enrironment

Economics 255: Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Winter 2003
Instructor: Jim Casey
Contact Info: Rm. 205B, Ext. 8102, Email: Caseyj
Prerequisite: Economics 101

This course meets from 3:00-3:55 and 4:00-4:55 on Tuesdays and 3:00-3:55 on Thursdays.

Contents
(1) Course Objectives
(2) Readings
(3) Requirements
(4) Course Outline

(1)Course Objectives: The course is an introduction to both environmental and natural resource economics. Throughout the semester we will see how economic principles can be and are being used in public and private decision making involving the management and use of environmental and natural resources. Aspects pertaining to fisheries, forests, species diversity, agriculture, solid waste and various economic policies to reduce air, water and toxic pollution will be discussed. The lectures, reading assignments, discussions and papers will be directed at using microeconomic analysis for dealing with environmental and natural resource problems.

(2) Readings:

Kahn, James R. The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources, The Dryden Press, Second Edition 1998.

Selected articles from - Resources for the Future

(3) Requirements: Throughout the semester you will be required to write three policy briefs. Each brief is worth 5% of your grade. There will be three exams each worth 25% and the remaining 10% is for class participation. Notice this does not say class attendance. You will be required to engage actively in the discussions in this class. Whenever we have a reading assignment outside of the text you will need to bring a 100 word abstract to class. This abstract should summarize the article and show reflection on your part that you have not only read, but thought about the article as well.

Assignments                   Due Date         Points
paper      1                        1/30                   5
paper      2                        2/27                 5
paper      3                         4/1                  5

Exam 1 2/04 25

Exam 2 3/04 25

Exam 3 4/05 25

Participation 10

(4) Course Outline

I. Theory and Tools of Environmental and Resource Economics:

week 1 - Why study environmental and natural resource economics? The concept of economic efficiency, Market failure.

(Kahn) chapters 1-3

week 2 - What is economic value?

(Kahn) chapter 4

Library: Non-Market Valuation, Library: Cost-Benefit Analysis

First Policy Question: Should the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be opened for oil exploration? (2 page limit), assigned 1-16-03

ANWR - This site looks very useful. Have fun!

II. Renewable Resources and Agriculture:

week 3 - Fisheries and Water Resources - http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg10.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/issuebriefs/joburg2.pdf

(Kahn) chapters 10, 14

week 4 - Temperate and Tropical Forests - http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg12.pdf

(Kahn) chapters 11, 12

week 5 - Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture - http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg14.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg9.pdf

(Kahn) chapters 16, 13
Library: Biodiversity, Library: Fisheries, Library: Water, Library: Food, Library: Forests

III. Exhaustible Resources and Pollution:
week 6 - Global Climate Change - http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg15.pdf

(Kahn) chapter 6 RFF_Climate Change.ppt

Second Policy Question: Should the United States adopt a policy for mandatory reductions in carbon emissions? If YES, what should the policy be? If NO, why not? (2 page limit), assigned 2-12-03

week 7 - Energy & Air Quality - - http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg22.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg5.pdf

(Kahn) chapters 7, 8

Environmental Protection Agency - Air Trends

EPA's Clean Air Market Programs - Acid Rain

week 8 - Environmental Policy Instruments - http://www.rff.org/disc_papers/PDF_files/0055.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/disc_papers/PDF_files/0153.pdf

- Multipollutant Legislation

Library: Energy, Library: Hazardous Waste and Superfund, Library: Climate, Library: Air

IV. , Development, and Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics, Growth, Poverty
week 9 - Sustainability - http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg18.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/issuebriefs/joburg3.pdf

(Kahn) chapter 5 Environment and Development.ppt

Third Policy Question: Should the United States help fund the development of "green" energy production in Central and South America? (2 page limit), assigned 3-17-03

week 10 - International Trade and the Environment -

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg20.pdf

weeks 11 &12 - Environment and Poverty in LDCs - http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg6.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg1.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg17.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg19.pdf

- http://www.rff.org/Johannesburg/Issuebriefs/joburg21.pdf

(Kahn) chapters 17, 18
Library: Public Health, Library: Sustainable Development