This course is an introduction to public economics. The objective is to provide a theoretical framework for concepts in public economics and to link the theory to real-world applications in public policy analysis. The focus will be on the development of analytical tools for policy evaluation.
The course will start with an introduction of the discipline of public economics, and welfare and distributional analysis. This is followed by an examination of the traditional rationale for public intervention through an in-depth treatment of different types of market failures and how public intervention can mitigate them. The concepts seen during these sessions will then be applied to the analysis and evaluation of public interventions in health, education, and welfare. The course will conclude with the economic analysis of tax incidence and optimal taxation.
By the end of the course, students should be able to understand the main issues underlying the contemporary economic policy themes examined in this course and the basic empirical methods used in public policy evaluation.
Julia MINK,Benjamin FOUCOIN,Mathieu LUINAUD,Thomas BOURLEAUD
Cours magistral et conférences
English
In addition to attending lectures, students are expected to complete the required readings in preparation for the practical classes and to actively participate in these classes.
A detailed syllabus will be provided during the introductory session, together with references to the required and suggested readings.
There are no formal prerequisites for this class. However, students should be able to do basic arithmetic calculations and interpret tables and graphs.
Autumn 2021-2022
The course will be evaluated based on coursework (65%) and a final exam (35%). The coursework includes an in-class group presentation, short written answers to class discussion questions and participation in class. The final exam will contain short exercises and short essay questions.
In addition to the 12 lecture classes, students are required to participate in 6 practical classes.
The recommended textbook for the course is Jonathan Gruber Public Finance and Public Policy