IPLUSO 18635

Public Economics

• ApresentaçãoPresentation

  This course unit presents a set of fundamental themes on public economics. Its objective is to equip students with general knowledge of public economics, so that they can acquire skills regarding the role of the State in the economy, particularly concerning the specific situations that justify State intervention in the economy, whether to restore or improve the level of collective well-being, or to analyze the economic functions of the State, namely regarding the efficient allocation of economic resources, income redistribution, and economic stabilization. The State's financial resources, the financing of public expenditure and budgetary balance, as well as the role of representatives of collective choices and their relationship with collective well-being will be topics addressed in this course unit.
• ProgramaProgramme

  1. Introduction to Public Economics and the Role of the State 1.1 Functions of the State. Organization of the Public Sector. The weight of the State in the economy and in the National Accounts 1.2 Theories on the role of the State: Theories on the weight of the State in the Economy 2. Foundations of Public Economics 2.1 Normative Foundations of Public Economics 2.2 Market failures. Public choices and cost-benefit analysis 3. State Budget. Notion of the State Budget and its functions. Budgetary balance and constraint. Public debt 4. Public revenues: taxes, fees and other revenues. Direct and indirect taxes 5. Public expenditures 5.1 Increase in public expenditures: Wagner's Law and Engel's Law 5.2 Indivisible expenditures. Public spending and the welfare state 6. Budget balance. Modes of deficit financing and their effects. Debt interest and fiscal and budgetary policy.
• ObjectivosObjectives

  The objectives of this course unit are, on the one hand, to transmit theoretical knowledge about state intervention in the economy and, on the other hand, to focus on the practices and models of action of the public sector. It is intended that students acquire knowledge about the economic role of the state and about public policies, namely the effects of taxes and public spending, as well as the institutional aspects in budgetary and fiscal matters most relevant in Portugal. The topics of justification for public intervention, policies to correct externalities, provision of public goods, taxation, and models of state organization and financing will be addressed theoretically, in terms of policies, and in terms of results, for a better understanding of state intervention in the Portuguese economy.
• BibliografiaBibliography

  Pereira, Paulo, Afonso, António, Arcanjo, Manuela e Santos, José (2016). Economia e Finanças Públicas. Lisboa: Escolar Editora. Fernandes, Abel (2011). Economia Pública. Lisboa: Edições Sílabo Franco, António Sousa (2015). Finanças Públicas e Direito Financeiro. Coimbra: Almedina. Hindriks, Jean; Gareth D. Myles (2013). Intermediate Public Economics. The MIT Press. Hyman, David N. (2014). Public Finance. A Contemporary Application of Theory to Policy. Cengage: Learning.  
• MetodologiaMethodology

  The teaching methodologies adopted seek to respect the balance between theory and practice in order to guide students to achieve the objectives proposed for the curricular unit. The aim is for knowledge to be acquired through research and critical analysis of the material taught, allowing for a deeper understanding, critical reflection, and an increase in theoretical and conceptual tools for a better comprehension and analysis of the program content.
• LínguaLanguage

  Português
• TipoType

  Semestral
• ECTS

  4
• NaturezaNature

  Mandatory
• EstágioInternship

  Não