Spatial, Transport and Environmental Economics: Public Economics and Policy Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Overview

Are you ready to build the government of the future? In a time of rapid technological change, demographic shifts, and increasing global uncertainty, the need for smart, effective public policy has never been greater. But designing good policy is not easy.

You will dive into important questions such as:

• How can we make welfare, pension, and healthcare systems sustainable as populations age?  
• How do we tackle rising inequality through tax reform without undermining work incentives?  
• What is the right way to regulate big tech and curb the growing market power of dominant firms?  
• And how should governments respond to unexpected shocks — from financial crises and pandemics to climate change and energy insecurity? 

In the specialisation Public Economics and Policy, you will gain the skills to answer these questions — and many more. You’ll start by learning how markets work and when they may fail. Then you’ll explore how economic policies influence behavior and shape society. You’ll see how well-designed policies can address market failures and promote a fairer, more resilient society. 

What sets this specialisation apart is the integration of core courses in public economics and applied policy analysis with a broad range of electives for exploring specific policy domains in depth. By the end, you’ll not only understand how public policies work, but also be ready to contribute to their design.