EC426 Option Meeting

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EC426 Option Meeting 29 September 2011
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EC426 MSc Public Economics 2011/12

• Frank Cowell
• Jonathan Leape
• Henrik Kleven
• Tony Atkinson

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Aims 1

• To give you an appreciation of analytical methods
  in Public economics
• Economic methods for
• the study of the public sector
• the role of the State in principle
• the role of the State in practice
• the role of economic policy

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Aims 2

• To provide a thorough grounding in principles of
  Public Economics
• Economic principles underlying
• tax and social security design
• provision of goods in the public sector
• tax enforcement
• the effective design of economic institutions.

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Aims 3

• To enable you to understand the practical
  problems of Public economics
• Focus on problems
• in applying analytical methods
• in implementing economic principles
• in assessing the impact of state intervention

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Intended learning outcomes 1

• By the end of the course you should be able to
• Discuss critically the major papers in the
  literature on public economics and policy
• Present a coherent argument orally and in writing
  on topics in public economics
• Use methods of independent research to prepare a
  short dissertation

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Intended learning outcomes 2

• To apply economic analysis to key economic policy
  problems
• To appreciate key debates in thinking about
  contemporary economic policy problems.
• To have the background training necessary to
  function as an economic policy analyst

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Components of the course

• Michaelmas term core public economics
• Role of public economics
• Market failure
• Redistribution
• Principles of design applied to
• Tax
• Social security
• Public goods
• Microeconomic analysis of policy
• Individuals
• Companies
• Lent term issues in public economics
• Classes

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Michaelmas term lectures
Core public economics Frank Cowell and Jonathan
Leape

1. Welfare analysis of state intervention
2. Equity, social welfare and taxation
3. Policy design social insurance
4. Policy design income taxation
5. Commodity taxation
6. Public goods
7. Externalities and environmental policy
8. Taxation and companies
9. International issues in taxation
10. Behavioural public economics

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Lent term lectures
Issues in Public Economics Henrik Kleven, Frank
Cowell and Tony Atkinson

1. Taxes, transfers, and labour supply
2. Incomes and behavioural responses at the top of
   the distribution
3. Optimal low-income support
4. Wealth distribution and taxation
5. Poverty, inequality and redistribution
6. Tax compliance
7. Who pays taxes? General equilibrium tax
   incidence
8. Can welfare states compete in a global economy?
9. Global public finance and the funding of the MDGs
10. A global deal on climate change and development?

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Who does what?

• Michaelmas term
• Lectures 1-5 Frank Cowell
• Lectures 6-10 Jonathan Leape
• Classes Sarah Sandford
• Lent term
• Lectures 11-13 Henrik Kleven
• Lectures 14-16 Frank Cowell
• Lectures 16-20 Tony Atkinson
• Classes Matthew Skellern

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Your role

• Classes
• These start in week 3
• In the second term you prepare presentations and
  short talks
• Essential part of preparation for the final exam.
• The extended essay
• Wide range of possible topics
• Trains you in dissertation writing

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Examinations

• The examination has two components
• A three hour unseen paper
• An extended essay (dissertation)
• Each component carries equal weight
• Format and regulations for each component on the
  web site.

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Some features

• Connection with STICERD Research Programme
• Regular Taxation Seminars
• http//fmg.lse.ac.uk/events/
• Web materials
• Economics Website http//econ.lse.ac.uk/
• Electronic Library http//www.blpes.lse.ac.uk/e-l
  ib/
• Website for this course darp.lse.ac.uk/EC426/