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Course 2008-2009 a.y.

8202 - PUBLIC ECONOMICS


MM-LS - AFC-LS - CLAPI-LS - CLEFIN-LS - CLELI-LS - DES-LS - CLG-LS - M-LS - IM-LS - ACME-LS - EMIT-LS
Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English


Go to class group/s: 31

MM-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - AFC-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLAPI-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLEFIN-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLELI-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - DES-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - CLG-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - M-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - IM-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - ACME-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI) - EMIT-LS (6 credits - I sem. - AI)
Course Director:
ALESSANDRA CASARICO

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: ALESSANDRA CASARICO


Course Objectives

The aim of the course is to lay the groundwork for an understanding of Public Economics at a Master level. 
The course is based on three modules:

  • The first one concentrates on government expenditure, with a special focus on education, social security and health
  • The second one adopts an open economy view and explores issues related to multiple jurisdictions and migration decisions
  • The third one analyzes gender gaps in participation and wages, focusing on their causes and studying policies aimed at reducing them

Course Content Summary
  • The Welfare State: An Introduction
  • Social Security 
    -Pension systems, savings and the accumulation of physical capital 
    -Pensions and the labour supply 
    -Pensions and demographics 
    -Pension design and reform
    -Pensions and risk-sharing
  • Education 
    -Private versus Public Provision 
    -Financing of Schools 
    -The redistributive effects of education and education financing 
  • Health 
    -Asymmetric information and health insurance 
    -Regulation in Public Health systems 
  • Public Policy in Open Economy
    -Fiscal federalism
    -Fiscal competition
    -Migration and migration policies
  • Gender
    - Gaps in wages and participation
    - Public Policies to reduce gender gaps

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Written exam. For students who regularly attend the class, a presentation based on topics agreed upon during the course can complement part of the written exam.


Textbooks
  • J. Hindricks, G.D. Myles, Intermediate Public Economics, MIT Press, 2005
  • G. Myles, Public Economics, CUP, 1998
  • A.J. Auerbach, M. Feldstein (eds.) Handbook of Public Economics, vol.2 and 4, North-Holland.
  • N. Barr, The Welfare State as Piggy Bank, Part III, OUP, 2001 
  • Most of the course is based on articles from  journals and working papers. A complete and up-to-date list with an indication of the compulsory readings are provided at the beginning of the course.
Last change 03/06/2008 09:11