Public Economics

Why should you choose Public Economics?

Are you curious about how we should deal with issues like climate change, international terrorism, decision-making in democracies, migration, an ageing population, social and health insurance? Do you wonder whether the market can always regulate itself, or whether policy is sometimes required to step in? Don't you dare to ask questions that don’t have straightforward answers? The Public Economics track offers you the possibility to do just that.

Study with the experts

Public Economics examines decisions in the public sector – from individual to social behaviour, from government decisions to policy changes – and its effect on the private sphere, individuals, the community, and markets. In this track you study, using a unique three-pronged learning approach: it works through a combination of formal theoretical reasoning, behavioural and experimental examinations, and empirical policy evaluation. In other words, the track provides you with applicable scientific knowledge to tackle important real-world problems. Your lecturers are active researchers and experts publishing their work in international journals, which means you’re learning ‘first-hand’ in an exciting, evolving field.

What are your career prospects?

Graduates have found positions in:

large banks and insurance companies;
NGOs and intergovernmental organisations such as the EU, World Bank, OECD;
development aid;
regulatory authorities;
firms and departments that have dealings with government policies.

Public Economics is a 1-year, full-time programme taught entirely in English. Graduates will obtain a master's degree in International Economic Studies with a specialization in Public Economics.