Units
Environmental Economics and Policy
Unit code: EFB334
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
The unit introduces students to some of the current environmental and natural resource issues confronting society and how planners and decision-makers could better understand and address these problems using economics. This unit demonstrates that economics has a major role to play in helping us to understand and solve some of the environmental problems facing societies. It will be demonstrated that economics can often be used to help protect the environment rather than harm it. The unit would benefit those who wish to work either in the public or the private sector.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2012 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
The objective of the unit is to introduce students to some of the current environmental and natural resource issues confronting society and how planners and decision-makers could better understand and address these problems using economics. The unit demonstrates why economics matters more to environmental and natural resources policy and how the approach taken in this unit is free of the constraints of orthodox economics. The unit also explores what would happen when environmental considerations get left out of economics and what happens when economics gets left out of environmental policy-making and resource management decisions. The unit would benefit those who wish to work in government, the private sector or for a non-governmental organisation.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to demonstrate that economics has a major role to play in helping us to understand and solve some of the environmental problems facing societies throughout the world. It will be demonstrated that economic arguments can often be used to help protect the environment than harm it. In the first part of the unit the principle insights that economics has to offer will be set out and in the second half of the unit the important environmental problems confronting mankind will be selected and show how these insights (dealt with in part I) can improve how society and decision-makers respond to these problems. Examples from Australia and the rest of the world will be provided where it is relevant and appropriate to do so.
Objectives
Course Learning Goals (Undergraduate)
The QUT Business School has established the Assurance of Learning (AOL) Goals to meet contemporary industry needs and standards. Achieving these learning outcomes will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT - aligned with other internationally renowned business schools. Students will develop the following capabilities relevant to a contemporary global and sustainable business environment:
Have knowledge and skills pertinent to a particular discipline (KS)
1.1 Integrate and apply disciplinary theory and skills to practical situations
1.2 Incorporate the use of technology appropriate to the discipline and context
Be critical thinkers and effective problem solvers (CTA)
2.1 Identify, research and critically analyse information relevant to a business problem or issue, be able to synthesise that information in order to evaluate potential solutions, make recommendations or otherwise effectively address the problem or issue
Be professional communicators in an intercultural context (PC)
3.1 Communicate effectively through written tasks appropriate to varied contexts and audiences
3.2 Communicate effectively through professional oral presentations appropriate to varied contexts and audiences
Be able to work effectively in a Team Environment (TW)
4.1 Demonstrate effective team skills in order to contribute appropriately to the production of a group output
Have a Social and Ethical Understanding (SEU)
5.1 Apply ethical reasoning, standards or codes of practice relevant to the discipline and make decisions that are informed by social and cultural understanding
Unit Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Identify the environmental problems facing societies and the important link between the economy and the environment;
2. Analyse environmental problems within an economic framework incorporating interdisciplinary work;
3. Apply instruments of pollution control;
4. Apply environmental valuation techniques;
5. Conduct an environmental cost benefit analysis;
6. Apply economics (incorporating interdisciplinary knowledge) to reduce or solve environmental problems facing society;
7. Identify the obstacles to providing economic solutions to environmental problems
The specific course learning goals and unit objectives that apply to this unit are shown in the assessment section of this unit outline.
Content
The unit is divided into two parts. Part I explores some important concepts/techniques in economics and illustrates why they matter for environmental issues. Part II deals with how economics can help us to understand the causes of a series of important problems, and more importantly, to understand how best we can manage them.
Part I (Economic Theory/Tools - 7 lectures)
Economics and the Living Environment: Two Parts of a Whole (1 lecture); Economic growth and sustainable development (1 lecture); Markets for the environment (1 lecture); Regulation and instruments of pollution control and environmental conservation (1 lecture); Valuing the Environment and Natural Resources (1 lecture); Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis (1 lecture).
Part II (Applying Theory - 6 lectures)
Energy: The Transition from depletable to renewable resources (1 lecture);Urban Water Conservation and Management (1 lecture); Transport and the Environment (1 lecture); Economics of Climate Change (covers trading in pollution permits) (1 lecture); Welfare, Wellbeing and the Environment (1 lecture); Sustainable Agriculture (1 lecture); Epilogue: What happens when the environment gets left out of economics and what happens when economics gets left out of the environment (1 lecture).
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The unit will be delivered in weekly three-hour blocks, two hours of which will typically take the form of a lecture presentation. Relevant readings for each week will be placed on the Course Materials Database (CMD). Tutorial sessions will be student-driven as each student will be required to present a compulsory tutorial presentation. Tutorial topics will be provided by the lecturer at the beginning of the semester. Students can nominate a date to do their presentation between Week 3 and Week 13. The time permitted is two weeks. This tutorial presentation will be given a mark and weighted at 20%. This will be followed by an essay on a topic assigned by the lecturer at the beginning of the semester. This is worth 30%. The rest of the marks (50%) will be from the final examination. The exam will consist of a mixture of both theoretical and practical questions. All materials covered during the semester will be examinable.
Assessment
This unit has 3 assessment items. While all three are compulsory, there are elements of flexibility in Tutorial Assessment to cater for students' academic needs. Students are asked to refer to the Week 1 Information Documentation for details concerning the flexible format of this assessment item.Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
Assessment name:
Tutorial Assessment
Description:
Oral presentation during tutorials. Details are available in the Week 1 Information Document.
Length/Duration: 12 minutes
Formative or Summative: Summative and formative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), (3.2)
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Weeks 4 - 13
Assessment name:
Essay Assignment
Description:
Only one assignment topic
Length/Duration: 1,500 words (with 20% tolerance)
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1), PC (3.1), SEU (5.1)
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 11
Assessment name:
End of Semester Examination
Description:
The final examination consists of multiple choice questions, short answer and essay questions. The subject matter for the examination will be drawn from all 13 modules.
Length/Duration: 2 hours
Formative or Summative: Summative
Relates to objectives:
Unit objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and AOL goals: KS (1.1), CTA (2.1)
Weight:
50%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Central Exam Period
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.
Resource materials
Prescribed Texts
Goodstein, S. (2011). Economics and the Environment, Sixth Edition, Wiley and Sons, INC.
Recommended Readings
Hanley, N., Shogren, J. and White, B. (2001). Introduction to Environmental Economics, Oxford University Press
Hanley, N., Shogren, J. and White, B. (1997). Environmental Economics: In theory and Practice, Macmillan Press.
Miller, T. (2007). Introducing Sustainability, Thomson, Custom Publishing.
Renwick, M and Archibald, S. (1998). Demand side management policies for residential water use: who bears the conservation burden?, Land Economics, 74 (3): 343-359.
Robinson, T. (2007). Work, leisure and the environment. The vicious circle of overwork and over consumption, Edward Elgar
Tietenberg, T. and Lewis, L. (2009). Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Eight Edition, Pearson International Edition.
Turner, K., Pearce, D. and Bateman, I. (1994). Environmental Economics: An Elementary Introduction, Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Several other textbooks and journal articles will also be used in this unit. The references will be provided during each lecture.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 20-Feb-2012
