Economic Policy and the Welfare State
Course content
In this course, students work with different areas of economic policy related to major issues facing governments and the welfare state today.
The course focuses on economic policy and the welfare state in Denmark, but in an international comparison and with examples from other developed countries. It covers classic welfare state topics as well as more recent themes and challenges to modern welfare states, focusing on the expenditure side of government. The course has an emphasis on recent empirical research on policy issues, and a focus on how to take theory to data, critically evaluate the validity of empirical designs, and account for policy implications of research results. For each topic, we will look at economic facts and status quo policies in Denmark and elsewhere, work with the theoretical framework and economic reasoning behind, discuss empirical evidence and evaluations of “what works” in terms of policy in that area, and cover views from the public debate.
The course material is a mix of academic articles, handbook chapters, and policy reports from government and other institutions. By the end of the semester, students should have a good understanding of contemporary economic issues related to the welfare state and public sector in Denmark and other developed countries, be able to think as an economist about these issues, and be able to account for potential challenges, trade-offs, and solutions in an academic way.
Topics covered in the course include:
- Pension systems and policies
- Welfare transfers
- International migration and the welfare state
- Social insurance and the labor market
- Public goods and services and cost-benefit
- Political economy perspectives on the welfare state
MSc programme in Economics – elective course
Bacheloruddannelsen i økonomi – valgfag på 3. år
The Danish BSc programme in Economics - elective at the 3rd year
The course is open to:
- Exchange and Guest students from abroad
- Credit students from Danish Universities
- Open University students
Full-degree students enrolled at the Faculty of Social Science, UCPH
- Master Programmes in Political Science and Social Science
- Master Programme in Social Data Science
- Master Programme in Sociology
Enrolled students register the course through the Selfservice. Please contact the study administration at each programme for questions regarding registration.
After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge:
- Define the key economic challenges covered in the course and status quo policies related to these challenges in Denmark and other developed countries covered.
- Account for the economic theoretical background/framework for understanding these challenges.
- Account for policy solutions related to the economic challenges covered, both the theoretical reasoning and the empirical evidence.
Skills:
- Evaluate and discuss contemporary economic challenges facing developed societies.
- Analyze potential policy solutions and public debate perspectives on these solutions.
- Discuss policy implications of academic findings.
Competences:
- Independently engage in discussions about economic policy and challenges to the welfare state at an academic level.
Lectures with exercies and activities in class.
The syllabus consists of academic articles, handbook chapters, and policy reports specified in a course reading list.
Knowledge about basic economic principles, microeconomics, and
empirical methods (econometrics) from similar courses as
"Principle of Economics A", "Principle of Economics
B", "Microeconomics I", "Microeconomics
II" and "Econometrics I" in the Bachelor of
Economics, University of Copenhagen.
To students enrolled in the master’s program in Political Science,
Social Data Science or Sociology : The course makes use of
bachelor-level knowledge about microeconomics and econometrics as
taught in the Economics program at the University of Copenhagen. If
students do not have a course background with similar
knowledge/content, parts of the syllabus will naturally be more
difficult for them to understand and will require more work on
their behalf, compared to students from the Economics program. The
lecturer is happy to guide students on where to read up on this
background knowledge.
Schedule:
2 hour lectures 1 to 2 times a week from week 36 to 50 (except week
42).
The students receive oral collective feedback during the lectures.
For enrolled students: Rules etc at Master(UK) and Master(DK)
When registered you will be signed up for exam.
- Full-degree students – sign up at Selfservice on KUnet
- Exchange and guest students from abroad – sign up through Mobility Online and Selfservice- read more through this website.
- Credit students from Danish universities - sign up through this website.
- Open University students - sign up through this website.
The dates for the exams are found here Exams – Faculty of Social Sciences - University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Please note that it is your own responsibility to check for overlapping exam dates
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Home assignment, 6 hours
- Type of assessment details
- Individual home assignment. Max. 10 standard pages.
- Examination prerequisites
-
There are no requirements during the course that the student has to fulfill to be able to sit the exam.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
Use of AI tools is permitted. You must explain how you have used the tools. When text is solely or mainly generated by an AI tool, the tool used must be quoted as a source.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
for the written exam.
An oral re-examination may be with external assessment. - Exam period
-
Exam information:
More information is available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester. In special cases decided by the Department, the exam can change to another day and/or time than announced.
More information about examination, rules, aids etc. at Master (UK), Master (DK) and Bachelor (DK).
- Re-exam
-
The re-exam is a 20 min. oral exam without preparation time.
All aids allowed during the examination.
Reexam information:
More information in Digital Exam in February. In special cases decided by the Department, the re-sit can change to another day and/or time than announced.
More info: Master(UK), Master(DK), Bachelor(DK).
Criteria for exam assessment
Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.
In order to obtain the top grade “12”, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
In order to obtain the grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 42
- Preparation
- 152
- Exam
- 12
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- AØKA08240U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
Bachelor
- Duration
-
1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Price
-
Information about admission and tuition fee: Master and Exchange Programme, credit students and guest students (Open University)
- Studyboard
- Department of Economics, Study Council
Contracting department
- Department of Economics
- Department of Political Science
- Social Data Science
- Department of Sociology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Amalie Sofie Jensen (3-71837a5075737f7e3e7b853e747b)
Teacher
See "Course Coordinators"
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Kursusinformation for indskrevne studerende