ECONOMICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT: AN INTRODUCTION

The course aims at providing students with the language and introductory knowledge of economic analysis applied to the environmental context, within a sustainability science perspective (i.e. the integration of the economic, social and environmental dimensions). The course starts from the fundamentals of microeconomics and then it moves to the bases and the main tools of economic analysis, evaluation methods and the principles of management of natural and environmental resources. Emphasis is on the evaluation of the services of the environment and their role for social and economic development.
Case studies and examples will be used to illustrate the main concepts and open issues, with the "Venice case" used as a reference throughout the course. Climate change will be explored in more detail as an example of an international environmental problem. The course will provide students with a working knowledge of the economic approaches for analyzing and managing the environment, as well as with the opportunity to enrich their own economic view about the environment and sustainability.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1 Understand the main economic, social and environmental dynamics that contribute to defining possible solutions to environmental problems
1.2 Know and understand the principles and the main approaches to environmental economics (especially in microeconomic terms) and to the economic evaluation of environmental resources.
1.3 Know and understand the limits of the markets and their failures
1.4 Understand the links between development, well-being and exhaustible and renewable resources.
1.5 Understand the role of monetary and non-monetary valuation methods in decision-making processes
2 Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1 Understand and represent the complex nature of environmental problems, drivers and implications in economic, social and territorial terms, providing economic actors and decision makers with conceptual models for analyzing and solving environmental problems
2.2 Analyze the flows and budgets that characterize the relationships between economy and the environment
2.3 Adopt a perspective based upon complex systems and system dynamics to develop cognitive and possibly operational model
2.4 Apply methods of evaluation of non-market goods and services
3 Ability to judge
3.1 Reflect on the relationships between economic activities and the environment with a minimum set of economic analysis methods and tools
3.2 Reflecting on sustainability as a criterion for long-term human development

This course is an elective course offered to students enrolled in the Master Degree in the Environmental Humanities. No prior background in the subject is required. Students from other degrees wishing to take the course are advised to contact the instructor.

- The logic and ethics of economics
- The concept and science of sustainability
- The market, demand and supply, consumers and producers
- Interdependence between economic and environmental systems
- The market and ecosystems
- Environmental policy instruments
- The general problem of - monetary and non-monetary - environmental valuation
- Relationships between development, welfare and renewable and non-renewable resources

Teaching materials made available by the instructor through the Moodle web site with the following main reference books:
Common, Michael and Sigrid Stagl, 2012. Ecological economics: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.
The Core Team. The Economy. Selected chapters. Freely available at https://www.core-econ.org/the-economy/

The instructor will define the exam mode with students attending the course, choosing between two options:
1. written assignment in the classroom
2. assignment of individual tasks with presentation of results
Students not attending the course should opt for the written exam.
In the first case, the written assessment includes ten open-ended questions or short exercises.
The first question is aimed at evaluating the student's ability to elaborate a detailed and detailed reasoning on the course contents (e.g. 2 pages of text).
The questions and/or subsequent exercises are focused on the different topics of the course, to evaluate the completeness of the preparation and require very concise answers or simple calculations or drawing charts.
The time available is 75 minutes.
Example of questions are available on the moodle platform.
During the exam students cannot use books, notes or electronic media.
Usually, a medium or high grade can be obtained by:
• Attending and participating in class
• Studying course materials during the attendance
• Studying in depth the various topics on recommended texts
In the second case, the exam contents and modality will defined also upon the number of students.

The course foresees lecture-style presentations making use of powerpoint slides made available to students through the Moodle site of the course, seminars (given also by external experts), homework and students’ presentations.
The blog functionality provided by the Moodle platform is used for on-line communication between students and the professor.

English

Course materials (powerpoint slides, homework, forum, etc.) can be found in the Ca' Foscari Moodle web site: http://moodle.unive.it/
Therefore, students’ registration in Moodle is needed since the start of the class also for those that do not attend the lectures

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development