Learning objectives
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Knowledge of the economic aspects of public administration is now a part of the essential professional education of the social services student. This six-month course, specifically aimed at these students, offers the theoretical-institutional knowledge and tools necessary to understand the operation of the public sector, its administration and the problems connected with public intervention. Particular attention is dedicated to efficiency, and to the economic and institutional analysis of spending and taxes. The course is not of a technical nature and draws on and provides all the useful elements of economics for a full understanding of all the topics.
Course unit content
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1. INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC FINANCE <br />
Public sector economics and economic system; welfare economics; poverty, inequality and redistribution; financial equilibrium models and public administration; public budgets and public intervention (assessment methods and cost-benefit analysis). <br />
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2. THEORY OF PUBLIC GOODS <br />
Externalities, mixed public needs, merit goods, public factors; public intervention reasons and limits; public intervention, game theory and information; policies in favour of the poorest and families and effects on poverty. <br />
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3. PUBLIC SPENDING <br />
Growth of spending and crisis of the welfare state; economic and institutional analysis of the social security, care, health and education sectors and a mention of the other sectors; monopoly, oligopoly and public enterprises; privatization, liberalization and deregulation. <br />
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4. THE TAXATION SYSTEM <br />
Distribution principles (benefit, sacrifice, capacity); the taxation system (efficiency and equity); erosion, avoidance, evasion and assessment; shifting; incidence; distribution; concepts of income and wealth (capital gains); personal income tax, company income tax, capital gains tax.
Bibliography
The reference text is P. Vagliasindi EFFETTI REDISTRIBUTIVI DELL?INTERVENTO PUBBLICO. Giappichelli Editore, 2004. Information on other texts will be given during the lectures. Notes, lecture notes and other informative material on the exam will be made available during the course from the web page.
Teaching methods
The lectures cover the entire content of the course and contain exercises; individual assistance is provided during reception.
