Public Economics and Economic Policy

Course content

The course includes economic perspectives on the role of the public sector and political decision-making. The relationships between taxes, redistribution policies, and the efficiency of the economy determine the sustainability of the welfare state.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

You learn

• consequences on economic efficiency and redistribution of different types of taxes
• arguments for and consequences of different types of redistribution policies
• cost-benefit analyses
• about collective decision-making processes related to efficiency and redistribution
• about the relationship between the voters’ preferences and policymaking

Skills

You should be able to

• understand and describe collective decision-making processes
• use analytical and graphical models to analyse consequences on efficiency and redistribution of different types of taxes
• analyse the consequences of different types of redistribution policies
• provide critical judgments of claims in the public debate about taxes, government expenditures, efficiency, and inequality

General competence

You should be able to

• follow economic reasoning related to public economics, for example in the public debate or related to scientific reviews and advises.

2 hours of lectures every week. Information about tutorials and compulsory activity will be announced at the beginning of the term.