Syllabus

Title
2056 Public Economics (Applied Track)
Instructors
Univ.Prof. Dr. Martin Halla
Contact details
Type
PI
Weekly hours
2
Language of instruction
Englisch
Registration
10/02/25 to 10/02/25
Registration via LPIS
Notes to the course
Subject(s) Master Programs
Dates
Day Date Time Room
Tuesday 10/07/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.21
Tuesday 10/14/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.01
Tuesday 10/21/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.21
Tuesday 11/04/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.01
Tuesday 11/11/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.21
Tuesday 11/18/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.21
Tuesday 11/25/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.21
Tuesday 12/02/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.01
Tuesday 12/09/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.21
Tuesday 12/16/25 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.01
Tuesday 01/13/26 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM TC.3.05
Tuesday 01/20/26 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM D4.0.250
Contents

This is a course on public economics at the master level. We learn important theoretical and empirical concepts used in modern public economics. Emphasis is placed on topics such as education, social insurance, retirement schemes, unemployment insurance, health demand, health supply, welfare programs, intergenerational mobility, and taxation/redistribution   

Learning outcomes

Students will develop critical reading skills and knowledge to interpret, evaluate, and critique research articles in public economics. They will also present and discuss such articles. This will help them develop presentation skills. In addition, this course helps students to understand and participate in public policy debates. Another aspect of this course is to find a possible research topic and question for a master's thesis.

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:

  • Homework assignments (20%);
  • Classroom presentation and article report (30%);
  • Final exam (50%).

Passing requirement: To pass the course, students must achieve at least $50\%$ of the final exam points in addition to meeting the overall grading criteria.

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

This course is designed for graduate students with prior training in microeconomics, public economics (undergraduate level), and econometrics. Ideally, students are be familiar with the instrumental variables (IV) approach, the difference-in-differences (DiD) estimator, and regression discontinuity designs (RDD).

Availability of lecturer(s)

please register via e-mail

Other

We would like to point out that the attendance in the 1. unit of this course is absolutely necessary.

In case you cannot attend the 1. unit of this course please contact the course instructors in advance. 

Last edited: 2025-10-07



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