COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LISTS - POLI 472: PUBLIC FINANCE ADMINISTRATION

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

POLI 472: PUBLIC FINANCE ADMINISTRATION

SECOND SEMESTER, 2016/2017

DAY: Wednesday

VENUE: Central cafeteria

            TIME: 7.30am - 9.30am

LECTURER: DR ABDULAI KUYINI MOHAMMED

Email: akmohammed@ug.edu.gh

Consultation: Tuesday, 11 am -2 pm

Course Title	PUBLIC FINANCE ADMINISTRATION
Course Code	POLI 472
Course Description	Public Finance examines the role of governments in market-oriented economies and the effects of government policies in resource allocation (efficiency) and income distribution (equity). In other words, Public Finance is the study of the role and nature of the government sector in the economy of a country. The course addresses the following questions: What role should and does government play in the economy? What are the effects of government spending, borrowing, and taxation on efficiency, equity and economic stability and growth? The course covers economic analysis, statistical evidence and historical and current fiscal policy debates in Ghana and around the world. Policy topics such as fiscal crises, budget surpluses/deficits; tax reform; social security, public goods, and externalities; fiscal federalism; public investment; and cost-benefit analysis are examined.
Purpose and objectives	The course provides students with an understanding of the underlying economic frameworks that are appropriate to the study of social outcomes. It also helps them to appreciate the different market environments in which government decisions must be made. Finally, it enables students to use a rational approach in the evaluation of government interventions and programs. The subject is a fundamental field of study for any student who is interested in public affairs and the role of government in market economies. At the end of this course student should be able to: understand and explain the basic economic concepts used in the study of public finance; apply appropriate economic tools to analyze government behaviour; understand the rationale behind common public programs, the considerations for designing taxation policies, and the potential problems in public decision-making process; construct and present logical arguments in the evaluation of current issues in public sector economics; acquire knowledge about the economy of Ghana and the management of public finance.
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment
1	Feb. 1,  2017	Introduction to Public Finance		Lecture: CC
2	Feb 8, 2017	Economics for understanding Public finance	Introduction to Public Finance	Lecture: CC
3	Feb 15, 2017	Welfare Economics	Economics for understanding Public Finance	Lecture: CC
4	Feb 22, 2017	Welfare Economics	Welfare Economics	Lecture: CC
5	March 1, 2017	Market Failure and Externalities	Welfare Economics	Lecture: CC
6	March 8, 2017	Public and Private Goods	Market Failure and Externalities	Lecture: CC
7	March 15, 2017			Lecture: CC	Interim Assessment  (30%); 7.30 am
8	March 22, 2017	Public Revenue (Definition and Elements)	Public and Private Goods	Lecture: CC
9	March 29, 2017	Public Revenue (Taxation)	Public Revenue (Definition and Elements)	Lecture: CC
10	April 5, 2017	Public Expenditure	Public Revenue (Taxation)	Lecture: CC
11	April 12, 2017	Public Expenditure	Public Expenditure	Lecture: CC
12	April 19, 2017	Public Debt	Public Debt	Lecture: CC
13	April 26, 2017	Fiscal Policy Debate in Ghana	Fiscal policy Debate in Ghana
16 - 18	Exam (70%)

Reference Texts 

Buchanan, J.M. (1999). The demand and supply of public goods. Liberty Fund Incorporated: Indianapolis.

Harvey, R. and Gayer, T. (2010), Public finance. (9^th edition). McGraw-Hill.

Hillman, A. L. (2009). Public finance policy: Responsibilities and limitations of government. 2^nd edition. Cambridge University Press.

