Environmental Economics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

The following:

None

Please refer to Prerequisites and Corequisites.

Students may not gain credit for both ECON30011 Environmental Economics and ECON20004 Economics of the Environment.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Environmental issues will be addressed with the aid of economic theory. Topics include sustainability of economies; pollution as an externality; approaches to dealing with pollution in different countries; methods of valuing the environment and environmental damage; effect on future generations; environmental amenity as a public good; and the environment and economic development.

• Explain the externality and public good reasons for market failure and their relationship to environmental problems
• Explain the difference between command and control methods and methods that use economic incentives;
• Critically evaluate the different regulatory approaches for dealing with environmental problems
• Describe the importance of putting monetary values on environmental resources
• Evaluate the methods of valuing the environment and the importance of environmental accounting
• Explain the inter-linkage between population growth, poverty and environmental degradation;
• Apply the theories discussed in class to empirical evidence;
• Critically analyse the alternative policy proposals for reducing environmental degradation.

A 2-hour end-of-semester examination (60%), an essay of approximately 3000 words (30%) and in-class assessment (in the form of seminar presentation and class participation) (10%).

Environmental Economics by Charles Kolstad

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

• High level of development: oral communication; written communication; application of theory to practice; critical thinking; synthesis of data and other information; evaluation of data and other information.

• Moderate level of development: collaborative learning; problem solving; team work; statistical reasoning; interpretation and analysis; accessing data and other information from a range of sources; receptiveness to alternative ideas.

• Some level of development: use of computer software.