Public Choice

Code:

2ECON19

Acronym:

TEP

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Economics

Instance: 2015/2016 - 1S

Active?	No
Responsible unit:	Agrupamento Científico de Economia
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Economics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
ME	0	Bologna Syllabus	1	-	7,5	56	202,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The goal of this course is to provide students with the explanation provided by Public Choice Theory on the motivations by politicians, bureaucrats, voters and interest groups when they take or participate in decisions concerning collective matters.

Learning outcomes and competences

A better understanding, based on economic theory methodology, of the observed discrepancies between the normative and positive behaviour of the State.

Working method

Presencial

Program

I. Introduction 1. THe economic functions of the State II. The theories expalining the growth of the State III. Reasons for State intervention and the alternative mechanisms for the market 1. In the scope of the optimal allocation of economic resources 2. In the scope of income redistribution IV. Public Choice Theory 1. The agents of the non-economic markets and their goals 2. The decision to vote: the Downs model 3. The economic regulation, pressure groups and the contributions of i- Olson ii. Stigler iii. Peltzman iv. Becker 4. The Theory of the Bureaucracy ( Bureaucratic economics) V. Public Sector Financing 1. Taxes and other public revenue sources 2. Tax systems 3. Fiscal income concepts 4. Reasons and problems of fiscal deduction 5. Legal and economic tax incidence 6. Taxation and equity 7. Taxation and efficiency 8. Taxation and individual choices VI. State Budget

Mandatory literature

Fernandes, Abel L. Costa; Economia Pública - Eficiência Económica e Teoria das Escolhas Colectivas, 2ª edição, Sílabo, 2011

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoritical presentations of the contents of the course and study cases.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	75,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Trabalho de investigação	2,00
Total:	2,00

Eligibility for exams

Final exam plus a term paper. The term paper can be written by 4 students at the most. The subject for the term paper can be any as long as it pertains to public choice theory.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final mark= 0.75*Final exam+0.25*Grade in the term paper.

Classification improvement

According to the stipulated in the evaluation code.