GY222     
Applied Environmental Economics

This information is for the 2016/17 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Susana Mourato STC. S420 and Mr Sefi Roth

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Environment and Development and BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics. This course is available on the BA in Geography and BSc in Geography with Economics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Course content

This course is an introduction to economic principles in the analysis of environmental change and natural resource use, and in designing appropriate policy responses. The first part of the course largely covers the concepts and tools of environmental economics, while the second part applies these concepts and tools to specific challenges for real world policy-making. Topics to be covered include: the evaluation of regulatory and market based instruments in controlling pollution; moral suasion and voluntary regulation; economics of natural resource use; economic growth, the environment and sustainable development; cost-benefit analysis and environmental valuation; economics of biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation; trade and the environment; health and the environment; behavioural and happiness economics and the environment.

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 15 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the LT.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce non-assessed coursework throughout the year that will include at least one essay and a series of quizzes, and may be asked to give class presentations.

Indicative reading

Detailed reading lists will be provided to support each course component. For an overview and introduction to the main issues covered by the course students may wish to consult the following: N Hanley and EB Barbier, Pricing Nature: Cost-Benefit Analysis and Environmental Policy, 2009; J Kahn, The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources, 3rd ed. 2005; B Field and M Field, Environmental Economics, 6th ed. 2012; DW Pearce, G Atkinson and S Mourato, Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Environment: Recent Developments, 2006; E Neumayer, Weak Versus Strong Sustainability: Exploring the Limits of Two Opposing Paradigms, 4th Edition, 2013.

Assessment

Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (25%, 2000 words).

Student performance results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

Classification % of students
First 32.5
2:1 45.2
2:2 16.6
Third 2.5
Fail 3.2

Key facts

Department: Geography & Environment

Total students 2015/16: 82

Average class size 2015/16: 17

Capped 2015/16: No

Lecture capture used 2015/16: Yes (MT & LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills

Course survey results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 77%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.3

Materials (Q2.3)

2.1

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.7

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.7

Integration (Q2.6)

1.6

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.9

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

81%

Maybe

17%

No

2%