Economics of Policy Issues
Module Code: EC306C
Module Title: Economics of Policy Issues
- ECTS Weighting: 5
- Semester/Term Taught: Hilary Term
- Contact Hours: 22 hours of lectures and 4 hours of tutorials
- Module Personnel: Lecturer - Professor Michael King
Module Learning Aims
Hilary Term:
Lectures will focus on the challenges inherent in the pursuit of social justice and will analyse entitlements such as health care and old age pensions. Discussion of voting behaviour and the impact of forms of government and electoral rules on redistribution will be followed by an examination of issues related to optimal taxation. The module concludes with a discussion of public funding and a more philosophical discussion on the overall need for government in society.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Understand the consequences of various forms of voting systems
- Articulate the dynamics of social welfare economics within the modern economy
- Discuss the attributes of various forms of welfare entitlements
- Understand the concept of optimal taxation for labour and capital taxes
Module Content
Hilary Term:
- Social justice and insurance. Moral Hazard and social justice without government.
- Voting rules and political competition. The impact of voting on income redistribution.
- The attributes and consequences of entitlements. Old age and health care entitlements.
- The choice of taxation. Optimal taxation and alternative tax bases.
- The growth of government and competing views on the need for government.
Recommended Reading List
The core book is Arye L. Hillman, Public Finance and Public Policy: Responsibilities and Limitations of Government (2nd Edition) Cambridge University Press 2009 and it is advised that you order this now through any bookshop.
Assessment Details
10% examination in Week 8, HT, 10% will be a group assessment and a final exam worth 80 per cent
Module Website
Blackboard