Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description

CODE ECN3041

 
TITLE Public Sector Economics 1: The Theory of Taxation

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Economics

 
DESCRIPTION Objectives:

The study unit evaluates the role of the state in an economy and evaluates various theories of taxation at the microeconomic and macroeconomic level. These theories are applied in the context of Maltese tax experience in the past twenty years.
The topics covered include the following:

Indicative list of topics to be covered:
An evaluation of the economic arguments for state intervention in an economy
Taxation: incidence, shifting and neutrality
Macroeconomic relationships: tax revenue, tax rates and tax bases
Taxes on Income, Expenditure and Capital.

Reading List:

- Richard A Musgrave and Peggy B. Musgrave, Public Finance in Theory and Practice, Macmillan.
- Anthony B. Atkinson and Joseph E.Stiglitz, Lectures on Public Economics, McGraw Hill International Edition
- E. P. Delia, Taxation: An Evaluation Malta Chamber of Commerce, 1981.
- E. P. Delia, The Outcome of Fiscal Policy: An Assessment Malta Chamber of Commerce 1983
- E. P. Delia, The Task Ahead: Dimensions, Ideologies and Policies COPE, 1987.

Journal articles will be indicated during the course.

 
RULES/CONDITIONS Before TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE ECN2051 AND TAKE ECN2071

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment Yes 20%
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 80%

 
LECTURER/S Stephanie Vella

 

 
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Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.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 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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