23-36.35.202 Economics of the Welfare State

Course offering details
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).
Small group(s)

This course is divided into the following small groups:

  • Economics of the Welfare State - Tutorial

    Benedicta Victoria Maria Hermanns

    Tue, 10. Nov. 2020 [12:00]-Tue, 16. Feb. 2021 [13:30]

    Show small group
Class session overview
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Instructors
Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
Appointments
Date From To Room Instructors Appointments
1
Date Tue, 3. Nov. 2020
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
2
Date Tue, 10. Nov. 2020
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
3
Date Tue, 17. Nov. 2020
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
4
Date Tue, 24. Nov. 2020
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
5
Date Tue, 1. Dec. 2020
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
6
Date Tue, 8. Dec. 2020
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
7
Date Tue, 15. Dec. 2020
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
8
Date Tue, 5. Jan. 2021
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
9
Date Tue, 12. Jan. 2021
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
10
Date Tue, 19. Jan. 2021
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
11
Date Tue, 26. Jan. 2021
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
12
Date Tue, 2. Feb. 2021
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
13
Date Tue, 9. Feb. 2021
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
14
Date Tue, 16. Feb. 2021
To 10:15
To 11:45
Room Digital
Instructors Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann
Exams in context of modules
Module(start semester)/ Course Requirement combination Exam Date Instructors Compulsory pass
22-3.E35 Economics of the Welfare State (WiSe 19/20) / 22-3.e35 Economics of the Welfare State Written or oral examination 1 Take-home exam Tue, 2. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
2 Take-home exam Fri, 26. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
22-3.E35 Economics of the Welfare State (WiSe 20/21) / 22-3.e35 Economics of the Welfare State Written or oral examination 1 Take-home exam Tue, 2. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
2 Take-home exam Fri, 26. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
22-3.E35 Economics of the Welfare State (WiSe 17/18) / 22-3.e35 Economics of the Welfare State Written or oral examination 5 Take-home exam Tue, 2. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
6 Take-home exam Fri, 26. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
22-3.E35 Economics of the Welfare State (WiSe 18/19) / 22-3.e35 Economics of the Welfare State Written or oral examination 3 Take-home exam Tue, 2. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
4 Take-home exam Fri, 26. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
HEHCM_HE2 Module Economics of the Welfare State (WiSe 14/15) / HEHCM_HE2 Economics of the Welfare State Written Exam 11 Take-home exam Tue, 2. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
12 Take-home exam Fri, 26. Mar. 2021, 08:30 - 10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
Course specific exams
Description Date Instructors Mandatory
1. Take-home exam Tue, 2. Mar. 2021 08:30-10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes
2. Take-home exam Fri, 26. Mar. 2021 08:30-10:30 Prof. Dr. Mathias Kifmann Yes