Economics and Policy
University Centre of the West Fjords
| Application deadline: | One month before the course start |
| Tuition fee: |
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| Start date: | April 2014 |
| Credits: | 8 ECTS |
| Duration full-time: | 25 days |
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| Location: |
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| Disciplines: | |
| Delivery mode: | On Campus |
| Educational variant: | Full-time |
| Entry level: | Bachelor |
Description
Various incentives, policies and management initiatives are used to influence human behaviour and to promote sustainable development.
This course gives an overview over environmental and resource management and public policy tools and instruments - in the context of management of coastal and marine environments and stustainable development (SD). It introduces elements of standard economic analysis (neo-classical economics) as well as other approaches, such as ecological economics. It focuses on how to manage for healthy ecosystems and a healtht economy, and aims at providing students with the necessary tools to assess objectives and to make choices when it comes to environmental and resource management in coastal and marine regions.
The course is broken into three sections:
* In the first section we look at neo-classical economics; economics tools of environmental analysis and valuation both withins markets and when markets are absent. Special emphasis will be given to implementation of these tools in practical instances of decision making concerning use or conservation of the coastal and marine resources.
* In the second session we focus on relevant, international instruments (conventions, declarations etc). We assess the concept SD from economic, social and environmental perspectives; compare the concepts growth and SD and ask if the two are compatible. Initiatives and instruments such as Rio, Johannesburg, Agenda 21, Environmental Kuznets Curve; Resource Curse; Porter hypothesis, and Sustainability indicators at micro and macro levels will be covered.
* In the third session we examine the ideological foundations behind environmental and resource policy, main and assess various policy tools and instruments in coastal and ocean situations. Focus will be on instruments, policies and management approaches in selected case studies, in particular fisheries policies.
Contents
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will:
* have gained a systematic understanding of the role of policy in the sustainable management of coastal and marine areas
* be able to discuss and apply theories of environmental economics and various policy instruments
* be able to determine which research methods in the field of economics are suitable for a given research question dealing with economic aspects of coastal or marine areas
* be able to develop/plan, draft, revise and complete a research writing project
* be able to propose a realistic, detailed policy recommendation by using the course concepts
* be able to share this work effectively in a short presentation.
Assessment
* Policy research proposal (due on the first day of week 2) 5%
* Research paper draft 1 (due on the first day of week three) 15%
* Research paper presentation (due on the last day of week 4) 10%
* Research paper final submission (due on the last day of week 4) 20%
* Problem sets x 2 (25%) (in class quizzes)
* Reading Commentaries (6 in total due at beginning of class, worth 3% each) 18%
* Position paper (due on the last day of week three) 7%
* Total 100%
Lecturers
Dr. Sabau currently teaches at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, the western campus of Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. Among her courses are: Principles of Micro and Macroeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, Environmental Economics, Ecological Economics and a senior seminar in Environmental Studies. Her research interests include theoretical aspects of the knowledge society and knowledge-based economy; the theory of choice and moral knowledge; the economics of sustainable development; environmental and natural resource economics; ecological economics and problem-based learning.
Requirements
The conditions for admission to any course are the same as for admission to the program as a whole, namely that applicants have completed a university degree, which may be a B.A., B.S., B.Ed. or other comparable degree. All applications for participation in individual courses are subject to the approval of the master's program committee, whose review process can take as long as one week.
It is important that all applicants have a good command of English, as all instruction takes place in English.
Application forms will be accessible both electronically and in PDF form when the admissions process is opened at the beginning of September.
IELTS
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
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