Learning outcomes of the curricular unit

The purpose of the curricular unit is to provide students with a proper understanding of the Portuguese financial and tax system and its interplay with the financial system of the European Union. Students should be able, after the course, to understand the concept of Financial Law and of Public Finances, as well as the relationship between Financial law, Tax law, and other areas of law (mainly public law); to recognize the distribution of financial and tax responsabilities in Portugal (decision-making, executive, control and supervision competences), namely its division between central, regional and local authorities; students should also have assimilated the economic, political and legal importance of public revenue and expenditure; and should understand the relevance of the State Budget (being familiar with its main elements, the process leading to its development and approval, and the main rules and principles guiding it).

Syllabus

I. Introduction
1 – historic approach: liberalism, marxism and keynisianism
2 – economica approach: social justice; public goods; monopolies and stabilization
3 - philosofical approach: rawls theory of justice

II . Income (thypes; tax system - income and consumption.

III. Expenses (consumption, transfers and investment).

IV. Public debt: types; bonds; legal limitations of the debt and deficit

V. Social secutity system

VI. public private partnerships

VII EU budget.

IX. The State Budget
1 – Introductory concepts.
2 – Budgetary rules and principles.
3 – Contents of the State Budget.
4 – The elaboration and adoption of the State Budget.
5 – The implementation of the State Budget.