Societies all over the world depend on natural resources for their survival. Not only do natural resources fulfill basic needs such as food, water and shelter, but they also produce goods and services such as medicine, air purification and recreation.From a management perspective, natural resources are not only because of their inherent characteristics but also because of the institutional structures that control our use of them. It is therefore not surprising that some of the most serious challenges to the economy and to economists today are related to the environment, especially in the light of the on-going globalization and population growth.
The course is problem-oriented and as such targeted to both PhD students interested in receiving a general overview of the subject environmental economics as well as to those who are interested in pursuing a research career in environmental economics, academically or professionally.
The aim of this course is to highlight some of the most prominent problems typically associated with natural resource management. We choose an environmental problem on the current agenda, which could be local (for example eutrophication of lakes and seas, such as the Baltic Sea ) or global (such as climate change). Each lecture emphasizes different aspects of this problem.
Prerequisites
Students are expected to be familiar with economic theory and mathematics corresponding to the material covered in the first year PhD course program.
Examination
Suggestion: Term paper and attendance and/or assignements.
Teachers
The course is run by the Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics and involves several of Beijer´s researchers; Anne-Sophie Crépin, Therese Lindahl and Ingela Ternström (main teachers) as well as Carl Folke and Aart de Zeeuw.
Guest Lecturers
Rob Hart (SLU), Tore Söderqvist (Enveco miljöekonomi)
