Environmental Economics EC346-001 Fall 2016 Bentley University General Course Information Days, Time, Location and Dates Mondays 2:00 pm => 3:20 pm Thursdays 2:00 pm => 3:20 pm Classroom: SMI 303 Professor: Bryan Snyder Office: G274 Adamian Office Hours: Mondays 10:30 => 12:00pm Thursdays 10:30 => 12:00am Office Phone: #781-891-2446 E-mail address: [email protected]Website: http://blackboard.bentley.edu/ Course Overview Environmental economics is a particularly timely and complex subject. How do we analyze and understand the relationship between complex ecological systems and human economic behavior? We shall endeavor in this course to understand the assumptions and methodology that are used by different schools of economic thought in regards to the environment as well as how ecological systems interrelate with human behavior and each other. The first part of this course is devoted to understanding the complex relationship between human beings and their environment. We will then take a brief foray into Thomas Robert Malthus’s work on population and update this “dismal science” as to modern assessments of population, population dynamics and sustainability. Next we shall master the application of neoclassical theory to the environment. We shall pay particular attention to price theory and the derived theories of externalities and market failure. Attention will be paid to the enabling assumptions, logic and structure of this theory and its policy implications. We will test this theory by applying it to real world environmental case studies in order to judge the relative “robustness” of the analysis. We shall then cover topics such as benefit-cost analysis, sustainability, and environmental policy. We will then suggest alternative modes of analysis and evaluate their relative strengths and weaknesses. This class will focus on understanding theory and empirically testing theory through concrete applications and case studies. It is an absolute necessity that students treat the subject matter as complex and often contradictory and be prepared to think. This course also necessitates a substantial time commitment by the student, as there is a large amount of reading, research, and writing involved in this class. The goal of the course is to broaden the students’ understanding of environmental issues and how economics can be used to address them. The material covered is fascinating, timely and relevant. Students will also come away better informed about the strengths and pitfalls of different economic approaches.
Transcript
Environmental Economics EC346-001 Fall 2016
Bentley University
General Course Information Days, Time, Location and Dates Mondays 2:00pm => 3:20pm Thursdays 2:00pm => 3:20pm
Environmental economics is a particularly timely and complex subject. How do we analyze and understand the relationship between complex ecological systems and human economic behavior? We shall endeavor in this course to understand the assumptions and methodology that are used by different schools of economic thought in regards to the environment as well as how ecological systems interrelate with human behavior and each other. The first part of this course is devoted to understanding the complex relationship between human beings and their environment. We will then take a brief foray into Thomas Robert Malthus’s work on population and update this “dismal science” as to modern assessments of population, population dynamics and sustainability. Next we shall master the application of neoclassical theory to the environment. We shall pay particular attention to price theory and the derived theories of externalities and market failure. Attention will be paid to the enabling assumptions, logic and structure of this theory and its policy implications. We will test this theory by applying it to real world environmental case studies in order to judge the relative “robustness” of the analysis. We shall then cover topics such as benefit-cost analysis, sustainability, and environmental policy. We will then suggest alternative modes of analysis and evaluate their relative strengths and weaknesses. This class will focus on understanding theory and empirically testing theory through concrete applications and case studies. It is an absolute necessity that students treat the subject matter as complex and often contradictory and be prepared to think. This course also necessitates a substantial time commitment by the student, as there is a large amount of reading, research, and writing involved in this class. The goal of the course is to broaden the students’ understanding of environmental issues and how economics can be used to address them. The material covered is fascinating, timely and relevant. Students will also come away better informed about the strengths and pitfalls of different economic approaches.
Prerequisites Prerequisites: EC111 & EC112 are required before attending this class.
Required Texts: There are two required books for the course.
