6 ECTS credits
151 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 4005233FNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Applied economics
Educational team
Bruno Heyndels (course titular)
Activities and contact hours

10 contact hours Lecture
6 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
135 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

Public choice uses the economic method to analyse political behaviour. Government and individual citizens' behaviour are analysed using a single methodological framework (methodological individualism).  The course provides insight in political decision making, but it also enables economics students to better grasp well-known economic concepts by applying them in a 'different' setting.  Three themes are considered. First, the question why government is necessary and what functions it has to perform is addressed. Second, political decision making is analysed within the context of direct democracies. Finally, political choices in representative democracies are analysed.

Paper on public choice (theme changes yearly - paper is presented in class),

For example:

Students write a review of the empirical literature on a subject from a list provided at the beginning of the semester.  Two sub-papers are requested: a first discussing a 'classic' article in the literature, a second reviewing the empirical literature following this classic article.

Students make an empirical study on tax choice.  More precisely, they investigate determinants of local governments (in Flanders) to raise taxes to the local property tax (rather than through other sources of taxation).

Course material
Handbook (Recommended) : Public Choice III, Mueller, Dennis, 3de, Cambridge University press., 9780521894753, 2009
Digital course material (Required) : Public Choice, Heyndels, Bruno, Canvas, 2014
Additional info

Articles & books needed for the paper are to be selected and collected by the students.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

  • Learn to use (micro-)economics to analyse real-world political issues
  • Learn basic competences for writing scientific papers

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 30% of the final mark.
Practical Exam determines 70% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Oral Exam with a relative weight of 30 which comprises 30% of the final mark.

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Paper with a relative weight of 70 which comprises 70% of the final mark.

    Note: Paper to be handed in not later than the first day of the 'Blokweek'. Paper has to be handed in both in printed form and electronically.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Preliminary versions of paper can be handed in at any time (preliminary versions can not be handed in in the last two weeks before the deadline for submission).

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Political Science: Democracy and Leadership (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Business Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Business Economics: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)