DA_TPF Theory of public finance

University of Finance and Administration
Winter 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: DZk (doctoral examination).
Guaranteed by
doc. Ing. Jan Mertl, Ph.D.
Department of Finance – Departments – University of Finance and Administration
Contact Person: Dita Egertová
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Finance (programme VSFS, D-HPS) (2)
Course objectives
Selected problems of the theory of public finance with a focus on public spending, taxation and fiscal imbalance (deficit and debt). Deepening of knowledge in the field of fiscal and tax policy.
Learning outcomes
After passing the course the student will be able to analyze individual parts of the systema and models of public finance in Czechia or abroad, as a follow-up to different welfare regimes. He/she will be able to write an expert paper e.g. on tax or healthcare reforms, too. The student will have ability to review professionally the government or MPs´ bills from the area of public finance and fiscal policy. We may expect that he/she will be able to design e.g. a Czech tax reform. We expect also the readiness to international scientific co-operation.
Syllabus
  • Public expenditure and social policy. Social models (Welfare regimes)
  • Social assistance. Income tax and social policy. Theory and practice of negative income tax
  • Public spending on pensions. Cicil servants´protection. Conservative pension model. Liberal and neoliberal pension models
  • Social-democratic pension model. Pension reforms in selected countries, the role of the World Bank
  • Public spending on sickness, disability and long-term care, work injury and occupational disease protection
  • Public expenditure on healthcare. Systems of healthcare financing and regulation, reforms in selected countries
  • Public expenditure on family protection. Social housing systems financing. Unemployment protection. Flexicurity
  • Income taxation and consumption taxation, Personal and family income taxation - international trends
  • Value added taxation - concepts and development trends, basic issues
  • Taxation and subsidization of the financial sector
  • Corporate income taxation, self-employeds´ taxation, capital income taxation.
  • Budget deficit and public debt
Literature
    required literature
  • Rosen, H. S., Gayer,T.: Public Finance. 8th edition. McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2007.
  • BARR, N.: Economics of the Welfare State. 5. vydání. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012
  • Holzmann, R. et al. Nonfinancial Defined Contribution Pension Schemes in a Changing Pension World. World Bank, 2012:
  • Averting the Old Age Crisis. Policies to Protect the Old and Promote Growth. A World Bank Policy Research Report. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
  • Mirrlees, J. et al.: Dimensions of Tax Design. The Mirrlees Review. Institute of Fiscal Studies, Oxford University Press, 2010
    recommended literature
  • Vostatek, J.: Penzijní teorie a politika. Praha: C. H. Beck, 2016
  • Vostatek, J.: Sociální a soukromé pojištění. Praha: Codex Bohemia, 2000.
    not specified
  • Vostatek, J.: Czech Monetary and Fiscal Policies: Big Deficits and Challenges ACTA VŠFS, No. 16/2
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
Seminar paper in the range of about 15 pages. Exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
General note: Předmět doktorského studia.
The course is also listed under the following terms Winter 2020, Winter 2021, Winter 2022, Winter 2023, Winter 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.vsfs.cz/course/vsfs/winter2025/DA_TPF