Why does a government spend too much money? Why don't we get rid of government agencies that are no longer needed? Why do medical boards take too long to release life-saving medications? Why is there so much corruption (and rent-seeking) in the world? Why is Transparency International so important? What are the losses incurred by rent-seeking? Why can interest groups be so harmful? This course will attempt to answer these questions by examining the underlying mechanisms, instead of listing empirical facts. To do so, we will study several analytical models to help us explain the outcomes and we will develop more substantiated policy recommendations.We will focus on government failures caused by the strategic decisions taken by firms, voters, policymakers or civil servants. In particular, we will examine wasteful rent-seeking behaviour and the bureaucrat's influence on an excessive budget provision. Time permitting, we will discuss the distortions created by interest groups. We will also study measures to protect ourselves as a society against inefficiencies created by individuals, firms and the government. How can we prevent (and regulate) any form of manipulation and exploitation? Theoretical approaches will be combined with case studies, empirical applications and policy recommendations.

Course leader
Dr. F. (Frank) Bohn, Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Economics and Business EconomicsRadboud University

Target group
Master's students and undergraduate students entering their final year with an interest in government policy, public choice and/or political economy PhD students who would like to get a background in the area of public choice / political economy Entry levelAdvanced Bachelor Master PhD Post-doc

Course aim
After this course you will:Have gained an appreciation of the role of inefficiencies in non-market situations (based on case studies, empirical application and policy recommendation) Be familiar with a range of models in which rational behaviour leads to non-optimality Have some tools to critically evaluate institutions and government decisions

Credits info
2 ECTS European Credits

Fee info
EUR 695: The course fee includes the registration fee, course materials, access to library and IT facilities, coffee/tea, lunch, and a number of social activities.Possible discounts10% discount for early bird applicants. The early bird deadline is 1 April 2015. 15% discount for students and PhD candidates from Radboud University and partner universities

Radboud University
Address: P.O Box 9102 Nijmegen
Postal code: 6500 HC
City: Nijmegen
Country: Netherlands
Website: http://www.ru.nl/radboudsummerschool/
E-mail: radboudsummerschool@ru.nl
Phone: +31 (0)24 8187706