NWI-MM018A
Environmental Economics for Water Management
Course infoSchedule
Course moduleNWI-MM018A
Credits (ECTS)3
CategoryMA (Master)
Language of instructionEnglish
Offered byRadboud University; Faculty of Science; BioWetenschappen;
Lecturer(s)
Coordinator
dr. L.W.M. Delsen
Other course modules lecturer
Contactperson for the course
dr. L.W.M. Delsen
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. L.W.M. Delsen
Other course modules lecturer
Lecturer
dr. S.W. Schrijner
Other course modules lecturer
Academic year2017
Period
KW2  (13/11/2017 to 04/02/2018)
Starting block
KW2
Course mode
full-time
Remarks-
Registration using OSIRISYes
Course open to students from other facultiesYes
Pre-registrationNo
Waiting listNo
Placement procedure-
Aims

The main objective of this course is to introduce students with the basic concepts to deal with the environment and natural resources put forward by economic theory. During this course students will learn (1) how economic thought with respect to the environment and natural resources has developed historically, (2) how economists understand the causes of environmental degradation, (3) which concepts economics have put forward to assess the value of environmental goods and services, and (4) what policy concepts economists developed to contribute to the sustainable management of resources. During this course the student will learn how to link theoretical notions to real-world water management cases. After this course the student:

  • Should have a good understanding on how economic theory conceptualizes and understands the driving forces of environmental problems
  • Is able to critically reflect on the added value of economics for decision making
  • Is able to apply course concepts to a real-world case study
Content
Environmental Economics has valuable lessons to learn about both the causes of pressure on the natural environment as well as ideas on how to solve some of the most pressing issues of our time. Ideas hailing from this field have made a substantial impact on how societies think about and deal with the natural environment. Think for instance about the valuation of climate change and its impact on the climate change mitigation/adaptation debate, discussions about ecosystem services or thinking about sustainable development.
Also, environmental economics has had substantial effects on the scaffolds humans have erected to deal with the environment. One can think about the EU emission trading scheme, REDD or the range of instruments used in the regulation of the harvest of natural resources. A large part of this course is attuned to the specificities of quantitative and qualitative water management, yet the course will also discuss other key topics in the environmental economic debates of today (natural resources management, the economic growth debate, economics of climate change).
The course is designed specifically for students with a non-economic background to introduce them in environmental economic thought.
Literature

• Hanley, N., Shogren, J. & White, B. (2013), Introduction to Environmental Economics, Second Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press
• Additional material to be anounced in the course manual on blackboard

Teaching formats

• 2 hours guided group project work
• 22 hours lecture
• 60 hours individual study period
Extra information teaching methods: A combination of lectures, discussions, questions for self study and group work.

Additional comments
• obligatory for TWM students
• elective for master students Environment and Society Studies
• elective for all 1st and 2nd year master students in Biology

The course is suited for students with a non-economic background.

Topics
This course gives students an introduction to the concepts of environmental and natural resource economics. We will deal with the following topics in this course: Core concepts of environmental economic thought

• The history of environmental economic thought
• Economic concepts to analyze the causes of environmental detoriation and resource use economic valuation and its applications

• Valuation methods for ecosystem services
• Cost-benefit analysis

Economic governance instruments

• Economic instruments theory
• Application: value capturing in land development
• Application: EU Emission Trading Scheme

Test information
A written exam (50%) and a group assignment (50%)

Required materials
Book
Introduction to Environmental Economics, Second Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press
To be announced
Additional material to be anounced in the course manual on blackboard

Instructional modes
Course occurrence

General
A combination of lectures, discussions, questions for self study and group work.

Lecture

Project

Zelfstudie

Tests
Tentamen
Test weight1
OpportunitiesBlock KW2, Block KW3