This course is offered 22, 26, 29 February, 4, 7 and 11 March 2016
Fiscal Policy, Globalization and Development
This course is aimed at students who are interested in fiscal policy including tax and expenditure law and policy concerning how to fund government effectively. It examines the key challenges of fiscal policy in achieving sufficient revenues, economic prosperity and development and in addressing social justice and inequality in a context of globalisation.
The course provides an introduction to public finance law and policy; tax policy principles; and tax reform and law design principles. We then examine several topical case studies of particular fiscal systems and tax or expenditure reforms or policies in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The subject takes a critical approach to examining the principles, processes and outcomes of fiscal policy. Students do not need to have a detailed knowledge of tax law or economics to do this subject.
Principal topics are:
• Public finance law and policy including budget laws, fiscal institutions and rules
• General principles of public finance
• Tax principles relevant to development: efficiency, distributive justice, administration
• The relationship between tax, lending and aid for low income countries
• Resource taxation including rent taxes, royalties and budgeting for oil and mineral revenues
• Fiscal federalism and decentralisation including tax allocation and revenue sharing between governments
• The corporate tax and multinationals in the context of economic globalization
• International tax transparency and coordination between governments
• The future: global taxes?
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:• Demonstrate a good understanding of the fiscal framework for taxing and spending and of fiscal policy principles
• Analyse critically tax reforms and policy choices in developed and developing countries
• Research, and examine key issues and challenges in fiscal policy in a particular development or country context.
• Present in depth written analysis of key issues and challenges in fiscal policy in a particular development or country context.
Other Information
The course will be offered in seminar format including some short lectures but primarily involving significant engagement and discussion among the teacher and students focused on the readings, questions and topical case studies considered in the course.
Indicative Assessment
(1) Leading Class discussion on a set reading (Hurdle)
(2) Short written assignment on the same set reading (20%, maximum 1,000 words)
(3) Research essay (80%) of maximum of 5,000 words on a topic chosen by the student and approved by the subject coordinator
OR: 3 hour Examination (80%) on content of whole subject.
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Workload
Students will have a 3 hour seminar per week. Students should expect to spend 10 hours per week related to the course including class time.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
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