ECO3732 Fiscal Theory and PolicyBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs ECONOMICSGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
ECONOMICS
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
ECO3732 Fiscal Theory and Policy Fall 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Course Coordinator : Dr. Öğr. Üyesi AYSE ERTUĞRUL BAYKAN
Course Lecturer(s): Dr. Öğr. Üyesi AYSE ERTUĞRUL BAYKAN
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: The objective of this course is to gain students from macroeconomic perspective the basic notions of fiscal policy and its possible effects on other key variables.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
1. Learn the basic concepts of fiscal policy notions,
2. Evaluate and interpret the course of data in fiscal tools,
3. Understand the dynamics of government debt,
4. Identify government budget aggregates,
5. Interpret the data of international fiscal aggregates,
6. Learn the stylized facts of fiscal policy in Turkey,
7. Identify the intersection points of fiscal policy with monetary policy.

Course Content

The basic concepts of fiscal policy notions, primary balance, deficit and surplus, the dynamic debt equation, government budget aggregates, the Ricardian Equivalence, the intertemporal government budget constraint, the data of international fiscal aggregates, the stylized facts of fiscal policy in Turkey, the understanding of fiscal policy from monetary policy approach, the institutions of fiscal policy in Turkey.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Giriş ve terminology
2) Terminology, definion of fiscal variables and basic notions of fiscal policy Article: Feldstein, F. (2009)Rethinking the Role of Fiscal Policy, NBER WP14684
3) Intertemporal Government Budget Constraint, Current versus Future Taxation Debt Stabilization Article: Romer, D.(2011) What Have We Learned about Fiscal Policy from the Crisis?, IMF Conference Paper
4) Reminder of effects of fiscal policy over key macroeconomic variables, Ricardian Equivalence, Deficit, output stabilisation and the cyclically adjusted deficit, Ricardian Fiscal Policy and Fiscal Dominance. Article: Taylor, J.(2009), The Lack of an Empirical Rationale for a Revival of Discretionary Fiscal Policy, American Economic Review, Papers and Proceedings
5) The dangers of very high debt, U.S. and Turkey budget: Current numbers and future prospects, Medium-Run budget projections, long-run challenges
6) Government spending and its financing in U.S. and Turkey, The government budget in U.S. and Turkey, Government spending, taxes and the macroeconomy (review) Leeper, E. (2011) What should Obama do?, Inside Story
7) Government Capital Formation, Incentive Effects of Fiscal Policy, Tax-induced distortions and tax rate smoothing.
8) Numerical exercises
9) Government deficit and debt, the burden of the government debt on future generations, budget deficit and national saving: Ricardian equivalence revisited. Leeper, E. (2011) American Incoherence, The Age
10) Deficits and inflation, Real seignorage collection and inflation Bernanke, B. (2017), The FED and The Fiscal Policy, Brookings blog-post
11) Incentive Effects of Fiscal Policy: Labor Market
12) Fiscal policy and climate change
13) Green bond market
14) Data-based analysis of fiscal policy: Turkish case

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Ders notları, makaleler, çalışma tebliğleri /Course notes, articles, working papers and opinion pieces.
References: Current related articles
End this depression now! (2013), Krugman, P., W. W. Norton Company; 1st edition.
The Fiscal Cliff (2012), Ayşe İmrohoroğlu and Selahattin İmrohoroğlu

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Presentation 1 % 20
Midterms 1 % 30
Final 1 % 50
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 50
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 50
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours 16 3 48
Study Hours Out of Class 13 5 65
Midterms 1 10 10
Final 1 15 15
Total Workload 138

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) As a world citizen, she is aware of global economic, political, social and ecological developments and trends.  5
2) He/she is equipped to closely follow the technological progress required by global and local dynamics and to continue learning. 5
3) Absorbs basic economic principles and analysis methods and uses them to evaluate daily events.  5
4) Uses quantitative and statistical tools to identify economic problems, analyze them, and share their findings with relevant stakeholders.  4
5) Understands the decision-making stages of economic units under existing constraints and incentives, examines the interactions and possible future effects of these decisions. 5
6) Comprehends new ways of doing business using digital technologies. and new market structures.  2
7) Takes critical approach to economic and social problems and develops analytical solutions. 1
8) Has the necessary mathematical equipment to produce analytical solutions and use quantitative research methods. 3
9) In the works he/she contributes, observes individual and social welfare together and with an ethical perspective.   3
10) Deals with economic problems with an interdisciplinary approach and seeks solutions by making use of different disciplines.  1
11) Generates original and innovative ideas in the works she/he contributes as part of a team.  3