GV4E4
Public Budgeting and Financial Management
This information is for the 2016/17 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Joachim Wehner CON4.10
Availability
This course is available on the MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (LSE and Tokyo), MPA in European Public and Economic Policy, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy and MPA in Public and Social Policy. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Course content
The course examines contemporary issues in public budgeting and financial management, and how they interface with public management drawing on comparative experience in OECD countries and elsewhere. Topics include: theories of budgeting; time horizons in budgeting; legal frameworks; fiscal rules; top-down budgeting; legislative budgeting; fiscal decentralisation; performance budgeting; budget transparency; budget reform; special issues in developing countries; accounting and auditing in the public sector; parliamentary scrutiny of audit findings.
Teaching
15 hours of lectures and 13 hours and 30 minutes of seminars in the MT. 15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT. 3 hours of lectures in the ST.
Formative coursework
Students will be expected to produce 1 essay in the MT and 1 essay in the LT.
Indicative reading
A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course. Relevant items include: M Hallerberg, R Strauch and J von Hagen (2009), Fiscal Governance in Europe, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press; M Cangiano, T Curristine and M Lazare, Eds (2013), Public Financial Management and Its Emerging Architecture, Washington, DC, International Monetary Fund.
Assessment
Exam (65%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 3000 words) and other (10%) in the LT.
Consists of three parts: (i) an unseen three-hour written examination in ST (65%); (ii) a coursework essay of up to 3,000 words, due in the first week after the end of LT (25%); (iii) two application exercises, carried out in groups, together account for 10%.
Student performance results
(2012/13 - 2014/15 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| Distinction | 6.4 |
| Merit | 54.1 |
| Pass | 33.9 |
| Fail | 5.5 |
Key facts
Department: Government
Total students 2015/16: 26
Average class size 2015/16: 13
Controlled access 2015/16: Yes
Lecture capture used 2015/16: Yes (MT & LT)
Value: One Unit
