Course detail

Municipal Finances

FP-UvfKAcad. year: 2017/2018

The course focuses on the following topics: Public choice as a starting point in understanding public finance, basic categories of public finance, public revenues and public expenditure, fundamentals of taxation theory including excessive tax burden, fiscal federalism, the budgetary system in the Czech Republic, the budget deficit and public debt. Fundamentals of financing in selected areas within the public sector. The ethical aspects of public finance.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Knowledge: The student can enumerate and describe the basic relations in public finances, can analyse, describe and explain the links between public finances and elections. The student can explain the terms public good, the public sector, public revenue and expenditure, budgetary system, public budget and tax revenue. They can define the main aspects of decision-making in the public sector. They can analyse the impact of a budget deficit and public debt on the economic development of the country both in the short and long term.
Skills: The student can find, sort and correctly interpret socioeconomic data concerning the public sector, is able to consider the impact of expected fiscal developments at the levels of the central and decentralised budgets. They are able to foresee the consequences of fiscal development for the enterprise.
General abilities: The student has the ability to orient themselves in current politico-economic reality, continuously monitors and evaluates the economic, political and social situation in the Czech Republic and in the international context. They are able to analyse the normally available information on the economic and political development of the country. They can work in a team and are able to present their views and defend them in discussion.

Prerequisites

Secondary school level knowledge of the political and voting system in the Czech Republic. Basic macroeconomic aggregates and relations.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures consist of an explanation of basic principles, methodology of the discipline, problems and their solutions.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Students deliver a seminar paper on a topic agreed individually agreed with the teacher. The examination can only be taken by students who have delivered a seminar paper. Study supports are used in the teaching, including the possibility of control tests. In the course of the semester the student has available 26 hours of consultation with the teacher.
The course ends with a written test.The written test contains test and open questions. The time available for the examination is 40 minutes, the maximum number of points available is 70, and in order to pass the examination it is necessary to get at least 35 points (i.e. 50 %). The resulting grade is in accordance with the BUT Study and Examination Regulations.

Course curriculum

The basic topics that make up the course are as follows:
1. Introduction to the study of public finances. Terms: public good, the public sector, public finance, budgetary system and public budget.
2. The theory of public choices, the specifics of decision-making in the public sector. Approaches to decision-making and their influence on the results. The political and electoral system in the Czech Republic and the financing of political parties.
3. Public revenues. The classification of public revenues. Tax and non-tax revenues.
4. Public expenditure. The classification of public expenditure. Public expenditure and aggregate demand. Factors influencing growth in public expenditure. The efficiency of public expenditure.
5. The fundamentals of tax theory and tax policy. The history of tax. Tax principle and the fairness and efficiency of taxes. Tax quotas. Tax policy.
6. Fiscal federalism. Basic terms, centralisation vs. decentralisation. Models of fiscal federalism.
7. International aspects of public finances. The EU budget process. EU budget revenues and expenditure, the position of the Czech Republic.
8. The budgetary system of the Czech Republic. Uniformity of the budgetary system. The system of public budgets. Parafiscal funds. The budgets of local government bodies.
9. The state budget. The concept of the state budget in financial and legal terms. The budget process. Revenues and expenditure in the state budget. The significance of the state budget in the budgetary system.
10. The budget deficit and public debt. Causes and possible solutions. The situation in the Czech Republic and other countries.
11. The ethics of public finances. The significance of ethics in the public sector and public finances. The ethics of redistribution. Ethical codices.
12. Social policy and social security. Models and instruments of social security. Social security in the Czech Republic.
13. The fundamentals of finances in selected branches of the public sector. The financing of education, science and research, and healthcare. The situation in the Czech Republic and other selected countries.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The main objective of the course is to create a link between public finance theory and, in the broader sense, public economy theory on the one hand, and the modern application of these theories in the sphere of public finance on the other. To achieve this it is necessary that students acquire a basic knowledge of public finance and public economics and understand the dependence of public finance on public choices.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance at lectures is recommended. Teaching takes place in accordance with the semester timetable. The means of substituting for missed lectures and seminars is fully in the teachers’ competence.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

LAJTKEPOVÁ, E. (2021): Veřejné finance v praxi České republiky. 1. vyd. Brno: Akademické nakladatelství CERM. (CS)
LAJTKEPOVÁ, E. (2015): Veřejné finance - studijní opora pro studenty kombinovaného studia. 2. aktual. vyd. Brno: Fakulta podnikatelská. (CS)
KUBÁTOVÁ, K. (2018). Daňová teorie a politika. 7. vyd. Praha: Wolters Kluwer. (CS)
Zákon č. 218/2000 Sb., o rozpočtových pravidlech, v platném znění. Zákon č. 250/2000 Sb., o rozpočtových pravidlech územních rozpočtů, v platném znění. Zákon č. 243/2000 Sb., o rozpočtovém určení daní, v platném znění. Zákon č. 128/2000 Sb., o obcích, v platném znění. Vyhláška MF 323/2000 Sb., o rozpočtové skladbě, v platném znění. (CS)

Recommended reading

PROVAZNÍKOVÁ, R. (2015). Financování měst, obcí a regionů: teorie a praxe. 3. aktual. vyd. Praha: Grada Publishing. (CS)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BAK-KS Bachelor's

    branch BAK-UAD-KS , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Guided consultation in combined form of studies

16 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

The main topics of consultations are as follows:
1. Introduction to the study of public finances. Basic terms.
2. Theory of public choice, specific features of decision-making in the public sector.
3. Public revenues. Classification of public revenues. Tax and non-tax revenues.
4. Public expenditure.
5. Fundamentals of tax theory and policy.
6. Fiscal federalism.
7. International aspects of public finance. EU Budget revenues and expenditure, the position of the Czech Republic.
8. Budgetary system of the Czech Republic.
9. State budget.
10. The budget deficit and public debt.
11. The basics of Social policy and social security.
12. The ethics of public finance.