ECON335-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Public Economics

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

Economic theories for the role of government in a market economy and the role of economics in the formulation and evaluation of public policy.

The purpose of this course is to study economic theories for the role of government in a market economy and the role of economics in the formulation and evaluation of public policy. The topics covered include responses to market failure due to the existence of externalities, a comparison of private and public goods, an analysis of tax incidence and dead weight loss, and methods for evaluating the alternative policies available.
It is hoped that ECON335 will teach you how to employ microeconomic theory to understand, analyse, and evaluate government interventions.

Learning Outcomes

The objectives of the course are:
1. Students can explain and apply theory, concepts, models or reasoning from their selected subject major to a problem/issue/context.
2. Students can critique concepts, models or reasoning from their selected subject major.
3. Use fundamental economic principles to explain the behaviour of people and organisations.
4. Explain political and regulatory influences on the economy.
5. Students can write a report/essay on a problem/issue/situation/scenario.

Prerequisites

Recommended Preparation

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 15:00 - 17:00 E7 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 22 Mar
20 Apr - 3 May
11 May - 31 May
Tutorial A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Wednesday 14:00 - 15:00 Psychology - Sociology 116
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
02 Friday 09:00 - 10:00 Ernest Rutherford 141
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Examinations, Quizzes and Formal Tests

Test A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 15:00 - 17:00 E7 Lecture Theatre
23 Mar - 29 Mar
Test B
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 15:00 - 17:00 E7 Lecture Theatre
4 May - 10 May

Course Coordinator

Andrea Menclova

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Midterm test 40%
Essay 20%
Final exam 40%


The ‘45% rule’ does not apply to this course. That is, students do not need to reach 45% weighted average across invigilated assessments. Please refer to https://learn.canterbury.ac.nz/course/view.php?id=7744 for further information.

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Rosen, Harvey S. , Gayer, Ted; Public finance ; Tenth edition; McGraw-Hill Education, 2014.

Recommended Reading

Cullis, John G. , Jones, Philip R; Public finance and public choice : analytical perspectives ; 3rd ed; Oxford University Press, 2009.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,003.00

International fee $4,538.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Department of Economics and Finance .

All ECON335 Occurrences

  • ECON335-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026