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Regular version of the site

Public Economics

2020/2021
Academic Year
ENG
Instruction in English
4
ECTS credits
Course type:
Elective course
When:
1 year, 4 module

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is structured into two parts. The first part of the course (called Public Expenditures) explores how governments spend public money. This part provides rationales for government intervention in the market, including public goods and spatial aspects of their provision (local public goods). This leads us to a discussion of local government and fiscal federalism. The second part of the course (called Public Finance) explores how governments raise public money. We will begin by considering the optimal commodity and income taxation, moving then into a discussion of tax evasion and avoidance that coherent to practical tax administration. We will also explore efficiency costs of taxation and tax incidence.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Study on the role of the government in the economy, on the mechanisms and outcomes of government intervention
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Students should acquire an understanding of the principles and methods of analyzing various government programs such as taxes and transfers as well as their effects on economic agents
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Public goods
  • Club goods and local public goods
  • Intergovernmental relations: Fiscal federalism; Decentralization
  • Tax burden and tax incidence
  • Optimal commodity taxation
  • Optimal income taxation
  • Tax evasion and avoidance
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Individual homework assignment
  • non-blocking Problem set
  • non-blocking Written examination
    The duration of the final exam is two academic hours. The exam is conducted in writing using LMS (“Tests”). You must connect to the exam 5 minutes before the start. Student's computer must meet the requirements: (https://elearning.hse.ru/data/2020/05/07/1544135594/Технические%20требования%20к%20ПК%20студента.pdf ) During the exam, students are prohibited from: communicating (on social networks, with people in the room), writing off. A short-term communication disruption during the exam is considered interruption of communication up to 5 minutes. A long-term communication disorder during an exam is considered to be a communication interruption of 5 minutes or more. In case of a long-term communication disruption, the student cannot continue to participate in the exam. The transfer procedure is similar to the surrender procedure.
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (4 module)
    0.3 * Individual homework assignment + 0.2 * Problem set + 0.5 * Written examination
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Hindriks, J., & Myles, G. D. (2013). Intermediate Public Economics (Vol. Second edition). Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=564828

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Anthony B. Atkinson, & Joseph E. Stiglitz. (2015). Lectures on Public Economics Updated edition. Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.b.pup.pbooks.10493