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LISTS - POLI 364: PUBLIC POLICY PROCESSES IN GHANA

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

POLI 364: PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS IN GHANA

SECOND SEMESTER, 2016/2017

VENUE: E 9

LECTURER: DR ABDULAI KUYINI MOHAMMED

Email: akmohammed@ug.edu.gh

Consultation: Tuesday, 11am – 2 pm

Course Title	Public Policy Process in Ghana
Course Code	POLI 364
Course Description	The course analyzes the approaches to public policy making in Ghana through the examination of the interaction between the context, institutions and actors that are involved in the process. Brought together through cabinet procedures, the roles that different actors play in the policy process in Ghana offer complementary skills and perspectives in the pursuit of good policy. The course first examines the theories of policy making in Africa.  It then compares the policy making process in colonial Ghana with the approach in the period between 1957 and 1992. Next, it highlights the disjunction between the processes and outcomes of policies under the present democratic period and those of the eras before it. It does this by examining the opportunities and challenges of the different epochal environments and the consequences of the power plays between all the individuals, groups and organizations that are involved in the development and implementation of policies. Case studies are used to exemplify and facilitate understanding of the different topics of the course.
Purpose and objectives	Upon completion of the course students should be able to: Explain the conceptual and theoretical underpinnings of policy-making in Africa; Identify the main actors and institutions in the policy making process in Ghana; State the main characteristics of colonial policy making; Account for the differences and similarities between the colonial policy making process and those of post-independence Ghana; Compare and contrast the approach to public policy making from independence up to 1992 to that under the Fourth Republican Constitution period; Enhance understanding of the making of the decisions that affect every Ghanaian; Establish an evaluative framework to assess the effectiveness of already implemented policies in Ghana; Identify the challenges to effective policy development and implementation in Ghana and other Sub-Saharan African countries Develop analytical and practical skills for solving real world public policy problems
Week No.	Date	Lecture Topic	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment
1	Feb. 3,  2017	Theories of public policy process in Africa		Lecture: E 9
2	Feb. 10, 2017	The Public Policy Process	Assess the effects of the indigenous cultural context on policy effectiveness	Lecture: E 9
3	Feb. 17 2017	Policy process in colonial Ghana	Explain the main activities entailed in each of the states of the policy process	Lecture: E 9
4	Feb 24, 2017	Environment of policy making in independent Ghana	Examine the roles of the principal institutions in the policy process in the Gold Coast.	Lecture: E 9
5	March 3, 2017	Ghana’s checked political history and its implications for policy making	Analyze the assertion that the political atmosphere in Ghana is not conducive to effective policy making.	Lecture: E 9
6	March 10, 2017	Public policy making under the new democratic dispensation	Compare the policy making process under Nkrumah’s regime to that under the PNDC rule.	Lecture: E 9	Interim Assessment (30%); 3.30 pm
7	March 17, 2017	Authoritative policy actors under the Fourth republican Constitution of Ghana	Do you agree that the distribution of political and policy making power under the 1992 Constitution is skewed in favour of the executive?	Lecture: E 9
8	March 24, 2017	Non authoritative policy actors under the Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana	Distinguish the role of the executive from that of the bureaucracy in the policy making process in Ghana	Lecture: E 9
9	March 31, 2017	Ghanaian Policy Instruments	Political parties and interest groups perform the same role in the policy making process. Discuss.	Lecture: E 9 Tutorial:
10	April 7, 2017	Case Studies: GPRS 1 & II, STX-Korea Housing Deal, Pension reforms	Evaluate the effectiveness of any three Ghanaian policy instruments.	Lecture: E 9
11	April 14, 2017	Case studies: Value added Tax, Review of the 1992 Constitution,	To what extent is it true to say that the making of the “STX-Korea Housing Deal’ policy was elitist and exclusionary?	Lecture: E 9
12	April 21, 2017	Case studies: the Senchi Consensus, National Health Insurance Scheme	Examine the roles of the main actors in the review of the 1992 Constitution.	Lecture: E 9
13	April 28, 2017	Case studies: Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiative, Guantanamo Bay Detainees	Analyze the processes in the setting of the agenda of the National Health Insurance Scheme.	Lecture: E 9
14		Revision	Revision
15		Revision	Revision
Exam (70%)

Reading List

Anderson, J. E. (2006), Public policy making, 6^th edition, Wadsworth Cenage Learning, Belmont, USA

Lindberg, S. I. and Zhou, Y. (2009), Cooptation despite democratization in Ghana, In J. D. Barkan (ed.), Legislative power in emerging African democracies. Lynne Rienner Publishers, London

Mohammed, A. K. (2013), ‘Civic engagement in public policy making in Ghana: fad or reality?’, Politics and Policy 41 (1): 117-152

Mohammed, A. K. (2015), ‘Ghana’s policy making: from elitism and exclusion to participation and inclusion? International Public Management Review 16 (1): 1-24

Ohemeng, F. L. (2015), ‘Civil society and policy making in developing countries: Assessing the impact of think tanks on policy outcomes in Ghana’, Journal of African and Asian Studies 50 (6): 667-682

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LISTS POLI 212: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Department of Political Science, University of Ghana       POL1 212: Introduction to International Politics   (semester 2)   Instructors:  Bossman E. Asare (Office of HOD) beasare@ug.edu.gh bossasare@gmail.com and Nene-Lomotey Kuditchar (Office Room 14)nlkuditchar@ug.edu.gh/nenelomok@gmail.com Office Hours W/T: 11-130

