ECONOMICS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The course is elective in the degree course in Economics and Commerce - Economics, Markets and Finance. It aims at introducing students to the economic analysis of natural and environmental resources with a sustainability perspective and to the economic methods and toolsfor environmental policy.
Particular attention is given to the evaluation of the environmental services and their role for social and economic development.
The course uses the water resources sector as a reference to facilitate understanding and give substance to the knowledge acquired.

1. Knowledge and understanding
1.1 Understand and recognize the interdependences that link the economic system and the environmental system.
1.2 know and understand the limits of the markets and their failures
1.3 Understand the links between development, well-being and exhaustible and renewable resources.
1.4 Understand the role of monetary and non-monetary valuation methods in decision-making processes
2 Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
2.1 Analyze the flows and budgets that characterize the relationships between economy and the environment
2.2 Use analysis tools such as indicators and evaluation indices
2.3 Apply simple dynamic and integrated models
2.4 Apply methods of evaluation of non-market goods and services
3 Ability to judge
3.1 Reflect on the relationships between economic activities and the environment with economic analysis methods and tools
3.2 Choose between different approaches for sustainability assessment and environmental valuation
3.3 Reflecting on sustainability as a criterion for long-term economic development

Students must know the fundamentals of Microeconomics.

• Interdependence between economic and environmental systems.
• The sustainability concept and science.
• The market and ecosystem goods and services.
• Relationships between development, welfare and renewable and non-renewable resources.
• Measuring sustainability
• Environmental policies and tools.
• The general problem of monetary and non-monetary evaluation of the environment.
• Valuation methods.
• Decision- and policy-making support in the environmental context.

Teaching materials made available by the instructor through the Moodle web site with the following main reference book:
Common, Michael and Sigrid Stagl, 2005. Ecological economics: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.

The written assessment includes ten open-ended questions or short exercises.
The first question is aimed at evaluating the student's ability to elaborate a detailed and detailed reasoning on the course contents (e.g. 2 pages of text).
The questions and/or subsequent exercises are focused on the different topics of the course, to evaluate the completeness of the preparation and require very concise answers or simple calculations or drawing charts.
The time available is 75 minutes.
Example of questions are available on the moodle platform.
During the exam students cannot use books, notes or electronic media.
An alternative to the final written exame can be proposed to students, consisting in an individual assignment to be developed at home and shared in an ad hoc workshop in class.
Usually, a medium or high grade can be obtained by:
• Attending and participating in class
• Studying course materials during the attendance
• Studying in depth the various topics on recommended texts

The course foresees lecture-style presentations making use of powerpoint slides made available to students through the Moodle site of the course, seminars (given also by external experts), and homework.
The blog functionality provided by the Moodle platform is used for on-line communication between students and the professor.

English

Course materials (powerpoint slides, homework, forum, etc.) can be found in the Ca' Foscari Moodle web site: http://moodle.unive.it/
Therefore, students’ registration in Moodle is needed since the start of the class also for those that do not attend the lectures

Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion. Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments
Ca' Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Natural capital and environmental quality" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development