course-details-portlet

SØK3527

Fiscal Federalism

This course is no longer taught and is only available for examination.

Credits 15
Level Second degree level
Language of instruction Norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

The local governments are responsible for most of the public sector services in the Norwegian welfare state. Fiscal federalism is about the relationship between the local and central governments. Different countries choose different degree of centralisation and decentralisation within the public sector, both with regard to the responsibility of public sector services and the financing of the services. Main topics in the course are the design of the grant system, the regulation of local tax policy, local government structure and the division of responsibility of public sector goods and services.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

You learn

  • Economic interaction between central and local governments
  • Organization and financing of welfare services and collective goods
  • The decentralization theorem, principles for the organization of government sector
  • Competition and mobility as mechanisms for efficiency
  • Political decisions about centralization and decentralization

Skills

You should be able to

  • Discuss key theories and models for the organization of the pubic sector
  • Analyze a broad set of issues relevant for the relationship between central and local governments
  • Discuss how the political system evaluates centralization and decentralization

General competence

You should be able to

  • read and understand reports and research articles dealing with issues discussed in the course
  • use the content of the course in your own academic work like your master thesis

Learning methods and activities

4 hours of lectures every week. The course has compulsory activity. Specific requirements will be announced at the beginning of the term. The term papers can be written as a joint project. The course is an optional master's course, and is not taught every autumn semester. Check www.ntnu.edu/econ.

Students enrolled in ISØ's master programs can take the course any semester. Contact the department (kontakt@econ.ntnu.no) to get access to learning resources in Blackboard.

Compulsory assignments

  • Obligatory course work

Further on evaluation

Approved compulsory activity applies to later semesters.

Specific conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required:
Economics (MSØK)
Economics (MSØK/5)
Financial Economics (MFINØK)

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

Announced at the beginning of the term.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SØK3501 15 sp Autumn 2007
SØK8627 10 sp Autumn 2010
SØK3538 7.5 sp Autumn 2025
This course has academic overlap with the courses in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Economics
  • Social Sciences

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Economics

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code C Date 2025-11-21 Time 09:00 Duration 5 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room for school exam

The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Sluppenvegen 14
Room SL111 blå sone
1 candidate

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code C Duration 5 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.