Public Finances
Öffentliche Finanzen
6 CPSummerENno longer offered
Prerequisites
Mandatory, as written
Follow-up module to 11132 Public Finance. Only one of these both modules can be taken.
Recommended, as written
Some basic knowlegde of Microeconomics is helpful, but not necessary.
Contents
The following issues involving public budgets will be discussed: • Public goods • Externalities • The long-term evolution of public spending • Efficient direct and indirect taxes • Equity issues in taxation • Economic theories of political decision-making • Short- and long-term effects of public debt • Intergovernmental relations in federal systems • Direct versus representative democratic decision making on budgets • Governing local and global commons. For each of these topics, both the theoretical foundations and empirical literature will be discussed in class.
Learning outcomes
After completing this module, students will be able to engage in debates about issues involving fiscal policy (public spending, taxation, public debt) concerning both efficiency and equity of policies. They will be able to analyse public budgets and their economic and political effects.
Assessment
• Mid-term presentation in the tutorial, 15 min. (30%) • Written exam, 45 min. (70%)
Literature (2)
- Arye L. Hillman, Public Finance and Public Policy, 3rd edition, Cambridge University Press, 2019.
- Charles B. Blankart, Öffentliche Finanzen in der Demokratie, 9. Auflage, München: Vahlen, 2017.
Remarks
Follow-up module to the Public Finance module (11132). Both modules cannot be taken at the same time.
Source: BTU's module description · retrieved 17 Oct 2026Original