Environmental Economics

Aim

After completion of the course the students should be able to: - have knowledge about resource allocation problems in the environmental field, - explain the need for policy instruments in different resource economic areas and explain why the use of policy instruments can contribute to a more sustainable development, - have knowledge of the methods used for valuing environmental goods, as well as their strengths and limitations, - analyse current environmental policy issues based on relevant theories in the environmental and resource economics field, - have knowledge of available environmental policy instruments and problems that can arise for a small country like Sweden to conduct an independent environmental policy.

Content

The course deals with the theory of efficient management of scarce environmental and natural resources. It studies how policy instruments can be used to achieve a more sustainable and efficient use of natural resources. Furthermore valuation of environmental goods is treated. Swedish national and international environmental problems are treated in the course.