Managing Public Finances

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

This is an intensive subject with a pre-teaching period.

During the pre-teaching period, students will be able to access the LMS and the readings provided in order to prepare for the first assessment task.
Note: this is due at the first seminar of the teaching period. Students will be able to contact the subject coordinator for support during the pre-teaching period.

170 hours

Admission to the Master of Public Administration and successful completion of the subject The World of Public Administration

Previous study in public policy, political science, management, law, business, economics, international relations, non-profit management or cognate area.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Managing Public Finances is one of the core subjects in the Melbourne Master of Public Administration. The Melbourne MPA is an interdisciplinary, globally-focused degree program for managers that work within or with government. This subject provides the theoretical and analytical tools for understanding the nature and practice of finance in relation to public administration and management, drawing on the disciplines of economics and finance. Key ideas that will be explored in this subject include budgets, performance, reporting and decision–making and how these relate to broader notions of governing in complex institutional and policy environments.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• Acquire an understanding of key concepts in public finance;
• Understand the importance of finance to the public manager in both a strategic and operational sense;
• Understand the complexities of developing and executing budgets, evaluating performance, and decision-making;
• Appreciate the local, national and global aspects of these issues.

1. An issues paper of 500 words (10%) where students identify and address an issue relevant to their work experience or interests that relates to a key public finance theme. Due at first seminar for the subject.

2. Individual paper of 2000 words (40%) analyzing and comparing the fiscal sustainability of three countries using the Statement of Government Operations of an IMF Article 4. Group presentation in week 3 of the subject. Individual paper due after the presentation.

3. Case paper of 2500 words (50%) where students apply key concepts from the course. Due in the week after the intensive teaching period has concluded.

Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject and regular class participation is expected.

Andrew Graham, Canadian Public-Sector Financial Management Second Edition, Queens Policy Series, 2014 ISBN 978-1-55339-426-6 (PBK)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should have:

• A comprehensive understanding and appreciation of key concepts in public finance;
• A sound understanding of the interconnectedness between finance and politics, economics and law, as they apply to public management processes and decisions and shape the public manager’s environment;
• A high-level ability to combine the theory and practice of public finance in a meaningful way in order to address managerial challenges and reflect critically on one’s own professional practice;
• A high-level ability to combine professional skills such as analysis and decision-making with discipline-based expertise and to apply this complex synthesis to the practice of public finance;
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of professional activities relating to public finance.