Dr Joachim Wehner

Dr Paolo de Renzio

This course is available on the Executive Master of Public Administration and Executive Master of Public Policy. This course is not available as an outside option.

There are no pre-requisites, but recommended advance reading is given below.

The course examines contemporary issues in fiscal governance and public budgeting in OECD countries and elsewhere. The focus is on executive and legislative actors and the institutional structures within which they make budgetary choices. Following an introduction to theoretical approaches to the study of budgeting, topics include medium-term frameworks, top-down budgeting, fiscal rules and fiscal councils, performance budgeting, legislative budgeting, fiscal decentralisation, budget transparency, audit and accountability.

A one-week modular teaching block.This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures delivered in one week. This year, some or all of this teaching may be delivered through a combination of virtual classes and lectures delivered as online videos.

One mock examination opportunity will be provided.

Fiscal Governance in Europe by Mark Hallerberg, Rolf Strauch and Jürgen von Hagen (Cambridge University Press, 2009) introduces an important theoretical approach and is a good reference for several topics. The OECD Journal on Budgeting http://www.oecd.org/gov/budget/journal discusses current issues in applied budgeting. A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course.

Essay (50%, 2000 words) and online assessment (50%).

Please note that online assessments take place on the third Friday after module teaching concludes. Essays are due on the sixth Sunday after module teaching concludes. Further details will be provided at the Executive MPA/ Executive MPP programme inductions.

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.