Public Finance

Module description

Summary:

This module is about fundamental questions in the economics of the public sector: how should decisions be made about whether particular tasks should be undertaken by the public sector or the private sector? It therefore deals with public goods, policies with respect to external effects and so on. The course then develops the criteria by which a tax or possible tax reform can be assessed and applies them to the development of tax policy.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

The broad scope of this module means internationalisation is embedded in the course content with examples being drawn from different countries as well as an analysis of the tax and public expenditure implications of globalization.

Sustainability

Sustainability is included in the issues involved, for example in the analysis of corrective taxation such as pollution taxes.

Employability

Employability will be enhanced by the development of analytical skills.

Research in Teaching

The module draws on Simon James’ extensive research in the area with a range of his publications on the reading list, including his textbook (with Christopher Nobes), The Economics of Taxation: Principles, Policy and Practice (15th edition 2015), A Dictionary of Taxation, second edition, 2012, viii + 299 pages, Edward Elgar Publishers, Cheltenham and Northampton, Massachusetts and (edited) The Complexity of Tax Simplification: Experiences from around the World, Palgrave Macmillan (2016) and Taxation, Critical Perspectives on the World Economy, Routledge, London and New York, Four volumes, 2002, xi + 1,696 pages.

Full module specification

Module aims

The aim of this module is to reinforce students’ ability to undertake economic analysis and to apply it to a whole range of policy issues relating to the public sector. By the end of the module students will be able to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of various forms of public sector activity and assess particular suggestions for improvement. On the revenue side, the module aims to enable individuals to analyse particular taxes and proposed tax reforms in terms of efficiency and equity and other criteria as appropriate.

ILO: Module-specific skills

• 1. demonstrate a contextual appreciation of the role of the public sector
• 2. demonstrate an understanding and ability to analyse important issues in public expenditure
• 3. demonstrate an understanding and ability to analyse important issues in taxation
• 4. demonstrate an understanding of the principles, policy and practice relating to major taxes

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

• 5. deal with issues of public finance using both theoretical and empirical contributions

ILO: Personal and key skills

• 6. analyse critically issues in both theoretical and practical contexts
• 7. develop written communication skills

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Syllabus plan

• The Role of the Public Sector
• Principles of Taxation
• Issues of Public Expenditure
• Taxation Policy and Practice

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

J. Cullis and P. Jones, (2009) Public Finance and Public Choice, 3rd ed. Oxford University Press

S. James and C. Nobes (2016), The Economics of Taxation: Principles, Policy and Policy, 16th ed., Birmingham: Fiscal Publications.

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Origin date

01/09/1976

Last revision date

17/10/2018