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Public Choice

Public Choice

Code	16302
Year	1
Semester	S2
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	TP(30H)
Scientific area	Economics
Entry requirements	Does not have.
Learning outcomes	The main learning outcomes will be: • Understand the motivations of public decision-makers: politicians, voters, bureaucrats, and interest groups • Identify the most relevant institutional variables and social actors to understand public choices • Acquire knowledge about the main theories of public policy analysis • Know the different methods of public policy evaluation • Choose the methodology best suited to each case • Understand the fundamentals and particularities of the socio-economic evaluation of public policies.
Syllabus	1. Public choice in a direct democracy 1.1 Introduction to the study of public policies and choice 1.2 Periodization of public policies 1.3 The classes and the political dimension of choice 2. Public choice in a representative democracy. 2.1 Fiscal federalism. 2.2 Rent seeking 2.3 Bureaucracy 2.4 Lobbying 2.5 Multiparty systems: political regimes, electoral rules, political motivations and political stability. 2.6 Political-economic cycles: opportunistic and partisan. 3. The institutional framework of public choice 3.1 Accountability, transparency and corruption. 3.2 Fiscal rules 3.3 Budgetary procedures. 4. Evaluation of public policies 4.1 Private and public perspective of policy evaluation 4.2 Economic valuation of costs and benefits 4.3 Risk and uncertainty 4.4 Income distribution
Main Bibliography	Hay, Colin, Michael Lister e David Marsh (2006), The State ? theories and issues. Hampshire: Harguindéguy (2013), Jean-Baptiste, Análisis de Políticas Públicas, 1 ed., Madrid: Tecnos Palgrav Hill, Michael (2009), The Public Policy Process. London: Peason Longman (5th edition) Mueller, Dennis C. (2004), Public choice III, Cambridge Univeristy Press (ISBN: 0-521-89475-1) Roger D. Congleton, Bernard N. Grofman, and Stefan Voigt (?), The Oxford Handbook of Public Choice, Volume 1, Oxford Handbooks Sabatier, Paul A. (2007) (ed.), Theories of the Policy Process. Colorado: Westview Cullis, John G., (2009), Public finance and public choice, 3rd ed. Rev, Oxford University Press (ISBN: 978-0-19-923478-3) Hindriks, Jean, (2006), Intermediate public economics, The IMT Press (ISBN: 978-0-262-08344-7)
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria	The teaching-learning methodology involves theoretical-practical classes, tutorials, research work and oral presentations that allow the assessment of students' knowledge stage. The final grade is obtained by the weighted average of 10% on the classroom teacher's notes on the students' intervention during the classes, presentation and discussion of a research paper with a weight of 40% and a written test (frequency) with a weight of 50% in the arithmetic average of the final result.
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.