BPV_VESP Public and social policy

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Ing. Marek Pavlík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Mirka Wildmannová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Ing. Juraj Nemec, CSc.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Jana Biskupová
Supplier department: Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Timetable
Thu 10:00–11:50 P304, except Thu 19. 2., except Thu 9. 4.
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
BPV_VESP/01: each even Thursday 8:00–9:50 P302b, except Thu 19. 2., M. Pavlík, M. Wildmannová
BPV_VESP/02: each odd Thursday 8:00–9:50 P302b, except Thu 9. 4., M. Pavlík, M. Wildmannová
Prerequisites
The course is for students of programmes focused on Public Economics but open open to all
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
Public and Social Policy
Public and Social Policy (VESP) the course is introduction to public and social policy problems. We assume that students have previous knowledges from following cources: Public Economics, Public Finance and Economics of Public Sector.
The aim of the course is to present actual information about the system of Czech public and social policy for selected areas (e.g. education, social system and social health, health policy,political system, etc.
Developing of analytical, argumentation and presentation skills is also the aim of the course
Student will be able to analyse and compare Czech system with selected foreighn coutries through seminar works and its presentation.
Learning outcomes
Student will be able to:;
- to clarify goals, principles of social policy;
- to clarify goals, principles of public policy;
- present to the structure of public and social policy;
- explain the content, tools and legislation of public and social policy;
- to give practical examples.
Key topics
Course Structure

  1. Introduction to Public and Social Policy
  2. Democracy, Human Rights, and Privacy
  3. Poverty in Society
  4. Lifestyle Diseases
  5. The Family in Society
  6. Seniors in Society
  7. Problems in Education
  8. Failures of Social Policy
  9. Challenges of Public Policy
  10. Environment and Politics
  11. The Green Deal and Its Challenges


The lecture topics are complemented by seminar sessions focused on selected details of the issues discussed.
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • Jan Mertl a kol. Sociální politika. 7. vyd. Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2023. s. 354-390, 36 s. ISBN 978-80-7676-675-4
    recommended literature
  • MLČOCH, Lubomír; Martin POTŮČEK and Jiří KAMENÍČEK. Ekonomie, ekologie, veřejná politika, eudaimonia. Lidské hodnoty a problémy rozvoje civilizace : připomínka dvaceti šesti let studenstké ceny Josefa Vavrouška na Fakultě sociálních věd Univerzity Karlovy. Vydání druhé, aktualizova. Praha: Univerzita Karlova, Nakladatelství Karolinum, 2022, 118 stran. ISBN 9788024651002. info
  • BÉLAND, Daniel and Rianne MAHON. Advanced introduction to social policy. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2016, ix, 137. ISBN 9781783478026. URL info
  • Ageing, health and pensions in Europe : an economic and social policy perspective. Edited by Arthur van Soest - A. L. Bovenberg - M. Asghar Zaidi. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, xiv, 400. ISBN 9780230282902. info
  • MALÝ, Ivan and Marek PAVLÍK. Tvorba a realizace programů veřejné politiky. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2007, 108 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-4507-1. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Presentation and class discuson related to introduced topic. Student prove knowledges through homeworks and its public presentation. Reading is a part of homework.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Course Credit (Assessment Requirements)

  • Obtain at least 20 points during the semester
  • Mini-project – participation in preparation and presentation, assessed as “pass”
  • Minimum attendance (ISIC card registration): 3 lectures and 3 seminars
    • Attendance fraud may, depending on severity, result in a fail (F) grade

Mandatory Activities

  • Midterm test
    • Online, open for 3 days during the reading week, max. 15 points
  • Preparation and presentation of the Mini-project
    • Pass = 5 points, best project selected by vote = +3 points

Optional Activities

  • Lecture attendance = 0.5 points
    • Successful completion of a KVIS quiz based on the lecture content = +0.5 points
    • Applies to lectures from March 5 to May 14
    • Total of 10 lectures, max. 10 points
  • Seminar attendance = 1 point
    • Total of 6 seminars per semester, max. 6 points
  • Voluntary seminar paper or creation of an educational video = 4 points
    • Detailed information in the Interactive Syllabus
    • Possible in pairs for half the points
  • Presentation of a voluntary seminar paper or educational video = 4 points
    • Detailed information in the Interactive Syllabus
    • Capacity limited to 5 presentations; the best submissions will be selected
    • Possible in pairs for half the points
  • Activity points earned during the semester are divided by two and then included in the final grade

Final Exam

  • The exam is written
  • At least 5 exam dates (registration via the Information System)
    • An early exam date is possible if justified by the State Final Examination (SZZ), with priority in date selection
  • Test: max. 100 points
    • Minimum required score: 50 points, regardless of points earned during the semester
    • Content: material from the entire semester
    • Question format: multiple-choice and open-ended questions
  • Semester points / 2 are included in the final grade
Grading based on score:
A 92+
B 84-91
C 76-83
D 68-75

E 60-67

Requirements for students who are on study stays abroad and would like to complete the course in a distance-learning format will be specified in the Interactive Syllabus. Systematic work during the semester is expected

Alternate completion
In the case of a foreign internship, it is possible to take the course in an alternative form, the compensation for the points earned for active participation in the class will be determined individually by agreement.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information about innovation of course.
Tento předmět byl vytvořen/inovován za podpory EU, Next Generation, Národního plánu obnovy a Ministerstva školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy v rámci projektu NPO 7.4. – Podpora zelených dovedností a udržitelnosti na MU, reg. č. 0016/NPO74_PZDU_VS.

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The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
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