THE TEXT: Eban Goodstein’s Economics and the Environment, 7th edition Wiley 2014 ISBN : 978-1-118-53972-9 Resources of which are available for Students at: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-EHEP002949.html Purchase Options Wiley E-Text Economics and the Environment, 7th Edition ISBN : 978-1-118-80546-6 544 pages October 2013 $69.50 BUY Paperback Economics and the Environment, 7th Edition ISBN : 978-1-118-53972-9 544 pages January 2014 $188.95 BUY
The Economics of the Environment Dollars & Sense - Reuss, Snyder, & Sturr Edition: 3rd Date of publication: June 2015 ISBN: 978-1-939402-20-2 NOTE: YOU MUST PURCHASE THE Third EDITION of this Reader!!!!!!! I have all sorts of new material in this which we will be using this semester. DO NOT buy an old edition of this Reader!
Grading Policy
Grades will be based on Two exams and the quality of 12 Reaction Pieces (short essays) on a host of seminal environmental topics most of which can be found in your Reader; “The Economics of the Environment” Third edition. The First Exam will cover Part #1 How much Pollution is Too Much? (Chapters 2 => 9) of the Text and will be held on October 24th. The Final Exam (Parts #2, #3, #4) will be held on Monday December 19th 11:00am => 1:00pm
Reaction Pieces “Stations of the Subject: Environmental Economics”
A few summers back, I found myself trudging up a steep hill in the Tuscan city of Greve in Chianti. Along this stone trail to the top of this hill overlooking the scenic old city were ceramic representations of the Stations of the Cross placed at regular intervals. For those uninitiated in the glories of Roman Catholicism, The Stations of the Cross consist of 14 moments of the final days of Jesus beginning with Jesus entering the Garden of Gethsemane and ending up with Jesus being laid in the tomb.
Perhaps it was the oppressively hot weather and or the lingering effects of the stout Tuscan wine, but it struck me that this system of contemplative respite along the arduous ascent of the hill (metaphorically speaking, of faith or in our case knowledge) was a particularly effective method of gaining an understanding of a subject. And thus, from Stations of the Cross we derive the Stations of the Subject of Environmental Economics.
I have chosen 12 seminal “moments” in this evolving field of Environmental Economics of which I will want you to contemplate, while catching your breath from Eban’s text and my reader. I will provide a reflective and or analytical question on the reading (See Blackboard Files under Assignments) of which you must provide an answer in from about a page and a half to five pages double spaced. I want you to get into the habit of reading, contemplating, and writing in an expository fashion. You can write these Reaction Pieces either in a journal format or in a more formal MLA structure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H3m2wQQAOM
In our Third edition of The Economics of the Environment, Alejandro Reuss suggested we create nine “Spotlights,” or a group of essays on a particular topic, which will “illuminate” the subject and are thus worthy of our scrutiny and critical writing. “Reaction Piece Worthy” materials! We shall use these Spotlights when possible!
I will collect your work every Friday the week that they are due. I have many students and thus it is incumbent upon you to meet your deadlines with retentive precision. (I will mark down late Reaction Pieces) Have fun with these! Dig deep and scrutinize. Give me quality work! I have chosen these works specifically for the richness of their content and the importance of their contribution to the subject.
Quizzes will only occur in a punitive fashion if students are not prepared for class and are not covering the assigned material. There are also The “Tilly 8” Assumptions along with the O’Sullivan & Bluestone’s Axioms must be memorized and thus, the subject of painful quiz on September 8th!!!
Attendance
Is Mandatory. I insist that students are well prepared having read all of the assigned materials from the Class Calendar before the assigned class in order to understand my lecture. There is an awful lot of material that I will be covering in this class’s lectures that are not found in the textbook, and thus, your attendance is proportionate to your desire to actually pass this course. You are responsible for all of the assigned reading.
Academic Integrity
This class will be conducted in full accordance with Bentley’s policies about academic integrity and the Bentley Honor Code. The students of Bentley, in a spirit of mutual trust and fellowship, aware of the values of a true education and the challenges posed by the world, do here-by pledge to accept the responsibility for honorable conduct in all academic activities, to assist one another in maintaining and promoting personal integrity, to abide by the principles set forth in the Honor Code, and to follow the procedures and observe the policies set forth in the Academic Integrity System. The Bentley Honor Code formally acknowledges the necessity for students to take responsibility for their own ethical behavior. Through this code, all students are expected to maintain academic integrity in their own work. In addition, students are expected to take responsible action when there is a reason to suspect academic dishonesty. Success of the code depends upon each student’s good will to care enough for other students to counsel them to abandon dishonesty for their own sake and that of the community. Thus, the Honor Code asks all students to share responsibility for maintaining the integrity of Bentley academics.
