Important notice
The course guide is provisional.
The PDF version of the course guide may take a few days to become available in the DDD.
Public Policies for Sustainable Growth and Social Welfare
Code: 45542Credits: 10
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Economics and Business Administration | OP | 1 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Guadalupe Souto Nieves
- Email :
- guadalupe.souto@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Emilio Padilla Rosa
- Caterina Muratori
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
Fundamentals of Economics and Business I
Fundamentals of Economics and Business II
Objectives
Environmental Economics and Policies
This course aims to review the economic analysis of the main environmental problems as well as the different environmental policy tools; To understand the relationship between economic, social and ecological systems; And to study the analytical tools of ecological economics. To analyse the main current debates in the field.
Health Economics and Policies
This course consists of the analysis of the issues related to the delivery and financing of health services. The course explores the basic topics of demand and supply for health and health care along with the basics of market structure in the health care sector. Finally, a basic analysis of how to analyse the performance of the sector.
Social Protection Policies
The aim of this course is to assess the existence and design of the welfare state, by learning the economic theory of the state intervention in order to improve citizens’ wellbeing and the different programs aimed at that end. Analysing the current organization of the welfare state in different countries, and challenges and responses in a changing world.
Learning outcomes
- (CA12) Assess the role and influence of development, environment and health policies on social welfare and sustainability.
- (CA13) Analyse the characteristics and effects of the monetary and fiscal policies of governments in a context of increasing globalisation, complexity and economic integration.
- (CA14) Offer information effectively about government economic policies to audiences with and without prior knowledge of economic analysis.
- (CA15) Assess the role of governments and their growth, environment and social protection policies on the wellbeing of families.
- (KA15) Recognise the functioning of public policy in the field of energy, with special consideration of their environmental impact aspects.
- (KA16) Identify the determinants of economic growth and development in relation to social welfare and sustainability.
- (KA17) Identify the fundamental elements of public policies related to the family and migratory movements in a context of increasing globalization and social complexity.
- (KA18) List the relevant factors for the design and implementation of public policies in the field of health, with special emphasis on their efficiency and equity.
- (KA19) Identify the main variables of the fiscal and financial policies of states in a context of decreasing globalisation, complexity and economic integration.
- (KA20) Identify the main public policy on social protection from the point of view of efficiency and social equity.
- (SA09) Analyse the processes of designing public policies aimed at sustainable growth and development, and the wellbeing of families.
Contents
Environmental Economics and Policies
- The economic analysis of the environment and ecological economics. The relationship between the economy and the environment. The economy and environmental problems.
- Markets operation and environmental degradation. Justifications for public intervention with environmental policies. Microeconomic analysis of pollution.
- Different conceptions of sustainable development and their applications.
- Economic appraisal of environmental policies. Valuation problems.
- Economic analysis of the environment and future generations. Ethics and ecological economics.
- Environmental policy tools: environmental taxes, tradable permits and others.
- The relationship between economic growth, environmental quality, and environmental policies.
- Global environmental problems: Economics and policy of climate change.
Health Economics and Policies
- Introduction
- Demand for health
- Health inequalities
- Health behaviors
- Theory of addiction and the opioid crisis
- Economic consequences of health behaviors
- Policies to regulate health behaviors
- Demand for health care services
- Insurance
- Access to services
- Propensity to risk and demand for insurance
- Adverse selection
- Supply of health
- Market for physicians' services
- Discrimination by physicians
- Hospitals
- Frontiers in Health Economics
Social Protection Policies
- Political Theory: social justice and the public sector.
- Economic Theory: efficiency, equity and insurance.
- Measuring welfare, poverty and inequality.
- The economic lifecycle and the need for intertemporal redistribution: the National Transfer Accounts and National Time Transfer Accounts.
