Public finance (2015/2016)

Learning outcomes

The course covers the main topics related to the motivation and the organization of the public sector intervention in modern economies. It mainly consists of three parts: 1. Motivation and organization of public sector intervention; 2. Main expenditure programmes; 3. Main taxation programmes: theory and implementation in modern economies.

Syllabus

Part I:
-Market failures.
-Decentralization: theory and the implementation in Italy

Part II:
-Social security: pensions, health care, poverty and unemployment insurance
-Pension systems: the rationale for public intervention; characteristics of different pensions systems; pension reforms in Italy since the 1990s.

Part III:
-Alternative financing tools: taxes and debt;
-General principles of taxation: equity and efficiency considerations;
-What characterizes taxes: tax bases and tax rates;
-The economic impact of taxation
-The main characteristics of the Italian tax system: personal income tax, corporate taxation, taxation of returns on capital, indirect taxes, local taxes.
-Taxation in open economies.


Main textbook:
- Harvey S. Rosen e Ted Gayer (2010): Scienza delle Finanze. McGraw-Hill (quarta edizione).


Further reading (suggested for selected topics):
Paolo Bosi (2012): Corso di scienza delle finanze (6a edizione). Il Mulino.

Additional resources may be made available on the e-learning site during the course.

Assessment methods and criteria

The exam is split into two parts:
- a preliminary multiple choice test (weight: 1/3)
- a written exam with exercises and theoretical questions (weight: 2/3)
Admission to the second part is conditioned on the achievement of a minimum score in the first part (14/30).

The exam may (optionally) be split into two parts: the first will be scheduled during the course, with questions of topics covered until that point; the second, scheduled for the same date date as the whole entire exam, with questions on the remaining part of the programme. The weight of the two parts in determining the final grade is the same.

STUDENT MODULE EVALUATION - 2015/2016