Insegnamento a.a. 2019-2020

20608 - WELFARE AND PUBLIC ECONOMICS

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 24
PPA (8 credits - I sem. - OB  |  SECS-P/03)
Course Director:
PAOLA PROFETA

Classes: 24 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 24: PAOLA PROFETA


Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

The course starts from the principles of welfare analysis, and apply them to study how government should intervene in the economy to improve social welfare. Government intervention in the economy is studied using key formal models and empirical analysis. The course then analyzes how public policies may improve social welfare in a changing world. We answer the following questions: What is the role of government intervention in the economy under the pressures of the ageing of population, the slow-down of economic growth, the increase of poverty and inequality? We also analyze policies related to migration flows and to the new role of women in the economy and society. The course trains students to understand the need for and the limitation of a public sector, as well as how the state intervention in the economy can be improved. Students also learn and apply welfare analysis to public policies. They also learn how public policies in different countries are different, and they are stimulated in thinking about why they differ in the ways they do.

CONTENT SUMMARY

Tools of Welfare Analysis:

  • Constrained Choices.
  • Equilibrium and Social Welfare.
  • Efficiency and Equity.

Policy Challenges in Tax Design and Tax Reforms:

  • Taxation and Growth.
  • Taxation and Inequality.
  • Taxes on wealth and wealth transfers.
  • Taxation and the Household.
  • Taxes on Female labour income.
  • Tax credits for children.
  • Tax Evasion.

Policy Challenges in Public Expenditures Programs:

  • The design of the Welfare State  
  • Pensions:
  • The impact of Ageing.
  • Intergenerational relations.
  • Gender differences.
  • Family relations.

Government Intervention in Specific Contexts:

  • Migration Policies.
  • Gender Policies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Understand Tools of Welfare Analysis.
  • Describe Policy Challenges in Tax Design and Tax Reforms.
  • Explore Policy Challenges in Public Expenditures Programs.
  • Understand the role of pensions and pension reforms.
  • Explore government Intervention in Specific Contexts: migration and gender.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Apply Tools of Welfare Analysis.
  • Evaluate and discuss Policy Challenges in Tax Design and Tax Reforms.
  • Evaluate and discuss Policy Challenges in Public Expenditures Programs.
  • Elaborate and assess the role of pensions and pension reforms.
  • Evaluate and discuss government Intervention in Specific Contexts: migration and gender.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)

DETAILS

  • Lectures.
  • Guest speakers for selected topics.
  • Exercises in class.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
   x x

ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Written exam (100%). The exam consists of two parts, which can be done separetely (first and second partial) or together. The final grade is the average of the two parts. The final grade should be sufficient, even though one of the two parts is not.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

A list of selected readings is indicated at the beginning of the course.

Last change 05/06/2019 22:43