Örebro University School of Business

Course Syllabus

General aims for second cycle education

Second-cycle courses and study programmes shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, competence and skills in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall
- further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge
- develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
- develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work.

(Higher Education Act, Chapter 1, Section 9)

Knowledge and understanding

On successful completion of the course, students are expected to
- demonstrate broad knowledge of public economics within the main areas discussed on the course
- demonstrate a deeper understanding of the benefits and limitations of Pareto efficiency and welfare economic analysis.

Competence and skills

On successful completion of the course, students are expected to
- demonstrate deeper skills in theoretically analyzing different forms of market failure as well as possibilities and limitations for the social planner to correct for these
- demonstrate deeper ability to analyze and discuss the social planner's possibilities and limitations related to commodity and income taxation
- demonstrate an ability to autonomously and critically relate to current theoretical and empirical research within the areas discussed on the course and a deeper ability to do so within a specified area, all with respect to social relevance, underlying assumptions and definitions.

Judgement and approach

On successful completion of the course, students are expected to
- demonstrate an ability to with a scientific approach discuss research questions within the field of public economics.

The course covers the following topics

- Efficiency and welfare economics
- Market failure, such as public goods and club goods
- Commodity and income taxation
- A deeper analysis within one of the following topics: Issues in international taxation and capital income taxation; Economics of climate policy; Equity and distribution; Political economy.

Teaching takes the form of lectures, workshops and seminar.

Students who have been admitted to and registered on a course have the right to receive tuition and/or supervision for the duration of the time period specified for the particular course to which they were accepted (see, the university's admission regulations (in Swedish)). After that, the right to receive tuition and/or supervision expires.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 6, Section 18, a grade is to be awarded on the completion of a course, unless otherwise prescribed by the university. The university may prescribe which grading system shall apply. The grade is to be determined by a teacher specifically appointed by the university (an examiner).

According to regulations on grading systems for first- and second-cycle education (vice-chancellor's decision 2010-10-19, reg. no. CF 12-540/2010), one of the following grades is to be used: fail, pass, or pass with distinction. The vice-chancellor or a person appointed by the vice-chancellor may decide on exceptions from this provision for a specific course, if there are special reasons.

Grades used on course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).

Grades
Grades used on the course are Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).
To obtain the final grade Pass (G), the student must receive the grade Pass (G) on the written examination and the written report. To obtain the final grade Pass with Distinction (VG), the student must receive a Pass with Distinction on both the examination and the written report.

For further information, see the university's local examination regulations (in Swedish).

First-cycle courses of 75 credits in Economics including an independent project of 15 credits. In addition, successful completion of the course "English B/English 6" from the Swedish Upper Secondary School or equivalent is required.

For further information, see the university's admission regulations (in Swedish).

Students who have previously completed higher education or other activities are, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, entitled to have these credited towards the current programme, providing that the previous studies or activities meet certain criteria.

For further information, see the university's local credit transfer regulations (in Swedish).

The course will be given in English.


Reading List and Other Teaching Materials

Required Reading

På kursen kommer utöver huvudboken även ett antal artiklar och annat skriftligt material att behandlas. Denna ytterligare obligatoriska litteratur specificeras i för kursen utarbetade anvisningar.

In addition to the main text book, papers and other material will be covered during the course. A list of this additional compulsory literature is specified further in the instructions compiled for the course.

See this Course Syllabus as PDF