- Welfare state programs: Cash benefits and in-kind benefits.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study, Reading, Exercise solving, Essays writing, | 79.5 | 3.18 | |
| Type: Guided | |||
| Lectures with ITC support | 37.5 | 1.5 | |
| Resolution of exercises | 37.5 | 1.5 | |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Tutoring and monitoring work in progress. In-class presentations | 62.5 | 2.5 |
The activities that will allow the students to learn the basic concepts included in this course are:
1. Theory lectures where the instructor will explain the main concepts.
The goal of this activity is to introduce the basic notions and guide the student learning
2. Problem Sets
In some subjects, a problem set which students will have to solve individually or in teams will be included in every unit. The goal of this activity is twofold. On one hand students will work with the theoretical concepts explained in the classroom, and on the other hand through this practice they will develop the necessary skills for problem solving.
3. Practice lectures
The aim of this activity is to comment on and solve any possible doubt that students mayhave had solving the problem assignment. This way they will be able to understand and correct any errors they may have had during this process.
4. Essay writing
In some subjects students will produce written essays on the topics proposed
5. Tutoring hours
Students will have some tutor hours in which the subject instructors will help them solve any doubts they may have.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercises and essays | 35% | 27 | 1.08 | CA12, CA13, CA14, CA15, KA15, KA16, KA17, KA18, KA19, KA20, SA09 |
| Topic Exam: Environmental Economics and Policies | 21.66% | 2 | 0.08 | CA12, CA14, CA15, KA15, KA16, SA09 |
| Topic Exam: Health Economics and Policies | 21.66% | 2 | 0.08 | CA12, CA14, KA16, KA18 |
| Topic exam: Social Protection Policies | 21.66% | 2 | 0.08 | CA12, CA14, CA15, KA16, KA17, KA20, SA09 |
1. The module consists of a number of different subjects or parts taught by different professors. The final mark for the module will consist of the average of the marks of each subject within the module.
- The module is considered successfully passed if:
- the mark for each subject within the module is higher than or equal to 3.0 (in a 0 to 10 scale), and
- the final mark for the module is higher than or equal to 5.0 (in a 0 to 10 scale).
IMPORTANT: Students are expected to attend all lectures. Class attendance and in-class participation will be part of the final assessment of each subject.
- If the module is not successfully passed with a mark between 3.5 and 4.8, the MEBA coordinators will ask the student to retake the exams for those subjects that, according to the coordinators' and professors' opinions, may help the student to successfully pass the module. If after the re-take exams the student successfully passes the module, her or his mark for that module will be upgraded accordingly; otherwise, the previous grade will remain valid. Two restrictions apply for the results after retaking. Two restrictions apply for the results after retaking:
- the highest mark for any subject retaken is 5.5; and
- the final grade of the module after the re-take exams cannot be higher than 6.8.
The calendar for the re-retake exams will be announced along with the grades report.
2. The mark – entre 0 i 10 – for each subject will be computed by each professor based on his or her own criteria and on the student's performance. As a general rule, the following assessment scheme is applied:
- Class participation: 0%-15%
- Submission of reports, assignments and/or exercises: 15%-30%
- Oral presentation and/or defense of reports and assignments: 0%-10%
- Individual written examinations: 50%-60%
These percentages, as well as the duration and nature of individual written examinations are determined by each professor.
Bibliography
General References
Common, M., Stagl, S. (2005). Ecological Economics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Padilla Rosa, E., Ramos-Martín, J. (Eds.) (2023) Elgar Encyclopedia of Ecological Economics, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, and Northampton, Massachusetts.
Pearce, D.W., Turner R.K. (1990) Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment. Harvester Wheatsheaf, London.
Sloan, F.A., Hsieh, C. R (2012). Health Economics. MIT Press. (1st. edition). 2012.
Olsen, J.A (2009). Principles in health economics and policy. Oxford University Press (1st edition). 2009.
Barr, N. (2020). The Economics of the Welfare State. Oxford University Press (6th Edition).
Emgster, D. (2015). Justice, Care and the Welfare State. Oxford University Press
Gruber, J. (2007). Public Finance and Public Policy. Worth Publishers, Second Edition.
Silvestre, J. (2012). Public Economics. Efficiency and Equity in Public Policy. Edward Elgar.
Bhattacharya J., Hyde T., and Tu P. (2014) Health Economics, Palgrave Macmillan
Specific references
Specific references for each topic will be distributed by professors throughout the course.
Software
No
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TEm) Theory (master) | 30 | English | second semester | morning-mixed |