2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS3435 Public Enterprise and Regulation

10 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Dr Andrew Smith
Email: a.s.j.smith@its.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisites

LUBS2140	Intermediate Microeconomics
LUBS2610	Intermediate Macroeconomics

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

The question of determining the appropriate balance between public and private ownership / involvement in the provision of key public services continues to be a major issue in the UK and internationally. On completion of this module, students should have developed a thorough understanding of the rationale for Public Enterprise and its historical development, the impact of privatisation and de-regulation on economic efficiency and social welfare, the interaction between privatisation, commercialisation and competition in driving desirable outcomes, and the alternative approaches to regulating privatised companies and some of the associated problems that have emerged. Students should have gained an understanding both of the theoretical contributions as well as their application in practice.

Skills outcomes
The key skills are listed below. The ability to analyse and compare alternative ownership, regulatory or competitive solutions in this area and articulate the debate in a clear and balanced way is the most important.

Syllabus

The rationale for public enterprise and its historical development internationally; Failures of public enterprise and the case for privatisation; Privatisation: assessing the outcomes (UK and international); Private enterprise: regulation versus competition (contestability; franchising); Private enterprise: RPI-X versus rate of return regulation of natural monopoly; Draing the frontier - efficiency analysis in UK price reviews; Hybrid ownership models: PFI / PPP and not-for-profit structures.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Tutorial	4	1.00	4.00
Private study hours			86.00
Total Contact hours			14.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Achieved through interaction in lectures and classes.

Methods of assessment

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)	2 hr 00 mins	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 31/03/2009

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