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Managing Public Finances

Module Description

The module provides an introduction to the management of public finances. As governments face both increasing financial pressure and growing demands for their services, it is vital for all students of public administration and management to understand both the context and management of public money.

The aims of the module are to examine the academic theory, policy and practice that related to the management of public finances. The module combines an examination of both the economic perspective and rationale for government spending together with a financial management perspective on issues such as resources allocation, accountability and value for money.

The module will reflect an international context by examining the policies of a range of countries as well as a critical consideration of developments in global initiatives emanating from bodies such as the OECD, IMF, and World Bank.

This module is open to students on the MPA, MPA in International Development, the MA in Public Administration and Public Policy and the MA in International Political Economy.

Module Objectives

  • Equip students with the relevant knowledge of key concepts and principles of public finance
  • Familiarise students with public sector accounting, management and accountability
  • Enable students to critically discuss management aspects in relation to public finance such as management of public expenditure and revenue
  • Enable students to engage in critical discussion of recent debates, developments and trends in public finance

Module learning outcomes

  • Be able to define public finance
  • Be able to discuss the controversies and challenges around the role of government in public finance
  • Be able to understand and explain market and government failure and how they relate to public finance
  • Have a good understanding of the main features and principles of fiscal policies, i.e. revenue, expenditure and budget policy and process
  • Be able to describe the evolution and the features of public sector management and accountability and its impact upon the effectiveness of financial management

Preliminary Reading

Students will be required to access a range of materials from a variety of sources. The nature of the module means that it is not appropriate to rely on on textbooks and so journal articles and other academic, professional and government publications are also important.

Indictative texts

Bandy, Gary (2014) Financial Management and Accounting in the Public Sector, Second Edition. Routledge

Barr, N. (2012) Economics of the Welfare State, 5th edition, Oxford University Press

Ulbrich, Holley H. (2011) Public Finance in Theory and Practice Second Edition, Routledge.

Assessment

One essay of 4000 words (100% of total mark).

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