Learner Reviews & Feedback for Public Economics by HSE University

The public economics course is an excellent course with novel concepts about public economics, most of them from recent academic journals. Nonetheless, it does not offer enough practice exercises taking on that some of the economic concepts are too complex to digest and some of the questions from the quizzes and the final exam are very difficult to solve, while the lectures do not offer much help in this regard. Another issue with this course is that it is difficult to receive feedback from the debate forums to solve doubts, which are going to be plenty throughout the course. Finally, the public economics course has an excessive academic focus, requiring a more practical approach with real live examples.

This course may be good for those that want a highly theoretical and model-oriented grounding in public economics. This course is very focused on models of public economic questions developed in academic papers. You learn the structure of the models, the question it is expected to answer, the results of the model. You learn the terminology as well. The professor could also spend more time discussing key concepts before diving into the models. When he does emerge from the series of models, it is often to make vague and general comments about the nature of government. Additionally, the problem sets for the course require the user to solve math problems with these models. However, there are only sometimes actual examples where these models are solved, making the quizzes very challenging. The course could benefit from these mathematical examples as well as case studies or at least examples for when the concept being discussed arises.

I work in international policymaking (environmental policy) specifically, so I was hoping for a course that would speak to more of the real challenges and questions around the economics of public good provision and the role of government in facilitating public good access. This course is solely academically focused - it does not address this practical matters, nor does it discuss the degree to which the models have been validated and/or challenged. As a result, it will be useful as a resume-builder, but unfortunately, I do not expect I will use the skill set from this class in the future.

Курс полезен для обзорного ознакомления с предметом. При этом, более конкретные области, как например те, где используются сложные математические формулы, были осложнением при прохождении. Лектор часто говорил, что он даст простой пример, но к сожалению, все эти примеры для меня были, если не непонятными, то, во всяком случае, непростыми. В тестах задавались некорректные вопросы, на которые я не смог ответить даже после тщательного просмотра слайдов лекции. Часто я записывал правильный ответ, но из-за неправильного его оформления его выдавали за неправильный. В помощи к тестам часто отсылка: "смотрите слайд "..." в лекции", но в лекциях слайды не были пронумерованы. Думаю, что курс можно было сделать в более понятной и облегченной форме.

i will not take the course i didnt know it was ver advance for my knowledge is hard for to understand theres no answer to help see where i was wrong i barely have knowledge in economics looking for a course that will help to understand economics this is a good courde but to advance for me

Very weak course in terms of practice. If you have nowhere to spend money or you already have 2 economic education, then you can act. In other cases, do not waste time on this horror. Practical orientation of this course is absent.

Не курс, а каша из понятий, в которой тесты не связаны с материалом, части материала друг с другом, да и в тестах употребляются какие-то вообще никому кроме автора курса непонятные знаки типа >/<

Сложновато воспринимать даже с хорошим языком. Приходится много раз пересматривать, чтобы всё понять. И даже додумывать какие-то вопросы самостоятельно. Тема интересная. Но раскрыта не в полной мере.

.

I appreciate the fact that the course covered some important aspects of public economics relevant to the practical world that we are living in. The video scripts had some errors which need to be edited. (I can help in this work, if required.) The possibility of taking the final exam and quizzes several times (keeping only the highest score on record, whatever the number of attempts) is useful for improving scores as well as learning.

Some of the questions in the quizzes and final exam had no connection at all with what was discussed in the video lectures. For example, Question 11 of the final exam deals with probabilities whereas the values given in the lecture for the Weignast model has no reference to probabilities at all. Hence, I was unable to get the correct answer despite making so many attempts (and even getting a reply from Alexander Reuben in the Discussion Forum which made no sense to me). I have managed to pass all the quizzes and the final exam scoring quite well. However, I would like to know how to get the correct answer to this Question 11 of the final exam as also the few questions in the various quizzes which I got wrong. I would be grateful if the reply can be sent to my email ID (mmaf07@yahoo.co.in) if it is not possible to give the answers in the Discussion Forum.

Thanks and best wishes,

Marjorie Fernandes

It's great, but maybe a bit tough for those without backgrounds in economics or related fields.

The course was not well explained especially in areas involving calculations. It took me a long time to apply the abstract examples given in the slides to the real questions in the tests and exams.

This course is for people who have studied economics before and have a degree, not for students who study media management at HSE and have no backup knowledge. The examples and problem sets are too difficult fot such students and in the end they have no motivation.

The course has been an eye opener from Week 1. I have realised that every real thing can sooner or later be faked on this planet: fake security/threat to security, fake laws/prohibitions, fake identity, fake birth/death, fake marriage/divorce, fake presence of relationship/absence of relationship, fake values/virtues, fake right to rights/no right to rights, fake merit/demerit, fake illness/health, fake presence of theory/absence of theory, fake profits/losses ... (you name it ad infinitum). The market of fakes is the most profitable market.

Unlike many of the other courses, this course has tougher evaluation in terms of weekly quizzes and final examination. One has to repeatedly go through thee slides to pass thee quizzes and exam. Readings are very useful. References of somee of thee important work in political sciences are something I wouldn't have come across without this course.

Por el idioma necesito más tiempo, y la fecha límite de terminación es hasta fines de septiembre, disculpas no voy a alcanzar a terminar y necesito cambiarme a otro curso más corto.

It's a great introductury course on public economics. It enfasis more in the philosofy and the rational so it really allows you to think and realete with reall world problems.

It's very usfule cource which enhance my skill and knowledge about public economics and administration

Excellent Course to understand the intricates of Public Economics

Its a really hard but really interesnting course thanks a lot

This course is an exceptional.

Thanks for your offering.

excellent and worthy of my time - and perhaps yours:)

Курс будет полезен и понятен, если вы гуманитарий :)

The class is very challenging! But I love it.

This is a brilliant course!I love it!

Very good and challenging course.