- Docente: Stefano Toso
- Credits: 9
- SSD: SECS-P/03
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Economics, Markets and Institutions (cod. 0114)
Learning outcomes
The aim of this course is to provide the theoretical elements and the basic knowledge for the analysis of the allocative, redistributive and stabilization 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.
Public economics and welfare economics. Theory of public goods and mechanisms of political decision. Other causes of market failure.
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. Methodological aspects of personal income taxation. The distortionary effects of taxation on agents' choice. The income tax in Italy.
Part III - Fiscal federalism
The rationales of decentralisation. The economic theory of decentralisation. The role of taxation and transfers. The regional and local taxes in Italy.
Part IV - Macroeconomic effects of public budget
Built-in-flexibility and the indicators of fiscal policy. Public debt (the Ricardian equivalence theorem, the issue of debt sustainability). Fiscal policy in the European Monetary Union.
Readings/Bibliography
P. Bosi, (ed.), Corso di Scienza delle finanze, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006, 4th edition [chapters I, II (only paragraph. 1 and the appendix), III, IV e V]..
P. Bosi, M.C. Guerra, I tributi nell'economia italiana, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2009, 10th edition [chapters I, III, IV, IX.3-4].
Students whose course has a value of 6 or 7 credits will not study chapter V in Bosi (2006).
Teaching methods
Lectures.
Assessment methods
All students must take a written exam. An oral (non compulsory) exam is also allowed. Students attending the lectures are expected to take a mid-term written exam.
Teaching tools
A video-projector will be used in some lectures, for presentations with Power Point files.
Links to further information
http://didattica.spbo.unibo.it/pais/
Office hours
See the website of Stefano Toso