Dr Eugenie Dugoua (course manager), Dr Sefi Roth, Dr Stephen Jarvis

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics. This course is available on the BA in Geography, BSc in Accounting and Finance, BSc in Economic History and Geography, BSc in Environment and Development, BSc in Environment and Sustainable Development, BSc in Environment and Sustainable Development with Economics, BSc in Geography with Economics and BSc in Psychological and Behavioural Science. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

The number of available spots in this course is limited, and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. It is not necessary to seek authorization from the course instructors, nor should you contact them to be placed on a waiting list, as no waiting list exists for this course. Should the course reach full capacity, places may become available in Week 1 or later if some students decide to withdraw.

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 primarily covers the concepts and tools of environmental and resource economics, such as the evaluation of regulatory and market-based instruments in controlling pollution; moral suasion and voluntary regulation; the economics of renewable resources (e.g. fisheries); the economics of non-renewable resources (e.g., fossil fuels and minerals). The second part applies these concepts and tools to provide an economic perspective on real-world policy issues. Topics covered include the following: cost-benefit analysis and environmental valuation; stated and revealed preferences methods (and some behavioural considerations); sustainable development; biodiversity; climate change; energy; directed technological change and green innovation; health and the environment.

In the Department of Geography and Environment, teaching will be delivered through a combination of classes/seminars, pre-recorded lectures, live online lectures, in-person lectures and other supplementary interactive live activities.

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures across Autumn Term and Winter Term.

This course includes a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term and Week 6 of Winter Term. 

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

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: 

Field, B., & Field, M. K. (2016). Environmental economics. McGraw-Hill Education.

Keohane, N. O., & Olmstead, S. M. (2016). Markets and the Environment. Island Press.

Kolstad, C. (2011). Intermediate environmental economics: International edition. OUP Catalogue

OECD. (2018). Cost-Benefit Analysis and the Environment: Further Developments and Policy Use. OECD Publishing.

Exam (90%, duration: 3 hours) in the spring exam period.
Quiz (10%) in the AT and WT.