Teaching code

4S02463

Academic staff

Alessandro Sommacal, Claudio Zoli

Coordinator

Alessandro Sommacal

Credits

9

Language

English

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

SECS-P/03 - PUBLIC ECONOMICS

Period

Secondo semestre LM dal Feb 17, 2025 al May 23, 2025.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The course covers the main contemporary issues in public finance and public economics. It is aimed at allowing students to read and understand the theoretical and empirical literature (both academic and policy-oriented) as well as to implement their own research. Reference is also made to main institutional aspects at the national and, where relevant, international level. Students will develop a sound knowledge of concepts and phenomena related to public finance and public intervention in the economy with special reference to: social security, taxation and investment/financial decisions; taxation and labor supply; public debt; market regulation; market auctions. Students will be able to assess critically the economic and social implications of the main public intervention schemes. Students will be also introduced to the use of scientific software to simulate the impact of public policies on individual behavior.

Prerequisites and basic notions

A good knowledge of key microeconomics principles is strongly recommended. On this subject students are invited to follow the relevant bibliographic indications provided in the Microeconomics course.
A basic knowldge of public economics is helpful (see the reference material for useful textbooks)

Program

Main Subjects
- Taxation: impact on investment decisions and labor supply; choice of the tax base.
- Social security: impact on investment decisions and labor supply; pension reforms in an ageing society.
- Public debt: macroeconomic effects, sustainability.
- Imperfect Competition, Market Regulation and Regulatory Reforms; Auctions and Procurement.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Traditional lectures and Excercise classes.
During the course, it will be shown how to simulate economic models in order to assess quantitatively the impact of public policies. For this purpose, Matlab will be used.

Learning assessment procedures

The exam is written and it includes exercises and open questions.
Moreover, candidates are given the opportunity to solve an homework assigned by the istructor during the lectures and\or prepare an essay on a topic assigned by the instructor on a specific issue related to the course.
The homework and the essay assessments will be part of the final evaluation.

Evaluation criteria

This exam will test for: (a) the understanding of the theoretical tools (concepts and formal models) presented in the course, (b) knowledge of the relevant quantitative evidence (c) ability to use theoretical tools and quantitative evidence to critically discuss the impact of government intervention.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The overall grade will result from the sum of the evaluations of the questions presented in the written exam. The weight of the questions will be explicilty indicated.
The homework and\or the essay will substitute for one of the questions in the written exam.

Exam language

Inglese