• Rosen et al. (2023) - Scienza delle Finanze - McGraw Hill. (capitoli 1-5)

Focus Disuguaglianza:

• Baldini M. e S. Toso (2009), Diseguaglianza, povertà e politiche pubbliche, (capitoli 1-2), Il Mulino
• Piketty T. (2021), Capitale e Ideologia, La nave di Teseo (1-2-3-4-5-10)
• Gentili, A. e G. Pignataro (2021), Disuguaglianza e istruzione in Italia, (capitoli 4-5), Carocci Editore.

Module 2

P. Bosi (a cura di), Corso di scienza delle finanze, Nona edizione, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2023. Capitoli 1-3-4-8. Chapters: 1-3-4-8.

Supplementary materials (chapters, op-ed articles) for both modules will be provided during the class.

Full details on the material to be studied will be given at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

The teaching method involves face-to-face lectures in presence and group interactions among students. Considering the type of exam and the economic-quantitative nature of the topics covered, it is worth pointing out the enormous importance of regular class attendance.

Assessment methods

The assessment method (to be defined) is potentially developed in two directions:

1. Passing a written test involving multiple-choice and open-ended questions on the topics developed during the course.

2. The development of a short paper (3000 words) to be presented at the end of the course. This option is conditional on the number of attending students during the lessons.

The maximum score obtainable by providing all correct answers is 30 cum laude according to the following ranking:<18 failed
18-23 sufficient
24-27 good
28-30 very good
30 cum laude excellent

Teaching tools

Lectures in presence with the support of interactive slides on ‘virtuale'.

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Pignataro

See the website of Luca Bonacini