Syllabus

Title
2332 Field Course: Public Finance and Public Policy
Instructors
Dr. Simon Loretz, Univ.Prof. Dr. Martin Halla
Type
PI
Weekly hours
3
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
09/17/24 to 09/22/24
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Master Programs
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Monday 10/07/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D4.0.133
Monday 10/14/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Monday 10/21/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D2.0.374
Monday 11/04/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Monday 11/11/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Monday 11/18/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Monday 11/25/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Monday 12/02/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Monday 12/09/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Monday 12/16/24 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D3.0.222
Wednesday 01/08/25 11:00 AM - 02:00 PM D2.0.326
Wednesday 01/15/25 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM D5.0.002
Contents

This course aims to attract students with an interest for further specialization in the field of public economics.We learn more about important theoretical and empirical concepts used in modern public economics. Emphasis is placed on topics such as economics of value added tax (VAT and pass-through of VAT changes, tax evasion, personal income taxation (including recent policy reforms in Austria and the commuting tax allowance), corporate income tax (including developments in the international corporate tax reform debate),  redistribution through the government, health insurance.

Learning outcomes

Participants acquire advanced knowledge of modern public economics, together with relevant policy issues currently on the political agenda. In addition, they gain an understanding of the way in which economic analysis using these concepts and models can provide insight into the related policy debates. Successful completion should provide the background necessary to understand current public policy debates as well as more advanced research topics in public economics, with a view to completing a thesis in the field.

Attendance requirements

Students are expected to attend the course (max. 2 absences).

Teaching/learning method(s)
  • Attend the course/lectures
  • Read selected text book chapters and research articles
  • Group discussion in class
  • Present and discuss research articles
  • Homework assignments
Assessment

Students are expected to read assigned readings and attend the course. Grades for the course will be based on:

  • 40% Classroom presentations (slides & oral)
  • 20% Homework assignment
  • 40% Final exam

The grading scale is as follows:

  • Unsatisfactory: x < 60%
  • Sufficient: 60%  <  x < 70%
  • Satisfactory: 70% <  x < 80%
  • Good:  80% < x < 90%
  • Excellent:  90% < x <  100%
Readings

Please log in with your WU account to use all functionalities of read!t. For off-campus access to our licensed electronic resources, remember to activate your VPN connection connection. In case you encounter any technical problems or have questions regarding read!t, please feel free to contact the library at readinglists@wu.ac.at.

Recommended previous knowledge and skills

Prior attendance of the course "Public Economics" (Applied Track) is of advantage.

Last edited: 2024-05-02



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