EVSC 239: Environmental Economics and Development – EVSC 239 (Spring 2011)
syllabus –> syllabus
From Reader 1.a and Reader 1.b
Slides from Economics in Context -> GDAE – econ in context
Slides from microeconomics and environment –> –micro and env
To be read by Thursday March 10:
from: Reader 1a: Economics in Context and Microeconomics and Environment;
from: Reader 1b: Chapters 6, 7, and 10.
Extra reading: this blog post on the topic of the tragedy of commons, and read about this excellent book (“governing the commons (1990)) here
more information and case studies on measuring/accounting for costs/benefits of climate change
– an excellent review here –> Calculating the true cost of climate change (2011) – Yale
– What Will Climate Change Cost Us? (2008) – CATO [supporting ‘free markets’]
Slides from Macro and Measurement – macro-measurements
– Reading: the first chapter of the book: Priceless. Here.
Readings:
Notes on valuing the environment -> notes for students on valuing the env
Notes on valuation methods -> notes for students on valuation methods
Notes on property rights and externalities -> notes on property rights and externalities
additional information for you on discount rates (if you’re confused) – see here
confused about cap and trade? see here – Cap and Trade for Dummies(2)
Lecture – Review and concepts – review and concepts
ALL THE ABOVE WILL BE ON EXAM 1
Lecture – Chapters 5 and 6 chapter 5-abiotic resources and chapter 6
Lecture – Chapter 14 Chapter 14-T and Chapter 12 leb env + T agriculture 12_final
Student blogs:
- tomatoes – http://lebanesetomato.wordpress.com/
- tobacco – http://lebanesetobaccopackage.blogspot.com/
- pine nuts – http://pinenutslebanon.wordpress.com/
- chicken – http://chickeninvestigators.wordpress.com/
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Reader 2
– Chapter 14: Fisheries Chapter 14-T. Be sure to read these links as well: (1) subsidies and overfishing; (2) what is a fisheries subsidy; (3) ethical tuna – one small victory and (4) The End of the Line – website
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attention: the material listed below are from last year’s course. This year’s course is markedly different.
EVSC 239: Environmental Economics and Development
EVSC 239 Syllabus — syllabus
- Go to this website –> textbook site
Websites for your perusal
- Environmental Economics – http://www.env-econ.net/
February 25:
– Assignment. Must have already read GDAE Economics in Context. (economics_in_context_goals_issues_and_behavior) This reading was assigned in class on February 20.
– Assignment. Read Titenberg’s Chapters 2 and 3 by Friday February 27.
February 27:
– Lectures: (1) Powerpoint slides for Chapter 1 (ppt01_final); and (2) Powerpoint slides for Chapter 2 (chapter-2)
– Assignment: Online quiz for Chapters 1 and 2, due Monday March 2
– Assignment: Answer this question via email:“Positive and negative feedback loops lie at the core of systematic thinking about the future. As you examine the key forces shaping the future, what examples of positive and negative feedback loops can you uncover?” Answer in an attachment. Do not send me a blank email in the body in the email. Due Monday March 2 by 8 am.
March 4
– Be sure to have read Titenberg’s Chapters 2 and 3
– Lecture (will finish Chapter 2 and start (and maybe finish) Chapter 3). Slides for Chapter 3 -> tietenberg_8e_ppt03_final
– Assignment: Do online quiz for Chapter 3 by 8 am on Friday March 6th
– Read/Skim: (1) Economic Assessment of Environmental Degradation due to July 2006 Hostilities. Document of the World Bank. October 11, 2007. Report No. 39787-LB; (lb_env_oct2007) and (2) What is in a number? shorter-what-is-in-a-number
March 5
– be sure to have finished the readings listed above. will finish chapter 3 today
– Assignment additional readings: (1) Cost of environmental degradation – the case of Lebanon and Tunisia. 2004. World Bank paper. Do read it and do know the methodology. (download the document and do read it.); (2) the economics of climate change (the_economics_of_global_climate_change); and (3) Stern Review – the Executive Summary (30_10_06_exec_sum)
– Lectures: (1) Chapter 3 plus (chapter-3-plus) ; and (2) The Economics of Global Climate Change (the_economics_of_global_climate_change_figures2)
– Excellent website: Ecosystem Valuation
March 11
- Homework given. Homework due March 18 by 8 am via email.
