This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2024-2025 (archived)

Module ECON3191: PUBLIC ECONOMICS

Department: Economics

ECON3191: PUBLIC ECONOMICS

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	20	Not available in 2024/2025		Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

Microeconomics (ECON2021) OR Economic Theory (ECON2291)

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To develop knowledge and analytical skills in public economics, by building on the second-year microeconomics module.

Content

theoretical and practical issues in taxation and public expenditure;
second-best problems regarding taxation and public expenditure, and their applications;
political economy aspects of public economics, including the effects of government policy on, e.g., economic performance, distribution and welfare;
the normative theory of government policy, e.g., evaluation of tax systems on the basis of efficiency, redistribution, and correction of market imperfections.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

At the end of the module the students should:
understand the effects of different tax instruments and their use in practice.
have obtained a good understanding of second-best analysis.
understand the political dimension of government and public policy.

Subject-specific Skills

be able to formulate and evaluate optimal taxation - and public expenditure problems.
be able to apply second-best analysis to practical problems.

Key Skills

Written communication - through summative assessment.
Planning, organisation and time management - e.g. by preparing for examinations.
Problem solving and analysis - e.g. by applying the necessary analytical and quantitative skills, as well as the ability to manipulate concepts in public economics, in undertaking assessed work.
Using initiative
Numeracy

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching is by lectures, seminars and support for student-centred learning. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminars and private study (including student-centred learning). Formative assessment is by means of an assignment. Summative assessment is by means of a written examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	20	1 per week	1 hour	20
Revision Lectures	2	1 per week	1 hour	2
Seminars	8	Fortnightly	1 hour	8	Yes
Preparation and Reading				170
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Examination	100%	One in-person written examination	2 hours	100%	Same

Formative Assessment

One written piece of work to prepare students for the summative exam.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.