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Unit of study_

ECOS3011: Public Finance

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Public Finance is about the taxing and spending decisions of governments. The unit covers a wide range of public finance topics. After an introduction to welfare economics and the role of government in the economy, the unit focuses on the revenue side of the budget: tax incidence, efficient and equitable taxation, the Australian system of revenue raising, issues of tax reform and the theory and practice of public utility pricing. It then focuses on the expenditure side of the government budget: public goods, externalities, and programs aimed at redistribution. It also introduces techniques of policy evaluation.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ECOS3011
Academic unit Economics
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
ECOS2001 or ECOS2901
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Kadir Atalay, kadir.atalay@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Kadir Atalay, kadir.atalay@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Michaela Haderer, michaela.haderer@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final exam
Problem Solving, Essay, MCQs
60% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
In-semester test (Open book) Type C in-semester exam Mid-semester test
Problem Solving, Essay, MCQs : Topics to week 6 material.
25% Week 07
Due date: 20 Sep 2021 at 10:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Assignment
Problems & Essay
15% Week 13
Due date: 12 Nov 2021 at 17:00
1500 words equiv
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?
Type C in-semester exam = Type C in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

 

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction and math review Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Tutorial Introduction Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 02 Welfare economics Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 1 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 03 Public goods and externalities Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 2 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 04 Asymmetric information: insurance Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 3 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 05 Intertemporal issues: pensions Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 4 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Commodity Taxation I Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 5 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 09 Commodity Taxation 2 Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 6 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Income Taxation , and Other issues in taxation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 9 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 Inequality , poverty and redistribution Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 10 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 12 Special Topics TBA Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 11 review questions Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 13 Special Topics TBA, Final Exam Review Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Final Exam Review Tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.

  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.

  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

I will use two key texts for this course:
• Harvey S. Rosen and Ted Gayer, 2014. Public Finance. 10th Edition, New York: McGraw Hill
• Jean Hindricks and Gareth D. Myles, 2013. Intermediate Public Economics. 2nd Edition, Cambridge MA: MIT Press

READING LIST IS AVAILABLE IN CANVAS

Rosen and Gayer is an introductory text, and Hindriks and Myles is slightly more advanced text. Both are available from the reserve section of the library  -- I do not require you to purchase these texts

In addition to the core textbooks, we will read some journal articles. All will be available online through the university network: links will be provided with the lecture notes.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. apply economic concepts to examine real world problems from both an individual’s and policymaker’s perspective
  • LO2. demonstrate problem solving skills
  • LO3. critically evaluate the assumptions and limitations of the theories and arguments presented in class
  • LO4. demonstrate written communication skills
  • LO5. employ technologies effectively in gathering information from written, oral, and electronic sources
  • LO6. manage, analyse, evaluate and use information efficiently and effectively.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.