| CODE | ECN2216 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Economics of Social Policy | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Economics | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit examines the rationale that leads to the evolving intervention by governments in the supply of welfare services in a country. It introduces the economic tools that can be used to derive critical assessments by government agencies in setting up sustainable welfare systems. The economic and demographic realities of a country are seen as important parameters within which decision making has to take place. Study-unit Aims: - Introduce basic analytical concepts regarding public sector budgeting, welfare support programmes and their financing, and cost-benefit analysis; - Apply such concepts/basic models to Maltese situation; - Make students aware of certain limitations in interpreting economic concepts and translating them into real-world parameters that can be usefully applied when drawing up policy measures. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Be in a position to explain the importance of cost-benefit analysis; - Employ economic techniques to monetise non-priced resources; - Demonstrate awareness about the unintended consequences of public policy; - Explain and analyse the multi-dimensional aspect of welfare and socialpolicy; - Analyse human behaviour according to policy setup. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Assess numerically the economic benefits and costs of social projects; - Compile reports that explain the net economic benefit of social projects; - Ability to think beyond the direct impact that arises from public policy; - Influence human behaviour through policy design. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Barr, N. (2004) The Economics of the Welfare State, 4th ed. Oxford University Press. - European Commission (2008) Cost-Benefit Analysis Manual [Available online from the European Union Commission Publications]. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Anna Bonnici |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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