73655 - Economic Geography and Environmental Economics

Course contents

- 1st Part-Geography of Sustainable Development (20 h.):

1. Environment, population and resources (Geo-ecosystem and its feedbacks with human activities; bio-resources, agriculture and agri-business; mine resources and energy);
2. World-system and globalisation (The World-system concept and the globalisation of the world economy; changes in the international division of labour; innovation, industrial decentralisation, and firm networks; the evolution of transnational corporations; geography of trade; the organisation of trade and information flows);
3. The economic development: ideologies and policies (from the ideology of growth to the ideology of sustainability; policies for economic integration and development: from the international organisations to the local actions).

- 2nd Part-Economics of Environment and Natural Resources (20 h.):

1. Economics and environmental issues (economists copying with the environmmental issue; environmental ethics; market failures and conservation; the limits to growth; interpreting sustainable development - strong and weak approaches);
2. The assessment of environmental goods (monetary methods; non-monetary methods; environmental risk assessment);
3. Environmental policy measures (the socially optimal level of pollution; the polluter-pays principle; environmental policy tools: incentives, green taxes, permissions and environmental standards; the management of renewable and non renewable natural resources).

Readings/Bibliography

- 1st Part (Geography of Sustainable Development):

• De Matteis, G., Lanza, C., Nano, F., Vanolo, A., Geografia dell'economia mondiale, Quarta Edizione, UTET Università - De Agostini Scuola, Novara, 2010, chapters n. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11.1, and 11.2 ( link [http://www.utetuniversita.it/catalogo/geografia/geografia-dell-economia-mondiale-1775] to the book website); ( link [http://www.utetuniversita.it/catalogo/geografia/geografia-dell-economia-mondiale-1775/risorse-web/dematteis-geografia-economia-mondiale-studenti-13] to didactic materials from the publisher website);
  (ATTENTION! Do not use the previous editions of this book!!);
• More didactic tools may be found in the Moodle informatic platform.

- 2nd Part (Economics of Environment and Natural Resources):

• Turner, R., K., Pearce, D., W., Bateman, I., Economia Ambientale, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2003;
• Teacher's notes distributed during the classes (see the Moodle platform).

Teaching methods

- Lectures;

- Experts' seminars

Assessment methods

- students are evaluated by verifying their knowledge through a written test;

- students may also choose to be evaluated through two distinct written tests: the first, regarding the contents of the 1st Part of the teaching, will take place at the end of the 1st Part's lectures; the second test, regarding the contents of the 2nd Part of the teaching, will take place at the end of the 2nd Part's lectures.

Teaching tools

- Slides

- Distribution of the teacher's notes and Moodle informatic Platform

Office hours

See the website of Massimo Canali