OVERVIEW

The course covers the theoretical, empirical and institutional aspects of public finance of the different levels of government (supranational institutions, state, regions and local authorities)

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of the course is to provide knowledge of the following topics: Fiscal federalism. Economic theory of fiscal decentralization. The financing of decentralized entities. Intergovernmental transfers. Schemes of equalization transfers. The financing of decentralized entities in Italy.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

 Teaching activities allow the student to:

- acquire knowledge in the field of public finance of local authorities

- understand the role and functioning of local public bodies

- know the spending and revenue competences of regions and local authorities

- know the functioning of the European budget, its sources of financing and expenditure

- get tools for funding and using public and private resources

- get cost-benefit analysis tools and methods

- get tools for measuring the quality of public services

- get project finance and public-private partnership (PPP) tools

- get calculation tools of standard cost and expenditure and of tax capacity of local authorities

- get knowledge on sources of European funding

- get tools for reporting of European funding

- get tools for assessing the performance of local authorities

 Moreover, teaching activities allow the student to get skills on:

- innovation in the financing of services of local authorities

- evaluation of public investments

- evaluation of the quality of services

- project finance and PPP proposal for the improvement of services

- estimate and simulation of standard cost and expenditure for public functions

- selection of calls for European funding

- euro-planning accounting management

- reporting on European funding projects

- assessment of the performance of local authorities

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of public economics is recommended to effectively address the teaching content

TEACHING METHODS

The training activity is divided into lectures, interactive teaching, guided study, practical exercises and seminar activities. For attending students the learning assessment includes a written test and an oral exam at the end of the course.

The lessons are face-to-face and, "in accordance with the rules for access to university premises adopted to counter the spread of the COVID pandemic, the lessons can possibly be carried out on TEAMS. The TEAMS code will eventually be communicated via aulaweb

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

A) Institutional part:
- Fiscal federalism
- Assignment of responsibilities between the different levels of government
- The financing of decentralized bodies
- Intergovernmental transfers
- Equalization
- Coordination and fiscal discipline
- Institutional assets and financing of decentralized entities in Italy
B) Seminar part:
Insights on current topics of regional and local finance.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For non-attending students:
S. Piperno, La finanza decentrata in Italia, ed. Il Mulino, Bologna
AA.VV, La finanza territoriale. Rapporto 2018, Rubbettino

For attending students:
texts and readings will be reported during lessons

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

LUCA GANDULLIA (President)

ENRICO DI BELLA

LUCIA LEPORATTI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 10, 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam with written exercises

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For students attending the learning assessment includes two written tests during the course and an oral exam at the end of the course. The two written tests refer to different parts of the course program.
For non-attending students the verification consists only of the oral exam.
Questions about the contents of the program and graphic exercises
The Examining Board is designated by the Department Council (DISPO) and chaired by the course professor.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with special educational needs, disabilities and SLDs are invited to contact the Department contact person (Prof. Aristide Canepa) and the teachers to agree on teaching and exam methods that take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory instruments. In respect of privacy, students must never send their certificates to individual teachers.