ECX5001 · Economics of environment and sustainability

Overview

The unit will begin with a general approach to environmental economics, with a focus on the importance of externalities, property rights, and public goods. The unit will then be broken into sections focusing on major environmental problems such as climate change, air/water pollution, over-exploitation of open access resources and sustainable development. Within each section, there will be a discussion of optimal environmental policies from a theoretical perspective, actual environmental policies that exist around the world, and the current empirical evidence related to each topic.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. understand the basic economic approach to critically thinking about environmental problems and policy
2. understand the major policies that exist to solve specific environmental problems
3. identify weaknesses in current environmental policy and offer suggestions for how they can be improved
4. demonstrate the ability to consume and synthesize the current empirical evidence on specific environmental problems/policies
5. understand the major environmental challenges facing the developing world.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.