Public Finance

Aims of the course

The aim is to provide an introduction to public finance. In particular:
- to present the normative and positive theory of allocation of public goods, public choice theory and results of the theory of optimal taxation
- to present the basic features of the more important taxes: personal income tax, corporate income tax, VAT.
- to present the types of systems of social protection and social insurance
- to present some issues in income inequality and its measurement
- to provide a classification of public finance revenues and expenses, public sector deficit and public debt
- to inform students on the tax harmonization process in the EU

Course syllabus

1. Public provision of social goods.
2. Public choice theory.
3. Optimal taxation.
4. Taxes: personal income tax, value added tax, corporate income tax.
5. Tax harmonisation in the EU.
6. Social protection systems.
7. Income redistribution
8. General government revenues and expenses, public deficit and public debt.

Course director(s)