Course description
The course gives an introduction to principles for efficient allocation of environmental and resource goods, and problems related to the environment and resources relevant both for wealthy and poorer countries. The following themes are covered: welfare effects of environmental changes and how these are valued; efficient allocation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources; main types of instruments of environmental policy such as environmental taxes, quotas and direct regulation; long-run issues related to sustainable development, and principles and possibilities for international cooperation in the design of environmental policy.
To give students insight into the most important types of environmental and resource problems, nationally and internationally, and to give them understanding of the economic effects of environmental changes and how these are to be valued. The course also aims to provide understanding of how different types of government policy can be applied to solve environmental and resource problems.
Reading list
Tietenberg, T. 2003, Environmental and natural resource economics, New York: Addison-Wesley. (See Additional reading for information about chapters which are additional reading, not required reading.
Additional reading
Tietenberg, T., 2003, Environmental and natural resource economics, New York: Addison-Wesley. Chapter 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, 21
Cropper, M.L. and Oates, W.E , 1992, Environmental economics: a survey. Journal of Economic Literature, 30, 675-740 (http://www.jstor.org)