Students with Disabilities
Bentley University abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which stipulate no student shall be denied the benefits of an education solely by reason of a disability. Any student eligible for and needing academic adjustments or accommodations because of a disability should contact the Coordinator of Disability Services in LaCava 166 within the first three weeks of the semester. For further information on documenting a learning disability, please go to: http://campus-life.bentley.edu/student-services/disability-services
Office of Academic Services
The Office of Academic Services offers a number of support services including tutoring if necessary. Visit them at:
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment =>1.1 – Rees 1.2 –Boyce1.3- Rowe 1.4 - Hsu 1.5 – Durning 1.6 - Schor– 1.7 Williamson
#1 The Lorax
September 1st
Part I: How Much Pollution is too Much?
Goodstein =>Chapter #2 Ethics and Economics
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment =>1.1 – Rees 1.2 –Boyce1.3- Rowe 1.4 - Hsu 1.5 – Durning 1.6 - Schor– 1.7 Williamson
#1 Due
September 5th
LABOR DAY
NO CLASS NONE
WHATSOEVER!
September 8th
Goodstein =>Chapter #2 Ethics and Economics
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment =>1.1 – Rees 1.2 –Boyce1.3- Rowe 1.4 - Hsu 1.5 – Durning 1.6 - Schor– 1.7 Williamson
Quiz: “Tilly 8”+ O’Sullivan & Bluestone’s Axioms
#2 E. F. Schumacher#2 Due
September 12th
Goodstein =>Chapter # 11
Is More Really Better? Consumption and Welfare
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment =>1.1 – Rees 1.2 –Boyce1.3- Rowe 1.4 - Hsu 1.5 – Durning 1.6 - Schor– 1.7 Williamson
#3 The Tragedy of the Commons-Hardin
September 15th
Goodstein =>Chapter #3
Pollution and Resource Degradation as Externalities
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment :1.1 – Rees 7.2 – Scott 9.1 - Barnes
Rachel Carson: Silent Spring Intro and chapters 1 => r or simply the first New Yorker article.
#3 Due September 19th
Goodstein =>Chapter #3
Pollution and Resource Degradation as Externalities
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment :1.1 – Rees 7.2 – Scott 9.1 - Barnes
#4 Ehrlich vs Simon-“The Bet”
September 22nd
Goodstein =>Chapter #4
The Efficiency Standard
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment : 2.1 – Heinzerling/Ackerman 2.2 – Boyce 2.3 Barbier 2.4 – Bond 2.5 – Boyce 2.6 – Friedman 6.1 – Ackerman 6.2 – Garrett - Peltier
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment:
#4 Due
September 26th
Goodstein =>Chapter #4
The Efficiency Standard
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment : 2.1 – Heinzerling/Ackerman 2.2 – Boyce 2.3 Barbier 2.4 – Bond 2.5 – Boyce 2.6 – Friedman 6.1 – Ackerman 6.2 – Garrett - Peltier
#5 GAIA
September 29th
Goodstein =>Chapter #5
Measuring the Benefits of Environmental Protection
#5 Due
October 3rd
Goodstein =>Chapter #6
Measuring the Costs of Environmental Protection
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment: 2.1 – Heinzerling/Ackerman 2.4 - Bond Rachel Carson: Silent Spring Intro and chapters 1 => 5 or simply the first New Yorker article.
October 6th
Goodstein =>Chapter #7
The Safety Standard
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment:=> 4.2 – Rodriguez 4.3 - Harden
Rachel Carson: Silent Spring Intro and chapters 1 => 5 or simply the first New Yorker article.
