Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
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Economic Policy and Public Choice

Lecture with Tutorial in WS 2023/2024

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Neumärker

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Götz Werner Chair of Economic Policy and Constitutional Economic Theory

Note: This page contains outdated information. We will update it soon.


Schedule

Lecture: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Neumärker

Time:Wednesdays, 10:00 – 12:00 c.t.
Room:tba
Start:semester week 1 (1st lecture: Oct. 18th 2023)

Tutorial: Wiebke Kruse

Time:Tuesdays, 14:00 – 16:00 c.t.
Room:tba
Start:semester week 2 (1st tutorial: Oct. 24th 2023)

Supplementary Tutorials:

Sub-Tutorial Mandarin: Tong Wu

Time:Fridays, 16:00 – 18:00 c.t.
Room:tba
Start:tba

Sub-Tutorial English: Tong Wu

Time:Fridays, 14:00 – 16:00 c.t.
Room:tba
Start:tba

Sub-Tutorial German: Dominik Schröder

Time:Fridays, 14:00 – 16:00 c.t.
Room:tba
Start:tba


Target Group and Language:

  • This course is designed for first-year students of the M.Sc. Economics program (economics and politics), the M.Sc. VWL program, and Diplom-Students (Hauptstudium). Exchange students are equally welcome to participate.
  • If students of other programs and faculties (e.g. political science) wish to participate, they should contact the tutor by email before the third week of the semester.
  • Recommended prerequisites: Good knowledge of microeconomics.
  • This module is entirely taught in English.


Credits:

4 ECTS

  • M.Ed. EF: „Theorien des strategischen Verhaltens und der Anreize“. Profile „Fachwissenschaftliche Vertiefung II“

6 ECTS

  • M.Sc. Economics: First-year course for profile „Economics and Politics“.
  • M.Sc. VWL (PO2014): „Wirtschaftspolitik“ and „Constitutional Economics and Competition Policy“.
  • M.Sc. VWL (PO2011): „Wirtschaftspolitik (Ordnungspolitik)“.
  • M.Sc. BWL (Public and Non-Profit Management): „Volkswirtschaftslehre“
  • Diplom VWL: „Wirtschaftspolitik (Ordnungspolitik)“ and „Ordnungs- und Wettbewerbspolitik“.

 
Course outline:

  1. Introduction
  2. Economic problems of economic policy
    1. Economic man and collective action
    2. Allocation and exchange
    3. Distribution and conflict
    4. Liberty and welfare
    5. Implementation and reform
    6. Stability and sustainability
  3. The public choice of economic policy
    1. Rational and behavioral public choice
    2. Positive and normative public choice
  4. Institutions and hierarchies of public choice
    1. Authoritarian policy formation
      1.1 Leviathan governments
      1.2 Autocratic regimes
    2. Democratic organization and voting rules
      2.1 Rational voting and basic voting systems
      2.2 Interest groups, rent-seeking and lobbying
  5. Liberal concepts of economic policy formation
    1. Ordoliberal design and Constitutional political economy
    2. Liberal paternalism
    3. New Ordoliberalism


Downloads & Content

  • Outlines and slides will be provided on this website
  • Literature will be provided on ILIAS
  • Password will be provided in the lecture and tutorial

Lecture:

Syllabus

Lecture Slides

Organizational Matters

Lecture Slides as presentation

Tutorial:

Tutorial 1

Sub-Tutorial:

English / Mandarin:

Sub-Tutorial 1

German:

Sub-Tutorial 1


Readings:

Introductory Textbooks:

  • Hillman, A.L.: Public Finance and Public Policy, 2nd Ed., Cambridge 2009.
  • Mueller, D.C.: Public Choice III, Cambridge 2003.

 Additional readings will be announced in the lecture and tutorial.


Contact:

Have any questions?
Feel free to write an e-mail to wiebke.kruse@gwp.uni-freiburg.de