RGU: RGU Module: Financing Public Services (BSM603)

Module Title
Financing Public Services

Keywords
Fund rising for public sector; design of taxation; public debt management; Contracting out; Public Sector efficiency; Financial discipline.

Reference

BSM603

SCQF Level

SCQF 11

SCQF Points

ECTS Points

7.5

Created

August 2002

Approved

November 2006

Amended

Revision No.

Prerequisites for Module

None.

Corequisite Modules

None.

Precluded Modules

None.

Aims of Module

The aims of this module are: (1) to analyses the costs of raising public funds; (2) to provide students with public sector management tools which increase the efficiency of public sector finance.

Learning Outcomes for Module

On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:

1.	Demonstrate an understanding of the nature of the financial management cycle in public sector.
2.	Explain and analyse the costs and consequences of fund rising for public expenditure
3.	Evaluate differences in costs and benefits of using the different financial sources.
4.	Explain major measures improving the efficiency of public expenditure.
5.	Synthesise and apply the skills of financial management in a range of public service contexts.

Indicative Module Content

Sources of finance for public organizations; taxation and deadweight lost; the choice of tax base; tax enforcement and administration; budget deficit and crowding out; debt management; privatization and contracting out; the theory of public choice and control over bureaucracy.

Indicative Student Workload

Contact Hours	Full Time	Distance Learning
Lectures/Seminars	36	6
Directed Study
Student Centred Learning	64	94
Private Study
Private Study	50	50

Mode of Delivery

By lectures and seminar/group based discussion. Students will be required to make individual/group presentations in seminars.

Assessment Plan

	Learning Outcomes Assessed
Coursework	1,2,3,4,5

The coursework will take the form of a case study. Answers will be presented as a report to management. The indicative word count is 3000 words, exclusive of supporting tables, calculations and appendices.

Indicative Bibliography

1.	Wilson, J (Ed) (1998) Financial Management for the Public Services; Buckingham: Open University Press.
2.	Coombs H and Jenkins D, (2004) Public Sector Financial Management; Thomson Learning.
3.	Musgrave, R. and Musgrave P (2004) Public Finance in Theory and Practice; McGraw Hill Education
4.	Bean, J and Hussey, L (2011), Finance for Non-Financial Public Sector Managers; London: H B Publications.