Professor Xavier Jaravel

Dr Joana Naritomi

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 formal pre-requisites, but the course is only available by prior agreement with Executive MPA and Executive MPP Programme Directors if students haven't completed Empirical Methods for Public Policy (PP455E) and Economic Policy Analysis (PP440E) prior to this course.

This is a course in theoretical and applied public economics using intermediate economic theory. Topics include issues of equity and efficiency and alternative theories of the role of the state. Models of public goods and externalities, including environmental policy. Who really pays taxes: issues of tax incidence and tax evasion. Income inequality, poverty alleviation and the role of welfare programmes in theory and in practice. Health and education policy. The effects of taxes and transfers on labour supply and migration; The optimal taxation of commodities and incomes. Current topics in public finance. The main institutional references will be to the UK and the US, but some attention will also be given to broader international experience.

A one-week modular teaching block. This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures delivered in one week.

The default mode of instruction is in-person in the classroom at LSE. Remote attendance is available in case of challenges preventing in-person attendance. 

One mock examination will be offered.

A full reading list will be distributed prior to the beginning of the course.

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

Online assessments take place on the third weekend after the module teaching concludes. Assessed essays are due on the sixth Sunday after module teaching concludes. Further details will be provided at the Executive MPA/ Executive MPP programme inductions.