Economics of Social Problems

Code:	SS2210241		Acronym:	EPS
Predominant Scientific Areas:	Economics

Subject: 2023/24 - 2S

Programmes

Acronym	No. of Students	Study plan	Curriculum Years	ECTS	Contact hours	Total Hours
LSS1	61	Viso nº 16918/2022 de 30 de Agosto	3º	3 ECTS

Hours Effectively Taught

3TURMAU

Teóricas:

16,50

Teaching - Hours Teóricas: 2,00 Type Teacher Classes Hours Teóricas Totals 1 2,00 Gabriel Augusto Leite Mota   2,00

Aims, Skills and Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate the economic reasons for state intervention in the financing, provision, administration and regulation of social sectors.
Understand the recent evolution of objectives, policy measures and the most common instruments of public intervention in the social sectors.
To highlight the contribution of economic science to the analysis, understanding and evaluation of social problems.
Raise awareness of the application of economic evaluation methods in deciding on social programs, projects and investments.
Contribute to updating the debate on the impact of public policies, particularly budgetary and fiscal policies, on stability, efficiency and equity.

Programme

1. Grounds for state intervention in the economy
1.1 Increasing economic efficiency
1.2 Promoting fairness
2. Economic analysis of the main social sectors
2.1 Education
2.2 Health
2.3 Pensions and Social Security
2.4 Poverty and inequality.

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit's learning objectives

 The aim of this course is for students to acquire the ability to interpret social phenomena from an economic perspective.
In this sense, the topics defined in the syllabus allow for this understanding, namely by debating the role of the state in the economy, questions of efficiency and equity or how economic problems arise in the provision of health, education, social security or poverty.

Main literature

The Economics of Social Problems;Julian Le Grand, Carol Propper, Sarah Smith, Palgrave MacMillan, 2008

Paulo Trigo Pereira, António Afonso, Manuela Arcanjo, José Carlos Gomes Santos;Economia e Finanças Públicas, Escolar Editora, 2012

Supplementary Bibliography

N. Barr;The Economics of the Welfare State, Weidenfeld , 1987

Paul A. Samuelson, William D. Nordhaus;Economia, McGraw-Hill, 1999

Learning Methods

Lectures, presentation of the subjects under analysis by the lecturer with discussion of the issues in class. Frequent recourse to the analysis of themes and problems in the social sphere and their interpretation and reading by Economic Science.

Assessment Components

Avaliação distribuída com exame final

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Conclusion Date
Attendance (estimated)	Lessons	30
	Total:	30

Final Exam

Written final exam

Proofs and special works

none

Special Assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Written exam

Improvement of final grade

Written exam

Demonstration of the coherence between the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes

Since the learning objectives are essentially theoretical, the methodology of presenting and discussing the subjects in theoretical-practical classes is considered appropriate.