BPV_APEC Public Economics

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Matteo Maria Marini, PhD (lecturer)
doc. Ing. Robert Jahoda, Ph.D. (assistant)
prof. Mgr. Jiří Špalek, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Jiří Špalek, Ph.D.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Mgr. Jana Nesvadbová
Supplier department: Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Timetable
Thu 8:00–9:50 S305, except Thu 16. 9., except Thu 4. 11.
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
BPV_APEC/01: Thu 10:00–11:50 S305, except Thu 16. 9., except Thu 4. 11.
Prerequisites
(! PVVE Public Economics )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 24 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/24, only registered: 0/24, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/24
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course presents an introduction to Public Economics. It deals with that part of national economy which is funded from redistributive processes and which is usually referred to as the Public Sector (PS). The subject matter is divided into two interrelated blocks. The first block works more deeply with some basic concepts known to the students from Microeconomics course, mainly the economic role of the government. The rationale for the public sector is explored here as well, with the objective being the enhancement of critical and analytical economic-thinking of students. The second block deals with the experimental method as worthwhile approach to tackle issues related to Public Economics, with a focus on tax compliance and cooperation. This block features pertinent contributions from guest lecturers and participation in a controlled laboratory experiment, with the goal of providing insights into the role of incentives in Public Policy.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to: * use critical and analytical economic-thinking in the evaluation of public sector activities. * master knowledge of measures and tools reducing the natural tendency of the public sector to inefficiency. * understand principles of economic experimentation and the use of experiments in support of policy-making.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Defining public sector responsibilities
  • 3. Market efficiency
  • 4. Market failures
  • 5. Public goods and publicly provided private goods
  • 6. Externalities
  • 7. Political failures
  • 8. Economics of incentives
  • 9. Lab experiment
  • 10. Why do people pay taxes? A review of tax experiments
  • 11. Investigating cooperation in the lab
  • 12. Written test
Literature
    required literature
  • STIGLITZ, Joseph E. Economics of the public sector. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000, xxiii, 823. ISBN 0393966518. info
Teaching methods
lectures, assigned reading, seminars
Assessment methods
The exam has a written form (100 points). The basic condition for getting a grade (A-E) from the course is to gain at least 60 points. Important information! If students commit a prohibited act, such as using various forbidden tools, cribbing, taking out any part of the exam or any other cheating, the teacher is allowed to interrupt an exam and to grade a student with F, FF or FFF according to the seriousness of the offence. The mentioned procedure relates to all the activities that contribute to the final evaluation of the course (attendance, seminar work, bonus tasks, written test).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: This course is offered only to foreign students
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/autumn2021/BPV_APEC