ESF:BPV_TRPS Reforms in the Public Sector - Course Information

BPV_TRPS Reforms in the Public Sector

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

doc. Ing. Robert Jahoda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Eduard Bakoš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Ing. Petra Dvořáková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Guzi, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Filip Hrůza, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. JUDr. Ivan Malý, CSc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

Ing. Eduard Bakoš, Ph.D.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Jana Biskupová
Supplier department: Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 24 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/24, only registered: 5/24, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 5/24

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

This course has a predominantly application character and it is designed mainly for foreign students. The content of the course is formed by three interconnected blocks and introduces students to the process of the Czech Republic’s public sector reforms. In the first block, the range of reforms in the Czech Republic will be introduced to the students and the reform process will be characterized on the level of the central government. The second block describes the process of fiscal decentralization, and in the third block, students will get more familiar with the reforms of selected public sector segments.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should be able to:
- understand the historical context of the reform
- explain and interpret all its particular steps and their influence on the current situation (and issues) of the public sector
- asses pros and cons of selected reforms (and their alternatives) and apply this knowledge to a discussion of the current reforms,
- compare the Czech Republic example with reforms of public sector from other European countries.

Syllabus

• 1.Introduction to Public sector Reforms
• 2.Fiscal Policy
• 3.Public Administration Reform
• 4. Fiscal imbalance problem and Public Budgets Reforms
• 5. Tax Policy Reform
• 6. Fiscal Decentralisation
• 7. Social policy Reform
• 8. Labor Market Discrimination and Anonymous Job Applications
• 9. Applying Behavioral Economics to the Public Sector
• 10.The Many Dimensions of Poverty and a Living Wage
• 11.Setting the Minimum Wage
• 12.Higher Education Reform

Literature

recommended literature
• ULBRICH, Holley H. Public finance in theory and practice. Second edition. London: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2011, xviii, 365. ISBN 9780415585972. info

not specified
• HINRICHS, Karl. Recent pension reforms in Europe: More challenges, new directions. An overview. SOCIAL POLICY & ADMINISTRATION. HOBOKEN: WILEY, 2021, vol. 55, No 3, p. 409-422. ISSN 0144-5596. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/spol.12712. info
• European perspectives for public administration : the way forward. Edited by Geert Bouckaert - Werner Jann. Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2020, 465 stran. ISBN 9789462702035. info
• POLLITT, Christopher and Geert BOUCKAERT. Public management reform : a comparative analysis - into the age of austerity. Fourth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017, ix, 388. ISBN 9780198795186. info
• HYMAN, David N. Public finance : a contemporary application of theory to policy. 11e. Stanford: Cengage Learning, 2014, xvi, 698. ISBN 9781285173955. info

Teaching methods

Lectures are supported by lecturer's presentations, class discussions, presentations of seminar works given by students, additional reading for self-study and self-correcting tests.

Assessment methods

The final grade is based on written semminar work (40%) and exam performance (60%). Students are encouraged to participate in every lecture and actively contribute to class discussions on presented topics. Students are expected to prepare continuously for lectures particularly by studying recommended materials. Every student shall prepare a presentation that includes a comparison of the selected features of public sector policy (or public institution) in the Czech Republic with the situation in your country of origin (or country of your choice). Student shall select a very specific issue, policy or institutional design of the public sector (e.g. family support benefits and childcare; health care system; education system; social housing policy; fiscal decentralization; tax reform; tax credits; self-employment; working time arrangements; ect). The theme of presentation should be related to topics discussed during semester. The submission of presentation is due one day before the date of presenation. The presenation shall have approximately 10 slides. To receive full points students shall clearly formulate similarities and differences of selected public policy between two countries. Possible social impacts are discussed and arguments are supported with findings from literature. Presentation shall include all references and sources cited in the text. Students are encouraged to work with publications published by OECD, IMF, Eurostat or WorldBank. The use of public information like Wikipedia shall be limited. The presentation shall have a simple structure, include section headlines, show figures in tables, and include graphics when appropriate. Final exam is organized in the last week of semester and will take approximately one hour. The only way to pass the exam is to attend the class on exam date. The exam will include multiple choice questions from topics covered during semester. Cheating will not be tolerated and student will be ordered to leave the exam room on any sign of cheating with zero points awarded from exam.
Grades are based on student’s overall score:
A more than 91%
B 81 – 90%
C 71 – 80%
D 61 – 70%
E 55 – 60% F less than 55%

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: every week.
General note: The course will be taught assuming enrollment of 15 students or more.
Credit evaluation note: k=1.

• Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  
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