BPV_APEC Public Economics

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Martin Guzi, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Ing. Robert Jahoda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Dr. Jonathan Stäbler (lecturer)
prof. Mgr. Jiří Špalek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Mgr. Jiří Špalek, 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
Timetable
Thu 14:00–15:50 P106, except Thu 19. 9., except Thu 7. 11.
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
BPV_APEC/01: Thu 16:00–16:50 P312, except Thu 19. 9., except Thu 7. 11., J. Stäbler
BPV_APEC/02: Thu 17:00–17:50 P312, except Thu 19. 9., except Thu 7. 11., J. Stäbler
Prerequisites
(! PVVE Public Economics )
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 48 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 51/48, only registered: 2/48, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/48
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course provides an introduction to Public Economics, focusing on when and how the public sector intervenes in the private sector, along with the rationales behind these interventions. We begin by exploring market efficiency and market failures to assess the need for public sector involvement. Next, we study specific interventions, such as the provision of public goods, the mitigation of market externalities, and other public expenditures. After the midterm, we examine the reasons for taxation by the public sector and its impact on individuals and firms. The course concludes with two guest lectures on public sector topics. The lecture is accompanied by a seminar, which requires students to present an academic paper related to the topics covered in class in small groups. Additionally, all students are expected to have read each paper being presented.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will:
* understand the rationales for public sector interventions;
* know how such interventions affect economic behavior;
* be able to use critical and analytical thinking, and economic tools in the evaluation of public sector activities;
* be able to critically read, understand, and present academic articles on topics related to public economics;
* learn to work and communicate in a group.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Market efficiency
  • 3. Market failures
  • 4. Public goods and publicly provided private goods
  • 5. Externalities
  • 6. Public expenditures
  • 7. Midterm
  • 8. Taxation
  • 9. Economics of incentives (Lecturer: Martin Guzi)
  • 10. Guest lecture (TBA)
  • 11. Final exam
Literature
    required literature
  • STIGLITZ, Joseph E. Economics of the public sector. 3rd ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2000, xxiii, 823. ISBN 0393966518. info
    recommended literature
  • MANKIW, N. Gregory. Principles of economics. Ninth edition. Boston: Cengage, 2021, xxxi, 816. ISBN 9780357038314. info
  • VARIAN, Hal R. Intermediate microeconomics : a modern approach. 8. ed. New York: Norton, 2010, xxiv, 739. ISBN 9780393934243. info
Teaching methods
lectures, assigned readings, seminars, group presentations
Assessment methods
The final grade for the course is a combination of three grade items: (i) seminar presentation (20% of the grade), (ii) written mid-term exam (30% of the grade), and (iii) written final exam (50 % of the grade). Students can collect up to 100 points and have to gain at least 40 points to pass the course. Important information! If students commit a prohibited act, such as using various forbidden tools, cribbing, taking out any part of the exam or any other cheating, the instructor is allowed to interrupt an exam and to grade a student with F, FF or FFF according to the seriousness of the offence. The mentioned procedure relates to all the activities that contribute to the final evaluation of the course. Termination of the course during an ERASMUS/other study stay In case the student enrolls in the course at the time of their departure abroad, they must contact the course guarantor/instructor and agree with them on the conditions of passing the course.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: This course is offered only to foreign students
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/autumn2024/BPV_APEC