Syllabus Information

1. General information

The main objective of this subject is for students to learn the conceptual and analytical tools that will allow them to understand the logic of public intervention in the economy through budgetary activity. . The aim of is for the student to acquire a set of knowledge and skills that are necessary so that, in their professional performance, they can rigorously evaluate the actions of the public sector in this field.

These approaches and objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations Agenda 2030 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/), so that the acquisition of the learning results of the subject provides training and competence to contribute to some extent to their achievement.

To take this subject, it is recommended to have passed the first two years of the Degree in Economics.

2. Learning results

In order to pass this subject, the students shall demonstrate they has acquired the following results:

1. Understands the role of the public sector in the economy and, in particular, budgetary activity.

2. Understand the process of preparation, execution and control of the public sector budget and its regulation.

3. Understands how public expenditures and revenues are presented in the budget.

4. Is able to analyse the budgets of a public administration and interpret the economic policies underlying them.

5. Understands the effects of public expenditures in terms of efficiency, incidence and redistribution.

6. Understands the nature and financing system of public expenditures related to social welfare (both social expenditures and economic benefits) and their situation in Spain.

3. Syllabus

1.       Public budgets

1.1.    Concept and classifications of income and expenses. The regulation of the State General Budget (PGE)

1.2.    The process of elaboration

1.3.    The execution phase and budget modifications

1.4-    Internal and external control

1.5.    The current year's PGE

2.       The budget balance and public debt

2.1-    Concept and components. The debate on budget stability

2.2-    Budgetary Stability and Financial Sustainability Law

2.3-    Public debt: issuance and rates

3.       Growth, incidence and redistributive effects of public expenditures

3.1-    Why public spending is growing

3.2-    Efficiency

3.3-    Incidence and redistributive effects.

4.       The welfare state

4.1-    Social protection. Functions and financing

4.2-    Insurance markets. Legitimization of public and mandatory provision of services

4.3-    Social Security in Spain.

4.4-    Benefits and regimes. The Toledo Pact

5.       Preferred economic benefits and assets

5.1-     The public pension system

5.2-     Temporary disability benefits

5.3-     Unemployment benefits

5.4-     Benefits for dependents

5.5-     Health care spending

4. Academic activities

The program offered to the student to help them achieve the expected results includes the following activities : Theoretical classes: presentation of topics and bibliographic orientation by the teacher.

Practical classes: they allow to put into practice the knowledge acquired in the theoretical classes and to demonstrate the ability to work in groups and the skills of communication and argumentation. Other forms of teaching will also be used , such as the analysis and discussion in class of readings, articles or entries in specialized blogs that, on occasion, can be given to the teacher so that students can obtain feedback on their progress. For the development of these classes the group is divided, which facilitates a better monitoring of the learning process of the students and a greater participation of these in class.

Tutorials, in the office or through the Moodle platform: they allow a more direct and personalized support to the students to explain doubts about the contents of the subject.

The teaching methodology is planned to be face-to-face. However, if necessary for health reasons, the classes may be taught online.

Master classes: 30 hours

Practical classes: 30 hours

Tutorials and P6: 11

Personal Study: 75 hours

Assessment tests. 4h

In principle, the teaching methodology and its evaluation is planned to be based on face-to-face classes . However, if circumstances so require, they may be carried out online.

5. Assessment system

The student must demonstrate that they has achieved the expected learning results through a global evaluation test on the date scheduled by the centre.

The test will consist of a written examination of short questions. Theoretical and theoretical-practical questions will be asked.

The evaluation of the students of the fifth and sixth call will be carried out according to the Agreement of December 22, 2010 of the Governing Council, which approves the Regulation of learning assessment standards of the University of Zaragoza  This agreement establishes that the student will take the evaluation in front of board of examiners, although they may choose to take the exam together with the rest of their classmates and then submit the exam to be corrected by the board of examiners.

The subject will be evaluated by means of a global evaluation both in the first and second calls.

Assessment Criteria:

The knowledge of the basic concepts as well as the student's ability to apply the knowledge learned will be assessed . It will be fully adjusted to the teaching given, both in the theoretical and practical classes, and will take into account the degree of accuracy in answering the questions posed, the ability to explain and argue, the absence of formal errors and the clarity and order in the presentation of results.

The exam will be graded out of 10 points and a passing grade of 5 or more will be required to pass. The same system of evaluation will be followed in all the calls