Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired the knowledge, skills and competences to:

• Identify and explain key concepts of Public Economics (e.g. public goods, externalities, tax structures, government expenditures).
• Understand the necessity of government intervention and balance considerations of efficiency and equity.
• Apply economic models and empirical tools to the analysis of public finance issues.
• Analyze tax and expenditure policies within the framework of second-best solutions and modern political economy.
• Use statistical/econometric tools and databases to substantiate critical analyses.
• Critically evaluate theories, policies, and contemporary phenomena in the field of public economics.
• Collaborate effectively in teams, with the ability to operate in an international context.
• Formulate well-argued positions on public finance policies, both in written and oral form.
• Communicate information, ideas, concerns and solutions on issues related to Public Economics to both specialized and non-specialized audiences.
• Develop independent learning skills necessary for further studies in Public Economics (or related fields) with a high degree of autonomy.
• Use technological tools to search for, collect, and process information.

This module examines the theoretical and empirical framework of Public Economics with an emphasis on the role of the state in the economy and the impact of its interventions. It analyzes the reasons and tools of state intervention, such as the provision of public goods, the treatment of externalities, and income redistribution. The basic principles of taxation and public expenditure are presented, along with their effects on economic efficiency and equity. The course covers topics such as the theory of optimal taxation, the analysis of specific tax instruments (e.g., income, consumption, and wealth taxes), social policy spending, pensions, health, and education. It also examines the political economy of fiscal policy and government spending, institutional and fiscal constraints, as well as issues of intergenerational equity and the sustainability of the pension system and public debt. Furthermore, emphasis is placed on the application of statistical and econometric tools for the analysis of public finance data and the correlation of theory with current policies and international experiences.

Indicative topics:

• Public goods
• Externalities
• Political economy
• Government interventions in education
• Health services market
• Social security
• Taxation & income redistribution
• Taxation & efficiency
• Efficient & equitable taxation
• Personal, consumption & wealth taxation
• Size of the state & financing the state through deficits

Lectures and Seminars (3 hours per week)

The assessment language is Greek, and the assessment method consists of a final individual examination (80%) through a process of a Multiple-Choice Questions test, Short Answer Questions, and Problem Solving, as well a series of 13 of weekly Multiple Choice Question tests (20%).

e-class, e-mails