March 13
* Readings: (1) Microeconomics and the environment (microeconomics_and_the_environment); (2) The Tragedy of the Commons; (3) The Myth of the Tragedy of the Commons; (4) Tuna
Lecture: micro-and-env
March 18
*Readings: Read Chapters 4 and 5
* Assignment: Prisoner game (email me your results and thoughts by Monday March 23) plus Chapter 4 online quiz
* Lecture of chapter 4 – chapter4
March 20
* Lecture of chapters 4 and 5 – march-20-4-and-5
Exam I is on March 27. It will be comprehensive
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April 1
* Additional reading. (1) Working paper. Ecological Macroeconomics: Consumption, Investment, and Climate Change. Jonathan M. Harris. July 2008. download here -> 08-02ecologmacroeconjuly08;(2) read this entry in the science news blog ; (3) read Chapters 6 and 7
* Chapter 6 – population
April 3:
* Lecture for Chapters 6 (chapter-6-pop) and 7 (chapter-7)
* Homework due Wednesday April 8. (see the last slide on the chapter 6 lecture ppt)
*Make up test for Jihane Tuesday April 7
By May 5
* Have completed Chapters 8 chapter-08_final2 and 13 chapter-13
* optional reading on aquaculture: FAO report: Impacts of aquaculture on environment
May 6
* will finish Chapter 13 and begin new readings (market failure – from ‘ecological economics’)
* extra credit: Check this out for EC: http://dsl.org/copyleft and write me your thoughts via email in 2 weeks
* Exam 22 is Friday May 22nd
* Homework 2 due May 5
May 8
* the new book, Ecological Economics: Principles and Applications, is also available online here
* first part of the project due today
* for articles on environmental economics, refer to Kevin Gallagher’s regular Guardian editorials
* schedule an appointment with me to see your grades
* Chapter 10 in Ecological Economics – daly – chapter 10
May 20:
– have read Chapters 13 and 15 in Ecological Economics. Will cover Chapter 15 in class, and Chapter 13 is a review of previous material discussed.
– Chapter 15 lecture Chapter 15-for students
Exam 11 will cover all material covered since Exam 1.
=== Project deadlines(details – final project) ===
1. By the 8th of May (or sooner), you are requested to define your subject. To do this, you should read 4-5 newspapers articles about the topic. Among others, you can look inside The Economist and The GDAE (http://ase.tufts.edu/gdae/). Then you have to write one page (maximum) where you explain your subject and the basic points that you think should be treated based on your readings. E-mail me your discussion and submit a copy of the articles.
2. On May 15, you are requested to submit a list of 8-10 references (books and articles – not websites) that you will use in your article. Choose only articles and books that you will actually need to write the final paper.
3. On May 29, you must submit: a 4-page preliminary draft version of your paper. 2,000 – 3,000 words. Correct references.
4. Between June 12 to June 15, you have to submit the final version of the paper (10 pages). E-mail me the document. 7,000 – 9,000 words. Correct references.
—
May 27:
* Finish Chapter 15 and begin (and finish) Chapter 17
* Read Chapter 17 and the following GDAE readings
–> Trade and the Environment Trade_and_the_Environment-1
–> Corporate Power in a Global Environment – Corporate_Power_in_a_Global_Economy-1
–> (and in case you haven’t read it yet, be sure to read Macro_Measurement_Environmental_and_Social_Dimensions-2)
–> and read this opinion piece supporting Lebanon’s joining the WTO – and this opinion piece opposing Lebanon’s joining the WTO (in Arabic), and this shorter piece (also in Arabic)
–> Your functional income (as percentages and not as absolute numbers) due next week
* Note the deadline of the draft paper by Friday
June 3:
* Chapters 18 and 20 lectures – chapters 18 + 20
June 10
* Chapters 22 and 23 – chapters 22 and 23
* Extra reading: Read themes, approaches and differences with environmental economics – Themes, approaches and differences with environmental economics
(Chapter 21 is for you to read independently)
Comprehensive Final Exam June 19: 11 to 2 pm
Green Resistance (teaching, organizing, and eco-thinking) 
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