Courses Bachelor Display 2020-2021

Course Description To PDF
Course title Public Economics
Course code EBC2012
ECTS credits 6,5
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
2 26-10-2020 11-12-2020 X X
Level Intermediate
Coordinator Max Löffler
For more information: m.loeffler@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
The goals of this course are to (i) acquire a structured insight into the important role of the state in modern market economies, (ii) learn about the functioning and performance of the state and its interactions with markets, and (iii) understand and critically reflect upon recent developments and discussions concerning issues of the public sector like inequality, taxation, or climate protection.
Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) USED IN THIS COURSE IS WITH RESERVATION. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE IS BASED ON THE COURSE SETUP PRIOR TO THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE CRISIS, COURSE COORDINATORS MAY BE FORCED TO CHANGE THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS USED. THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING/ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS.

Public economics is the study of the role of government in the economy. It involves answering the following four broad questions: When should the government intervene in the economy? How might the government intervene? What is the effect of those interventions on economic outcomes? Why do governments choose to intervene in the way that they do? The topics include (i) taxation, redistribution, inequality, poverty, and fairness, (ii) market failures such as incomplete information, public goods, and externalities, as well as (iii) political decision-making and elections. These topics will be analyzed from a normative (welfare economic) as well as from a positive (explanatory) perspective, with emphasis on the relevance and limitation of traditional economic theory.
Literature
Textbook: Jean Hindriks and Gareth D. Myles (2013), Intermediate Public Economics, second edition, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Prerequisites
Students who enroll in this course should have knowledge and understanding of mathematics and microeconomics (in particular game theory, industrial organization, general equilibrium theory), at a level comparable to the second year economics course microeconomics. Exchange students need economics as a major and an advanced level of English to enroll in this course.
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Lecture
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Participation / Written Exam / Presentation
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - Economics Year 2 Compulsory Course(s)
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - Emerging Markets Year 2 Elective Course(s)
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - Emerging Markets Year 3 Elective Course(s)
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - Economics and Management of Information Year 2+3 Elective Course(s)
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Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - International Business Economics Year 3 Economics Elec(s) - Maj Finance
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Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - International Business Economics Year 3 Economics Elec(s) - Maj Org
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - International Business Economics Year 3 Economics Elec(s) - Maj SCM
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics - International Business Economics Year 3 Economics Elec(s) - Maj Strategy
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