23-36.35.202 Economics of the Welfare State

Instructors: Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann

Event type: Lecture + practical course

Displayed in timetable as: Econ. Welfare State

Hours per week: 3

Credits: 6,0

Language of instruction: English

Min. | Max. participants: - | -

Comments/contents:
This course uses methods from economics to analyze the welfare state. The focus is on the economic effects of social health insurance, public pensions, and transfer programs to alleviate poverty. We analyze how these institutions affect the insurance and savings decisions and consider how they lead to intra- and intergenerational redistribution. We examine a number of important policy issues, e.g., the design of transfer programs and the consequences of ageing.

Among the topics covered are:
- Theories of society and the welfare state
- Types of welfare states
- Insurance, Savings and the Welfare State
- Low-income support
- Funded vs pay-as-you-go pension systems

The course consists of a lecture and a tutorial. Both asynchronous and synchronous online learning will be employed. We will use OPEN OLAT and ZOOM. Synchronous online learning will take place on selected dates of the official schedule. A timetable will be published at the beginning of the teaching session. and will be taught online.

Requirements:

The course requires a good knowledge of microeconomics. In addition, students should be familiar with regression analysis.


Literature:

The course uses the following textbooks:

Barr, Nicholas (2012). Economics of the Welfare State. 5th ed. Oxford: OUP.

Salanié, Bernard (2011). The Economics of Taxation. 2nd ed. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Additional literature will be announced during the course.


Exam:

At the end of the term, there will be a Take-home exam.

Student contributions in the course work can improve the final grade up to two grade steps (e.g. from 2.7 to 2.0 or 2.3 to 1.7).
 

Additional examination information:
Take Home Exam:

At the end of the term, there will be a Take-Home Exam corresponding to an exam with a duration of 120 min.

1. Exam: The Take-Home Exam will be published on March 2nd, 2021 at 08:30 hrs. It must be submitted by March 9th, 2021, 23:59 hrs. Further information will be provided during the course.
2. Exam: The Take-Home Exam will be published on March 26rd, 2021 at 08:30 hrs. It must be submitted by April 2nd, 2021, 23:59 hrs. Further information will be provided during the course.

Student contributions in the course work can improve the final grade up to two grade steps (e.g. from 2.7 to 2.0 or 2.3 to 1.7).