Applied Economics for the Environment - ENV00029I

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  • Department: Environment and Geography
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Module summary

This module develops skills in applying quantitative methods for the economic analysis of environmental issues.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

The module will apply economic thinking and analysis in looking at a range of environmental issues. It will enable students to detect misleading uses of economic and social statistics by politicians, civil servants, the business world, journalists and academics. The emphasis is on the critical assessment of statistical quality and will help students acquire the research and analytical skills required for Year 3 dissertations. Topics also include environmental valuation, well-being and behavioural economics. The module will consist of a mix of lectures, seminars and computer practicals.  During the computer practicals, students will gain an understanding of the software STATA and the basic principles behind regression analysis. Seminars will be highly interactive, for example through games to test whether economic theory stacks up in reality. 

 

Module learning outcomes

After completing the module, you should be able to:

  • Apply economic concepts to the analysis, appraisal and valuation of a wide range of environmental problems and policies (e.g. health and well-being, environmental valuation, pollution control etc.)
  • Use quantitative analysis (regression analysis and experimental designs) to examine relationships between variables of interest
  • Identify misleading uses of economic and social statistics

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 35
Online Exam - 24 hrs (Centrally scheduled) 65

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Four week turn-around time on write-up. Feedback is via a written feedback sheet showing comments by markers.

Indicative reading

  • Clemen, R. T. (1996) Making hard decisions: an introduction to decision analysis, Belmont, California: Duxbury Press, 2nd ed., 664 p.

  • Pollitt, M.G., Shaorshadze, I., 2011. The Role of Behavioural Economics in Energy and Climate Policy. Handbook on Energy and Climate Change, Ch. 24. Edward-Elgar.

  • Cooper, R., Burton, E., Cooper, C.L., 2014. Wellbeing: A Complete Reference Guide, Wellbeing and the Environment. John Wiley & Sons.