LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course is aimed at providing the conceptual and methodological basis for analyzing social and welfare policies in contemporary societies with particular attention to the challenges that will arise in the coming decades. The course will explore the theme of poverty, social exclusion and socio-economic inequalities with the aim of identifying the most effective contrast tools and critically evaluating their compatibility with the best use of resources. A particular focus will be dedicated to the following topics: welfare state systems; fiscal federalism; tools for selecting beneficiaries of public policies; local public goods and services, Third Sector.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will develop skills and knowledge in the field of welfare policies and economic evaluation methodologies useful for making decisions compatible with the best use of resources.

The conceptual tools will be provided for understanding and analyzing social policies and solutions to problems capable of reconciling the objectives of universalism, equity and economic sustainability in a context of scarce resources, also through international comparisons of the various welfare state systems.

The fundamental principles of income redistribution and public resource management policies for the provision of social welfare services will be examined.

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

•    understand the main reasons for state intervention in social policies;
•    apply the tools of welfare economics to evaluate the efficiency and fairness of public intervention;
•    analyze and interpret State intervention in specific areas of public spending;
•    understand the principles on which the tax system is based and the implications in terms of income redistribution;
•    assess the effect of taxes and subsidies on the choices of taxpayers and businesses;
•    describe the principles of management and organization of social care services.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and exercises. At least one lecture will be devoted to the debate of a topical issue of particular importance on which students will be asked to confront.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

• Welfare Economics
• The redistributive function of the governement: taxes and services
• Social welfare functions
• Measures of inequality and poverty
• The tax system: progressiveness and redistributive impact
• Public spending programs: assistance, social security, disability
• Selection criteria for recipients of public services (tax return, ISEE)
• Financing of expenditure for services with particular reference to the Municipality and the Region
• Economic evaluation applied to social assistance services

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Lecture notes on Aulaweb
• Bosi P. (a cura di) Corso di scienza delle finanze - Ottava edizione 2019 | il Mulino