Economics: Public Economics and the Welfare State

This course explores how governments shape economic outcomes through taxation, public spending and welfare-state institutions. You learn to understand how governments evolve and grow. We analyse policy from both a normative perspective (what governments should do) and a positive perspective (how policies shape economic incentives and influence behavior).

By combining economic theory and empirical methods, you get a comprehensive understanding of how welfare states balance efficiency, equity and individual freedom. A central theme is the interaction between markets and the state: when public intervention can improve outcomes, and when it might create inefficiencies. We also highlight the challenges of designing sustainable welfare systems in open and aging economies. Specific attention is given to welfare state reform and so-called quasi-markets, where governments pay private firms to provide welfare services.

Course syllabus

The syllabus contains the formal and legal details of the entire course. It’s a legal document outlining the course structure and requirements, intended mainly for administrative use.

Course literature

The course literature listed may be updated up to eight weeks before the course begins.

Through lectures, discussions and applied exercises, you learn to evaluate the effects of taxation, social insurance, pensions, education and redistribution using both theoretical frameworks and real-world evidence. 

The backbone of the course is a series of lectures, some of which are given by guest teachers that provide specific expertise. In addition, you  do exercises throughout the course and write an essay that is presented and discussed at a seminar. The course is concluded with a written examination.

Entry requirements

At least 20 ECTS-credits from the introductory course in economics, of which at least 7.5 ECTS-credits in microeconomics are needed for admission to all intermediate courses in economics.

Selection criteria

Seats are allocated according to the following: The general average (GPA) of your higher secondary school leaving certificate: 34 %, The Swedish national university aptitude test: 34 %, number of previous ECTS at the application deadline (up to 165): 32 %.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 16,250
First payment: SEK 16,250

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.