Course Title	Introduction to International Politics
Course Code	POLI 212
Purpose and Objectives	This course introduces students to the major issues in global relations/politics, and provides them theoretical/conceptual tools for understanding the global system. The central aims of the course are to demonstrate how theory influences our explanations; to familiarize students with some important issues in international politics; to help students appreciate the impact of international institutions such as the UN and the World Bank on the sovereignty of the modern states; and to help students understand   why some global north states are the focus of international relations.  We will use both theoretical and practical arguments to answer several questions: Why is international relations/politics important? How relevant are theories of world politics in the foreign policies of countries? What explains the type of foreign policy decision-making of both the major and minor powers in the international system? How did the major wars shape international relations? Who are the actors involved in global politics? Is the sovereignty of the state a myth? Can there be perpetual peace in the world? Is globalization actually taking place? What are the discontents of globalization? How does terrorism affect human security? and others. Learning Outcomes By the end of the course students should know the following: •           Understand the role theories of international relations play in the international system. •           The relevant of theories in international relations •           Appreciate the various actors who influence the international system •           The differences between domestic politics and international politics •           The effects of the two major wars in the global system •           How the Cold War has shaped international relations •           The importance of foreign policy to countries •           The role of IGOs in international relations •           How terrorist activities have shaped the global system •           Explain the strategies global south countries have used to promote development •           The different types of globalization •           How multinational corporations have become important actors in international relations Required and Recommended Texts Bossman E. Asare, 2016. International Politics: The Beginner’s Guide- Updated and Expanded, Digibooks, Ghana. Charles W. Kegley Jr. and Shannon L. Blanton, 2010. World Politics: Trend and Transformation, Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.                                                                                                                                                                   John T. Rourke, 2005. International Politics on the World Stage. USA: McGraw-Hill Inc. Richard Payne, 2007. Global Issues: Politics, Economics, and Culture. New York: Pearson Longman.   Kelly-Kate Pease, 2003. International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the 21st century, 2nd edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Term Reflective Paper Each student will submit a reflective paper on the 4th week of class. The paper should be between 1000 and 1200 words long, and submitted in double-space, and 12 point font. The question is listed below: Examine the validity of the assertion that ‘the relevance of states has reduced due to globalization and the activities of intergovernmental organizations’. Exams There will two exams in the class. The interim assessment (IA) will be largely fill-in-the blanks and short essay questions. This will cover specific aspects of the course. This will be held on either the seventh or the eighth week of class. Final exams will consist of a combination of fill-in-the-blanks, short and long essay questions. The final is cumulative, with questions ranging from the first day to the last day of class. Civility Civility in the classroom is expected of all students. Students who disrupt class to the extent that other’s educational opportunities are diminished may be asked to leave the classroom. Cell phones must be turned- off at all times in the classroom. Communication with your Instructors We have regular office hours that you have to get the details from the course outline or the General Office of the Department of Political Science. Feel free to stop by to discuss academic matters or concerns with us in the office. All emails sent to either of the instructors should include POLI 212 in the subject. Class Attendance and Participation Attendance will be monitored every class session, and students are expected to regularly and relevantly contribute to class discussions by raising questions and making salient comments. For the purpose of class participation, which is compulsory, students are encouraged to gather information from news sources, such as the New York Times, Yahoo News, Google News, the Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, DWTV, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. This will be an opportunity for students to make oral contributions, in addition to the regular lectures and discussions. Plagiarism and Cheating Plagiarism, which is representing somebody’s work as your own, as well as cheating in all forms, must be avoided. The consequences of these behaviors are not worth mentioning in this class. Check University of Handbook for details.
Week No.	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Assessment/Readings
1	Introduction to course What is international politics		Kegley chapter 1  Asare, chapter 1
2	International law, diplomacy, Actors, the state, nation-state, and nation, basic concepts		Kegley chapter 1   Asare, chapter 1
3	Theories of World Politics		Kegley chapter 2 Asare, chapter 2                                                                                                                                 Kelly-Kate Pease, chapters 1-4                                                                                                                                  Hans Morgenthau, 1978. “A Realist Theory of International Politics”
4	Foreign Policy		Asare, chapter 4                                                                                                                               Kegley, chapter 3                                                                                                                            Herman, Margaret (2001) How Decision Units Shape Foreign Policy: A Theoretical Framework, International Studies Review, 3 (2): 47–81.                                                                               McDermott, Rose (2007) Political Psychology in International Relations. The University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor   Paper due
5	Foreign Policy		Continue
6	Great Powers and International Conflicts-World War 1, World War II and the Cold War		Asare, chapter 3                                                                                                                               Kegley, chapter 4                                                                                                                        Randall (1998) Deadly Imballances: Tripolarity and Hitler’s Strategy of World Conquest, Columbia University Press: New York.
7	Intergovernmental Organizations and Global Governance		Kegley chapters 6 and 14 Asare, chapter 5                                                                                                                        Asare Bossman (2009) The African Union, Multi-level Governance and Accountability in Africa, Legon Journal of International Affairs, 6 (2), 121-137
8	Intergovernmental Organizations and Global Governance		Continue
9	Global Terrorism and International Security		Kegley, chapter 13 Asare, chapter 6                                                                                                                                  Payne, chapters 5     Interim Assessment
10	Developing Countries in Global Politics		Kegley, chapter 5 Asare, chapter 7                                                                                                                                 The World Bank (2000). Can Africa claim the 21st century? The World Bank: Washington, D.C.
11	Globalization		Kegley and Blanton 12/13                                                                                                                           Asare, chapter 9                                                                                                                         Joseph Stiglitz (2003) “Globalization and its Discontents” read introduction and afterword, Martin Wolf (2001) Will the Nation-State Survive Globalization? Foreign Affairs, 80(1): 178-190.   Available online-just do Google search.
12	Multinational Corporations		Asare, chapter 8                                                                                                                                      Robert Gilpin (2000). The Challenge of Global Capitalism. Princeton University Press: Princeton.                                                     Robert Gilpin (2001). Global Political Economy, Princeton University Press: Princeton.
13	Revision/summing-up	Revision
14 - 16	Final Exam (70%)