GV4E4E      Half Unit
Fiscal Governance and Budgeting

This information is for the 2014/15 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Joachim Wehner CON4.10

Dr Paolo de Renzio

Availability

This course is available on the Executive MPA. This course is not available as an outside option.

Pre-requisites

There are no pre-requisites, but recommended advance reading is given below.

Course content

The course examines contemporary issues in fiscal governance and public budgeting in OECD countries and elsewhere. The focus is on executive and legislative actors and the institutional structures within which they make budgetary choices. Following an introduction to theoretical approaches to the study of budgeting, topics include medium-term frameworks, top-down budgeting, fiscal rules and fiscal councils, performance budgeting, legislative budgeting, fiscal decentralisation, budget transparency, audit and accountability.

Teaching

A one-week modular teaching block.

Formative coursework

One mock examination opportunity will be provided.

Indicative reading

Fiscal Governance in Europe by Mark Hallerberg, Rolf Strauch and Jürgen von Hagen (Cambridge University Press, 2009) introduces an important theoretical approach and is a good reference for several topics. The OECD Journal on Budgeting http://www.oecd.org/gov/budget/journal discusses current issues in applied budgeting. A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

Essay (50%, 2000 words) and online assessment (50%).

Please note that online examinations take place on the third Friday after module teaching concludes. Essays are due on the sixth Friday after module teaching concludes. Further details will be provided at the Executive MPA programme induction.

Key facts

Department: Government

Total students 2013/14: Unavailable

Average class size 2013/14: Unavailable

Controlled access 2013/14: No

Lecture capture used 2013/14: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Specialist skills