Environmental Economics

Recommended Prerequisites

Microeconomics.

Teaching Methods

The lectures are organized to encourage students’ active involvement in learning, fostering student-teacher and student-student interaction. In some classes the theoretical contents are exposed, stimulating the discussion of their importance and validity. In others, theoretical knowledge is applied to discuss and analyse (real and/or simulated) problems, hence contributing to the course objectives’ achievement. Complementarily, tutorial guidance is provided to students, in order to seek clarification,explanations, guidance for the essay or to debate a specific theme.

Learning Outcomes

Overall objectives:

Provide analytical tools for the critical analysis of the existence of environmental problems, the challenges they entail, and possible (policy or market) solutions.

Specific objectives:

To know the main approaches to the interaction between the Environment and the Economy;

To establish the concept of sustainable development and identify action strategies for its promotion;

To study and promote a critical analysis of the range of environmental policy instruments, providing students with a global view of environmental policies aimed at the major current challenges.

Skils:

Capacity of analysis, to communicate, and group interaction;

Capacity to establish, critically and wisely, the relationship between concepts and economic agents’ behaviour;

Capacity to carry out multidisciplinary work, as well as versatility and capacity for dialogue to act in response to the challenges posed by the complexity of environmental problems faced by today's society.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1.The conceptual matrix of the Environmental Economics course

Economic functions of the environment

Appraisal Frameworks: Benefit-Cost Analysis and other decision-making metrics

Property Rights, Externalities, and Environmental problems

2. Trade-offs: economic activity versus environmental conservation?

Limits to economic growth

Sustainability concepts and models

3. Economics of pollution control

The optimal level of pollution

The need for environmental regulation

Externalities: theory and policy strategies

4. Economic valuation of environmental goods

Concept(s) of Value

Methods of environmental goods evaluation

5. Environmental Strategies and Policies.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Periodic or by final exam as given in the course information: 100.0%

Bibliography

ANDERSEN, David A. - Environmental economics and natural resource management. 5th ed., Routledge, 2019.

 TIETENBERG, Tom; LEWIS, Lynne - Environmental and natural resource economics. 11th ed., Routledge, 2018.

 

A lista de relatórios de instituições internacionais para os trabalhos a desenvolver pelos estudantes será disponibilizada no início de cada semestre

The list of International institutions’ reports for the students’ essays will be supplied in the beginning of each semester.