October 10th October 13th
October Break!
#6 Concord Bottled Water Ban
Goodstein => Chapter #8
The Sustainability Standard
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment 1.1 – Rees 2.3 – Barbier 5.6 –
Nawabi 7.1 - Ikerd 7.2 – Scott 9.3 - Cleveland
#6 Due
October 17th
Goodstein => Chapter #9
Measuring Sustainability
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 1.1 – Rees 2.3 - Barbier 7.1
Ikerd 7.2 – Scott 7.5 – Scharber 9.3 - Cleveland
#7 Varmints
October 20th
Goodstein => Chapter #10
Natural Resources and Ecosystems Services
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 2.3 – Barbier 5.2 – Boyce 5.4 – MacEwan 5.7 – “Whose Right To Water?”Murray
[Palm Oil – 4.6 – 4.7 Bacon – Letters]
Video Presentation:
October 24th October 27th
EXAM #1 Part #1 How much Pollution is Too Much?
Chapters 2 => 9
Part II: Is Government up to the Job?
Goodstein => Chapter #12
The Political Economy of Environmental Regulation
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => Peltier 2.4 – Barbier 3.1 – Garrett-Peltier 3.2 – Garrett 3.3 - Dancs 5.8 - Larson 5.9 – Grande 5.2 - Boyce
#7 Due
October 31st
Part II: Is Government up to the Job?
Goodstein => Chapter #13
An Overview of Environmental Legislation
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment =>
#8 The Jevons Paradox
November 3rd
Part III: How Can We Do Better?
Goodstein => Chapter #14
The Regulatory Record: Achievements and Obstacles
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 7.2 – Scott
#8 Due
November 7th November 10th
Part III: How Can We Do Better?
Goodstein => Chapter #15
Incentive-Based Regulation: Theory Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 6.3 – Breslow
#9 Fish Banks
Goodstein => Chapter #16
Incentive-Based Regulation: Practice Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 8.2 – Orlando
#9 Due
November 14th
Goodstein => Chapter #17
Promoting Clean Technology: Theory
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment =>9.3 – Cleveland 9.4 – Boyce 1.7 – Williamson 9.2 - Dennis
#10 Environmental Racism
November 17th
Goodstein => Chapter #18
Energy Policy and the Future
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 3.3 – Dancs 8.1 – Gelbspan 7.1 – Ikerd 9.4 – Boyce
#10 Due
November 21st November 24th
Part lV: Can We Resolve Global Issues?
Goodstein => Chapter #19
Poverty, Population, and the Environment
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 4.6 – Bacon 4.7 – 8.1 – Gelbspan 5.2 – Orlando 7.4 – Moseley 5.6 – Ackerman
Thanksgiving!!!!!!
November 28th
Goodstein => Chapter #19
Poverty, Population, and the Environment
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 4.6 – Bacon 4.7 – 8.1 – Gelbspan 5.2 – Orlando 7.4 – Moseley 5.6 – Ackerman
#11 Malthus On Population
December 1st
Goodstein => Chapter #20
Environmental Policy in Poor Countries
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => => 5.6 – Nawabi 4.6-4.7 – Bacon 8.1 – Gelbspan 8.2 – Orlando 7.4 – Moseley 6.7 – Gallagher
[Mining – 3.4- 3.5 –Broad]
#11 Due
December 5thst
Goodstein => Chapter #20
Environmental Policy in Poor Countries
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => => 5.6 – Nawabi 4.6-4.7 – Bacon 8.1 – Gelbspan 8.2 – Orlando 7.4 – Moseley 6.7 – Gallagher
[Mining – 3.4- 3.5 –Broad]
#12 Climate Change, Drought, Corn, Food Prices
December 8th
Goodstein => Chapter #21
The Economics of Global Agreements
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 6.1 – Ackerman 6.6 – Bond
December 12th
Goodstein => Chapter #21
The Economics of Global Agreements
Snyder: The Economics of the Environment => 6.1 – Ackerman 6.6 – Bond
