Ateneo - UPO

The course in Environmental Economics and Policy explores the complex interplay between economic systems and natural ecosystems. It examines the causes of environmental degradation and its respective control instruments, placing a particular emphasis on the formulation of collective choices, the economic valuation of public goods, diverse regulatory methodologies, and the sustainable management of natural resources. In addition to analyzing the critical issues that have emerged in recent years, the course provides the methodological and regulatory tools necessary to promote concrete solutions and prevent future environmental emergencies.

N. Gregory Mankiw & Mark Taylor, Economics, 6th Edition, 2023, Cengage Learning EMEA 2023, chaps. 1-3R. Kerry Turner, David W. Pearce, Ian J. Bateman, Environmental Economics: An Elementary Introduction, Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 1993.Material suggested during the lecturesFor further information, please consult the course page on D.I.R.: https://www.dir.uniupo.it/

Building on the knowledge and skills already acquired by students during the first year of the degree program, this course focuses on the relationship between economics and the environment in order to identify the characteristics of development that can be defined as sustainable from this perspective as well.

None

To achieve the course objectives, the following teaching methods will be employed:Lectures to introduce and explain the core topics that students are required to know;Case discussions to ensure that theoretical knowledge is paired with a deep understanding of the main issues. This includes developing the ability to gather and interpret data to critically evaluate and express judgments on: a) the human-environment relationship; b) the causes of environmental degradation; c) how natural resources should be managed; d) the most appropriate policies to mitigate the negative impacts of human activity on the environment;Seminars to provide an in-depth exploration of specific topics;Guest speaker sessions to allow students to engage with professionals, innovators, and/or industry experts in the field, helping them understand how the skills they acquire will be effectively applied in the job market;Group presentations by students (potentially in English) to assess their capacity for analysis, synthesis, critical judgment, and communication.

Course attendance is optional but strongly recommended.
For attending students who take the exam during the winter session, a portion of the examination may be replaced by participating in classroom activities organized by the professor.
Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) can request dedicated services and specific accommodations by contacting the Student Careers and Services Development and Coordination Staff and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsa
Once they have contacted the University Staff, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN may reach out to the course professor to discuss the adaptation of exam formats and educational arrangements.

Examination Methods and Assessment
The exam aims to verify the knowledge of theoretical models and the ability to use them critically to express judgments on:
a) The human-environment relationship;
b) The causes of environmental degradation;
c) The management of natural resources;
d) Appropriate policies to mitigate human impact on the environment.

Exam Sessions Calendar
Winter session: The exam will be held exclusively in written form.
Other sessions: The professor will decide whether to administer the exam in written or oral form, depending on the number of students registered for that date.

Structure and Assessment Criteria
If the exam is held in written form, the following rules apply:
Duration and questions: The exam lasts 60 minutes and consists of 3 open-ended questions.
Score distribution: Each of the 3 questions is worth up to 10/30 marks.
Minimum passing criteria (18/30): To pass the exam with the minimum score of 18/30, it is sufficient to demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical models that explain the causes of environmental degradation (point b).

Students who fail the exam, or who are registered as "insufficient", "withdrawn" (ritirato), or "rejected the grade" (rifiuta) 3 times within the same academic year, cannot register for the exam again and must wait until the following academic year.

Introductory Part:
What is economics;
Thinking like an economist;
The market forces of supply and demand.

Part One: Economics and the Environment:
I. The expanded economy.
II. Environment and ethics.
III. Economic growth, population increase, and the environment.
IV. Sustainable development.

Part Two: The Causes of Environmental Degradation:
V. The functioning of markets and the causes of market failure.
VI. Government intervention failure.

Part Three: Cost-Benefit Analysis:
VII. Cost-benefit analysis.
VIII. Valuing preferences for nature.
IX. Dealing with uncertainty.

Part Four: Economic Control of the Environment:
X. Using the market to protect the environment.
XI. Levying taxes for environmental use.
XII. Ecological taxes.
XIII. Pollution permit trading.
XIV. Setting environmental standards.

Part Five: Natural Resources:
XV. Renewable resources.
XVI. Non-renewable resources.

Upon completion of the course, students will have a precise knowledge of how economic science analyzes and seeks to resolve environmental issues. In particular, they will be able to assess the relationship between the economic system and the natural environment, as well as the impact of the behavior of economic agents (individuals and firms) on the environment. This will enable them to identify useful elements to construct solutions to the problems arising from the existence of externalities (such as pollution).