EC4415 Public Economics

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

When confirmed, check online https://timetables.st-andrews.ac.uk/.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr L Bridet

Dr L Bridet
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Luc Bridet

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module applies microeconomic reasoning and models to the government sector, with particular emphasis on government interventions such as price controls, taxation, welfare transfers and income redistribution. Applications can include incentives for reducing carbon emissions, the design of tax systems, the design of income and wealth taxation as conceptualised by an efficiency-redistribution trade-off.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF THE ECONOMICS HONOURS ADVISER

Assessment pattern

Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

2-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

20 hours of lectures over 11 weeks, 1-hour tutorial (x 5 weeks).

Scheduled learning hours

25

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

175

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Characterise the impact of government interventions on economic efficiency and on the distribution of surplus between economic actors
  • Use the core concepts of Public Economics to discuss empirical applications such as carbon offsets, the window tax, rent control, minimal legal drinking age
  • Describe and analyse trade-offs between efficiency and redistribution in market regulation and in tax design
  • Contrast Normative Welfare Economics with Political Economy perspectives on government intervention in specific applications, using concepts such as concentrated benefits, lobbying, barriers to entry, commitment, rule of law, political cycles, strategic use of debt