Environmental Economics Program

Overview

The Environmental Economics program is a comprehensive course that explores the economic theories and principles underlying environmental changes. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to analyze and understand the global environmental changes and develop optimal policies to address these issues.

Objectives

After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

• understand economic theories central to analyzing and comprehending global environmental changes
• understand alternative measures in valuation methods and discuss their justification
• analyze and discuss how these theories can be applied to set benchmarks for optimal behavior
• present and discuss different policy measures and explain their differences

Contents

The course will review studies on human influences on the environment and discuss economic theories that help understand these environmental changes. The topics covered include:

• public goods and externalities
• Malthus and carrying capacity
• steady state economics
• cost-benefit analysis
• theories of optimal resource extraction for renewable and non-renewable resources
• policy instruments such as Pigouvian taxes and depletion quotas
• private sector responses, including the Jevons paradox

Teaching Method

The course consists of:

• two two-hour lectures per week
• one two-hour seminar per week

Contact Hours

The course has the following contact hours:

• weeks 1-3: 3 hours of lectures and 3 hours of seminars
• weeks 5-7: 3 hours of lectures and 3 hours of seminars
• week 8: 3 hours of examination

Study Materials

The course materials include:

• articles downloadable through the digital library
• recommended reading: Perman, R. (2012). Natural Resource and Environmental Economics. Pearson, 4th edition

Assessment and Testing

The final grade consists of:

• 30% group assignments and presentations
• 70% final examination with open questions
• a written three-hour examination (open book, essay style) for the resit
• attendance at tutorials is mandatory, with a maximum of one missed tutorial allowed

Program Details

• Course catalogue number: 6012B0341Y
• Credits: 6 EC (168 hours)
• Language of instruction: English
• Entry requirements: completion of the first-year program
• Time period: semester 1 and semester 2
• College/graduate: College of Economics and Business
• Lecturer: dr. J. Sol (co-ordinator)
• Part of:
  • Bachelor Economie en Bedrijfskunde
  • Overig Bachelor keuzevakken aangeboden door UvA Economie en Bedrijfskunde
  • Other Bachelor electives offered by the UvA Economics and Business

University of Amsterdam

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Overview:

The University of Amsterdam (UvA) is a renowned research university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is one of Europe's leading universities, boasting over 40,000 students, 6,000 staff members, and 3,000 PhD candidates. The UvA is a hub for academic research and education, known for its commitment to connecting scientific research with societal challenges.

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Academic Programs:

The UvA offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Bachelor's:

Over 20 English-taught programs are available.

Master's:

Over 150 English-taught programs are offered.

For Professionals:

Short-term and long-term programs for those seeking to continue their education alongside their careers.

Summer School:

The UvA Summer School provides a variety of courses for international students.

Open Programs:

The UvA offers open programs for those interested in exploring specific topics.

Exchange:

The UvA participates in various exchange programs, allowing students to study abroad.

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Other:

The UvA is known for its strong research focus, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, social sciences, and natural sciences. The university also has a strong commitment to internationalization, with a diverse student body and faculty.