After completing this course, students will be able to: 1. appraise and critically discuss theories of environmental economics and sustainability; 2. be able to connect theory with empirical approaches in order to interpret and critically discuss results and in turn inform policy debates; 3. search relevant economic data sources on online databases and build descriptive statistics
Course Prerequisites
it helps to have some basic knowledge of micro-economic concepts
Teaching Methods
The teaching method includes lectures, data/policy labs, student-led debates, presentations of students, case-base tutorial, seminars with experts
Assessment Methods
Attending students: Class participation (including final and mid-term presentations and active participation at seminars with experts) & take-home assignments Group projects Final written individual exam Non attending students: 100% written exam (4 questions) with additional readings
Texts
- Field&Field R. (2021) Environmental Economics - A list of readings will be handed over to students at the beginning of the course
Contents
How do we conceptualize environment in economic terms? Why do pollution harm economic activities? How do countries can reduce their environmental damages and transition towards a sustainable mode of production and consumption? Which are the main economic drivers behind such a transition? And how do different stakeholders (e.g. government) and regulatory environments enhance/hinder this process both locally and globally? This course is an introduction to the main topics of environmental economics. The course provides both theoretical and empirical knowledge with a particular attention to technological change, one of the main driver of sustainable transition, and local vs global regulations, which shape this process in different geographical contexts. Theoretical knowledge will be complemented with policy labs and in-depth discussion of scientific articles.
