Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
---|---|---|---|
2500262 Sociology | OT | 4 | 0 |
It is highly advisable to have passed the Political Economy 1st year course.
The purpose of the course is to analyze and appraise a variety of social policies (social security, health, education and poverty.) The course provides an overview of the main problems of public policy facing European and OECD countries. The course is organized in three parts. The first one reviews some basic concepts in public economics. The second one is devoted to analyze the above-mentioned social policies. The third one will mainly be covered by presentations by students.
1. Introduction and review of some foundations of microeconomics.
Consumer theory. Producer theory. Efficiency of competitive markets. The two fundamental theorems of Welfare Economics.
2. The case for public intervention
Efficiency and equity. Market failure: imperfect competition, public goods, externalities, incomplete markets, imperfect information, unemployment and inflation. Redistribution and merit goods. Poverty and inequality.
3. Social expenditure
An overview of social expenditure in Spain and the OECD countries. Justifying the need for social expenditure: interpersonal and intergenerational redistribution of income. Effects of ageing population.
4. Income maintenance programs
Guaranteed minimum income programs. Non-contributory pension benefits. Unemployment insurance.
5. The social security pension system
The case for a public pension system. Designing of a pension system: pay-as-you-go financing versus fully funding. Equity in a contributory social security system. The demographic problem: the old-age dependency ratio.
6. Health economics
Rationales for public financing, public provision and regulation of health services markets. Imperfect information, externalities, demand uncertainty, equity and health.
7. Education economics
Characteristics of the market for education services: capital markets imperfections, imperfect information, externalities. Equity in education: equality of opportunity versus free choice. Education programs: goals and instruments.
Lectures will be combined with seminars and presentations by students.
Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|
Type: Directed | |||
Lectures | 23 | 0.92 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
Oral presentations and seminars | 15 | 0.6 | 18, 17, 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 19, 16 |
Type: Supervised | |||
Tutorials | 30 | 1.2 | 18, 17, 7, 12, 14, 16 |
Type: Autonomous | |||
Study and information collection | 71 | 2.84 | 18, 17, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 |
Evaluation of the course will comprise of four activities: two case studies (with weighs 15% the first one and 25% the second one) and two theoretical exams (with weighs 30% each). The dates of the evaluation activities will be announced well in advance.
In case plagiarism is detected, the grade assigned to the activity will be 0.
In order to pass the subject, students must participate in all the activities, and they need to get a grade of 5.0 or above.
According to the article 112.3 of the UAB Academic Regulations, those students who fail the subject can retake it in a unique exam, in the date scheduled by the Faculty, if they have participated at least in 2/3 of the avaluation activities obtaining a grade of 3.5 or above.
In accordance with article 117.2 of the UAB Academic Regulations, the evaluation of those students who have been enroled before may consist of a single synthesis examination. The students who wish to be evaluated this way should contact the professor at the beginning of the semester.
Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Discussion and oral presentations | 40% | 8 | 0.32 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 |
Written exams | 60% | 3 | 0.12 | 18, 17, 1, 3, 4, 6, 11, 19, 15 |
Projecte CORE, La Economía, e-libro abierto: https://www.core-econ.org/project/la-economia/
Rosen, H.S. and Gayer, T. (2014), Public Finance, McGraw Hill:
Stiglitz, J.E. (1995), La Economía del Sector Público, 2nd ed, Barcelona: Ed. Bosch.
Specific materials will be announced along the school year by the instructor.