Public Choice

Code:

2ECON32

Acronym:

EscPub

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Economics

Instance: 2020/2021 - 2S

Active?	Yes
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	14	Bologna Syllabus	1	-	7,5	56	202,5

Teaching language

English

Objectives

The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the Public Choice theory on the motivations of public decision-making stakeholders – in particular, politicians, voters, bureaucrats, and interest groups.

Learning outcomes and competences

The student should be able to understand and explain, based on the economic theory methodology, the observed discrepancies between the normative and positive behavior within public decision-makers.

Working method

Presencial

Program

Introduction.

Part 1. Public choice in a direct democracy: voting rules.

Part 2. Public choice in a representative democracy. 2.1 Fiscal federalism. 2.2 Rent seeking. 2.3 Bureaucracy. 2.4 Lobbying. 2.5 Multiparty systems: political regimes, electoral rules, political motivations and political stability. 2.6 Political-economic cycles: opportunistic and partisan.

Part 3. The institutional framework of public choice. 3.1 Fiscal rules and institutions. 3.2 Budgetary procedures. 3.3 Fiscal transparency.

Mandatory literature

Mueller, Dennis C.; Public choice III. ISBN: 0-521-89475-1

Complementary Bibliography

Cullis, John G.; Public finance and public choice. ISBN: 978-0-19-923478-3
Hindriks, Jean; Intermediate public economics. ISBN: 978-0-262-08344-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical presentation of the contents of the course, discussion of scientific papers, applications solving

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	1,50
Estudo autónomo	146,50
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho escrito	12,50
Total:	202,50

Eligibility for exams

Continuous evaluation requires students to attend at least 75% of the lectures.

Calculation formula of final grade

Continuous evaluation: two in-class exams (each one weighting 30%), and a written essay (weighting 40%)

Final exam: a comprehensive exam (100%)

Examinations or Special Assignments

Each one of the written tests/exams may be complemented with an individual oral discussion, if judged necessary.