12442 - Economics of the Public Sector

Academic Year 2012/2013

  • Docente: Stefano Toso
  • Credits: 8
  • SSD: SECS-P/03
  • Language: Italian
  • Moduli: Stefano Toso (Modulo 1) Carlo Mazzaferro (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 1); In-person learning (entirely or partially) (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Forli
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Criminology for Investigation and Security (cod. 8491)

Learning outcomes

The aim of this course is to provide the theoretical elements and the basic knowledge for the analysis of the economic role of the State in a market economy. 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

Theprogram is divided in three parts, which are listed below.

Teacherof Parts I and II: Carlo Mazzaferro; teacherof Parts II andIII: Stefano Toso.

Part I - Theoretical rationales of public intervention.

Public economics and welfare economics. Theory of public goods and mechanisms of political decision. Externalities. Other causes of market failure.

Part II - The expenditure for the welfare state

Theoretical justifications for welfare state expenditure. Ways of provision of social expenditure (in cash and in kind). Pensions. Social assistance.

Part III - Theory of taxation

Public revenues. The progressive tax: methods for implementing the progressivity. Progressivity measures and redistributive effects of income taxation. Equity of taxation. The designof personal income taxation. The distortionary effects of taxation on agents' choice.

Readings/Bibliography

P. Bosi, (edited by), Corso di Scienza delle finanze, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2012, 6th edition [chapters I, III (only par. 1-5 and 7), VIII (only par. 1, 2 and 4)].

H.S. Rosen, T. Gayer,Scienza delle finanze, McGraw-Hill, 2010, 3rd italian edition [chapters 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15 and Appendix].

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. The additional teaching material will be available on AMS Campus.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Toso

See the website of Carlo Mazzaferro