MPV_VFEU Public Finance in CR and EU

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/2/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Ing. Eduard Bakoš, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Ing. Petra Dvořáková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Ing. Robert Jahoda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Markéta Páleníková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Ing. Robert Jahoda, Ph.D.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: PhDr. Ing. Pavla Hradecká
Supplier department: Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 5/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the master degree course in public finances is particularly to:

1) Understand the basic principles of public finances. Students will gain a deeper understanding of why and how the state intervenes in selected areas of the economy and which components of the public sector are responsible for implementing public policies. At the same time, they will understand the financing of these policies, particularly the interdependence of public expenditure and revenue.

2) Master the basics of financial analysis. Students will become familiar with the basic tools of analyzing budgets and financial management of selected PA institutions. They will be able to assess their financial health based on available financial data and indicators.

3) Understand the legislative and regulatory framework. Students will become acquainted with selected legal and regulatory frameworks related to public finances, and the knowledge gained will be applicable in practice.

4) Be able to propose and argue for changes. Students will be able to propose and argue for selected changes in public policies and will be able to assess their impact on the balance of public finances (and in a broader context, assess the impact of proposed changes on other areas such as economic growth, competitiveness, environmental protection, etc.). When arguing for policy changes, they will learn to select or propose indicators to assess the impact of public policy changes.

5) Strengthen critical thinking skills. Students will be able to evaluate the conflicting goals of public policies in a balanced way. This concerns, in particular, the impact of policies on the efficiency of measures versus (social) justice or the financial impact of alternative policy settings on different social groups.

6) Improve communication and collaboration skills. Students will enhance their communication skills and ability to collaborate with other students to complete assigned tasks.

The knowledge acquired in this course creates a basic theoretical and methodological basis for understanding the subsequent subjects of bachelor's or master's studies."
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
- explain the basic ideas of public finance theory,
- describe the system of public budgets and their individual components,
- interpret the budgetary process,
- identify various types of public expenditures and revenues,
- understand fund financing,
- compare models of fiscal federalism,
- consider the importance of regional and municipal budgets,
- summarize the role of the EU budget and European funds.
Syllabus
  • The course content is divided into two basic blocks. The first block (more in the first half of the semester) explains the basic form of public finance and deals with the basic components of public expenditures and revenues, including the system of rules for managing public finances. The second block (especially in the second half of the semester) deals with specific aspects of public finance - particularly fiscal imbalances, and fiscal federalism. The course concludes with the issue of public control.

    In the spring semester of 2023, the following structure of topics covered (lectures with seminars) is being considered:
  • 1) Introduction to the study of public finance
  • 2) Public expenditures
  • 3) Expenditures of the social assistance and insurance systems
  • 4) Financing the pension system
  • 5) Budgetary system and rules
  • 6) Tax policy
  • 7) Reading week
  • 8) Direct taxes (and their administration)
  • 9) Fiscal imbalance I
  • 10) Fiscal imbalance II
  • 11) Fiscal federalism
  • 12) Indirect taxes (and their administration)
  • 13) Public control - guest lectures
Literature
    required literature
  • HAMERNÍKOVÁ, Bojka and Alena MAAYTOVÁ. Veřejné finance. 2., aktualiz. vyd. Praha: Wolters Kluwer Česká republika, 2010, 340 s. ISBN 9788073574970. info
  • HAMERNÍKOVÁ, Bojka. Veřejné finance : vybrané problémy. Vydání první. Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2017, 162 stran. ISBN 9788075525772. info
    recommended literature
  • PROVAZNÍKOVÁ, Romana. Financování měst, obcí a regionů : teorie a praxe. 2. aktualiz. a rozš. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2009, 304 s. ISBN 9788024727899. URL info
  • KITCHEN, Harry, Melville MCMILLAN and Anwar SHAH. Local public finance and economics : an international perspective. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019, xvi, 517. ISBN 9783030219857. info
    not specified
  • PEKOVÁ, Jitka. Finance územní samosprávy : teorie a praxe v ČR. Praha: Wolters Kluwer Česká republika, 2011, 587 s. ISBN 9788073576141. info
  • PEKOVÁ, Jitka. Veřejné finance : teorie a praxe v ČR. Vyd. 1. Praha: Wolters Kluwer Česká republika, 2011, 642 s. ISBN 9788073576981. info
Teaching methods
The course takes the form of both lectures and seminars. There are explained basic thesis of public finance topics within lectures, which are further discussed during seminars. Presentation of students' homework is a part of each seminar. Students focus on the particular issue, which they classify, evaluate and demonstrate possible solutions with usage of a practical example. Contact the subject guarantor in case you plan to study abroad (Erasmus+). In this case, the following options are offered: (1) enroll and complete a similar course at a foreign university or (2) complete the course at MU within the combined form of study or (3) enroll the course a year later. The details are covered by the interactive outline.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with an oral exam. Students are eligible to take the oral exam provided that they fulfill given conditions. Student is obliged to collect at least 60 % of points from the continuous evaluation in seminars. The continuous evaluation is based on two written tests and the elaboration and presentation of a seminar paper on a given topic. The teacher can award students with “bonus” points if they are active during the seminars. Not gaining the required minimum of points is considered as a failure to prepare continuously. It does not mean that students can re-take the “failed” tests or the seminar paper either. Students are graded with an F in such a case.
Detailed information concerning the seminar paper and the tests is available in the interactive syllabi of the course in the IS MU.
Any copying, recording or leaking tests, use of unauthorized tools, aids and communication devices, or other disruptions of objectivity of exams (credit tests) will be considered non-compliance with the conditions for course completion as well as a severe violation of the study rules. Consequently, the teacher will finish the exam (credit test) by awarding grade "F" in the Information System, and the Dean will initiate disciplinary proceedings that may result in study termination. The mentioned procedure relates to all the activities that are included in the final evaluation of the course (seminar work, essays, tests etc.).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
General note: Přednášky jsou dostupné online a ze záznamu.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/spring2025/MPV_VFEU