EC4415 Public Economics

Academic year

2024 to 2025 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.

Availability restrictions

Available to General Degree students with the permission of the Honours Adviser

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

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 will apply microeconomic reasoning to the study of the public sector. It will survey the scope and different modes of public intervention in the economy, with particular emphasis on the welfare state and income redistribution. It will discuss the provision and financing of public and private goods and the design of tax systems.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

PERMISSION OF THE ECONOMICS HONOURS ADVISER

Assessment pattern

2-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework (incl. Class Test 25%) = 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

  • Describe and analyse trade-offs between efficiency and redistribution in market regulation and in tax design
  • Illustrate trade-offs in market regulation and in tax design using precise examples
  • Compare and contrast different welfare state templates and their consequences
  • Relate the static trade-offs to the dynamics of public debt and to issues of sustainability and commitment