Available in 2024
Course code

ECON3006

Units

10 units

Level

3000 level

Course handbook

Description

This course introduces you to an economic and policy-oriented approach for exploring the environmental system and the role of government in using natural and environmental resources. The course is designed to provide a deeper understanding of the global perspectives on contemporary environmental and natural resource issues and appropriate economic concepts, models, and tools for analysing environmental and natural resource problems and exploring the strengths and weaknesses of alternative viewpoints to inform policy decision-making. Drawing on case studies, the course will delve into how underlying economic concepts and principles informed policy decision-making concerning environmental and natural resources. The course covers a broad range of issues pertaining to natural resource scarcity, market failure, the economics of pollution control locally, nationally, and internationally, efficient use of exhaustible and renewable resources, market-based instruments, environmental cost and benefit analysis, environmental evaluation, global environmental challenges, and the role of government in achieving sustainable economic growth and development.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Newcastle City Precinct

  • Semester 2 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Understand the contemporary environmental and natural resource debates.

2. Critically analyse public policy debates relating to air and water pollution, land and forests, fisheries and recyclables as it pertains to sustainable development and environmental justice.

3. Understand the economic and policy-orientated approach to externalities, benefit-cost analysis, valuation methods and ecosystem goods and services.

4. Undertake a critical analysis of theoretical and empirical literature and comparative assessment of competing theoretical and policy issues using real-world data in a team environment.


Content

This course includes but is not limited to the following topics:

  1. The Vision of the Future
  2. Economic Approach: Property Rights, Externalities and Environmental Problems
  3. Evaluating Trade-Offs & Valuing the Environment
  4. Dynamic Efficiency and Sustainable Development
  5. Depletable Resource Allocation
  6. Energy
  7. Water and Land
  8. Forests and Fisheries
  9. Ecosystem Goods and Services
  10. Economics of Pollution Control
  11. Climate Change
  12. Toxic Substances & The Quest for Sustainable Development and Environmental Justice

Assumed knowledge

Students are expected to have advanced to third year courses.


Assessment items

Written Assignment: Article Review and Video

Project: Group Project Report and Presentation

Formal Examination: Final Examination


Contact hours

Semester 2 - 2024 - Newcastle City Precinct

Workshop-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 13 week(s) starting in week 1
  • Students are expected to complete 4 hours of guided learning via online preparation, lectures, interactive workshops, tutorials, discussion groups or self-directed learning and an additional 6 hours of independent study per week.

Course outline