B1898 - Envonmental Economics and Sustainability

Learning outcomes

The course is centered around the relationship between economic activity and the environment, with particular attention to climate change, sustainability and preservation of natural resources. It will analyze such a relationship through the lens of economics' analytical tools, including, economic modeling, empirical observation, game theory, and behavioral economics. Students will be able to understand the threats to sustainability that emerge as a consequence of economic incentives, and they will learn the policy tools that can be adopted to achieve a sustainable economic system.

Course contents

The first segment of the course introduces the main economic principles related to environmental problems. We focus on environmental policy-making and the practicalities of this sort of policies, both from the perspective of those implementing the policy, but also from the perspective of those facing new regulations as well as the political aspects involved.

The second segment of the course will focus on understanding the barriers that impede cooperation among economic actors, as well as exploring ways to motivate cooperation for the sake of environmental protection. Additionally, this part will examine how to utilize insights from behavioral economics to encourage individuals to adopt sustainable behaviors.

Readings/Bibliography

• Markets and the Environment, by Nathaniel Keohane and Sheila M. Olmstead (Springer Nature, 2016).
• Scientific articles that will be uploaded on Virtuale.

Teaching methods

• Face-to-face lectures
• Interactive class activities

Assessment methods

Assessment methods consist of assignments and a final exam. More details will be provided on the detailed syllabus that will be uploaded on Virtuale.

Grading is as following:

• <18 fail
• 18-23 sufficient
• 24-27 good
• 28-30 very good
• 30L excellent

Teaching tools

On virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Riccardo Ghidoni