Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
↪ FRIBIS - Freiburg Institute for Basic Income Studies ↪ FRIBIS

Economic Policy and Public Choice

Lecture with Tutorial in WS 2024/2025

Prof. Dr. Bernhard Neumärker

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


Schedule

Lecture: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Neumärker

Time:Mi 10:00 – 12:00 c.t.
Room:Kollegiengebäude I, HS 1016
Start:semester week 2: 23.10.2024

Tutorial: Marcel Franke

Time:Di 14:00 – 16:00 c.t.
Room:Kollegiengebäude I, HS 1228
Start:semester week 3: 29.10.2024

Supplementary Tutorials:

Sub-Tutorial English: Adrian Binner

Time:Fr 14:00 – 16:00 c.t
Room:Max-Kade-Auditorium 2
Start:semester week 4: 08.11.2024

Sub-Tutorial German: Adrian Binner

Time:12:00 – 14:00 c.t.
Room:Kollegiengebäude I, HS 1019
Start:semester week 4: 08.11.2024


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

Organizational matters

Slides Part 1-4

Tutorial:

Available on Ilias.

Sub-Tutorial:

English:

Available on Ilias.

German:

Available on Ilias.


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.