Download environmental economics and policy spring 2016 course description

DRAFT December 18th, 2015
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND POLICY
SPRING 2016
Professor:
Kelcie Ralph, PhD
Course:
970 619 01
833 619 01
3 credits
Class:
Wednesday 9:50 am to 12:30 pm
Room 253
Civic Square Building
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 1-3 pm
Room 369
Civic Square Building
Email:
[email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Scarcity and choice are basic economic conditions that are inevitably present when determining
environmental goals and implementing environmental policies. The role of economics in
environmental issues and, especially, in the formation of environmental policy including
environmental problems in air, water, land use, and natural environments.
Economics offers a number of tools to identify, prioritize, and address environmental issues. The
purpose of this course is to understand the role of economics in environmental planning and
public policy.
The following schedule lists the class topics and assignment due dates. As you can see,
something is due nearly every class session. This is intended to encourage deep learning. A
single final exam encourages students to cram to memorize material and then promptly forget
everything. In this course, you will engage with the material multiple times throughout the
semester through written assignments, in-class activities, and quizzes.
1
DRAFT December 18th, 2015
SCHEDULE
Date
Class session
W1
Jan 20
W2
Jan 27
W3
Feb 3
W4
Feb 10
W5
Feb 17
W6
Feb 24
W7
March 2
W8
March 9
Activity: Introductions
Lecture: Topic 1
Activity: Topic 1
Lecture: Topic 2
Activity: Topic 2
Lecture: Topic 3
Activity: Topic 3
Lecture: Topic 4
Activity: Topic 4
Lecture: Topic 5
Activity: Topic 5
Lecture: Topic 6
Activity: Topic 6
Lecture: Review session
Activity: Mid-terms
Lecture: Topic 7
Deliverables
March 16
Spring Break: No class
W9
March 23
Lecture: Topic 8
Activity: Topic 8
W10
March 30
W11
April 6
W12
April 13
Activity: Work in groups on
teaching materials
Lecture: Guest Lecture
Student teaching: Group 1
Student teaching: Group 2
Activity: Organizing your
argument
Student teaching: Group 3
Student teaching: Group 4
Activity: Editing
W13
April 20
Student teaching: Group 5
Student teaching: Group 6
Activity: Polishing
W14
April 27
Student teaching: Group 7
Student teaching: Group 8
Activity: Wrap up
W15
May 5
Due: Reflection 1
Due: Reflection 2
Due: Reflection 3
Due: Proposed topic
Due: Reflection 4
Due: Reflection 5
Due: Annotated bibliography 1
Due: Reflection 6
Due: Mid-term
Due: Reflection 7 (on Topic 8)
Due: Annotated bibliography 2
Due: Draft teaching materials
Due: Final teaching materials
(for all groups)
Due: Research paper draft 1
Due: Research paper draft 2
Due: Research paper, final
draft
2
DRAFT December 18th, 2015
CLASS FORMAT
The class is divided into three parts:
 Part 1: Building an economic toolkit
 Part 2: Applying the toolkit
Format for Part 1
Part 1 extends from Week 1 to Week 9. In the second half of each class session I will lecture on
new material. We will discuss the topic and/or do an activity to apply the topic during the first
half of the next class session. During the week you will be expected to read the related material,
submit a discussion paper, and come to class prepared to participate in the discussion (and do
well on quizzes).
Format for Part 2
In weeks 11-14 groups of students will teach the class for one hour. Each group will prepare a
lecture, lead the class through an activity, and an assessment (e.g. a quiz or writing activity).
There will be two student-teaching teams in each class session. Depending on the number of
students in the course, I may lecture in place of a student group. In the final 30 minutes of the
class session we will conduct a writing activity to prepare for the final paper. Draft teaching
materials are due in Week 10 and students will work in groups during Week 10 to finalize those
materials.
Class conduct
I find that students are more engaged when they are not distracted by their computers or cell
phones. As such, laptops and mobile phones are not allowed in class.
Taking notes and organizing material into your own words fosters learning. As such, I will not
share lecture notes or slides. I recommend taking notes in class. If you miss class for any reason,
make sure to get the materials you missed from a classmate.
ASSIGNMENTS
Quizzes (100 points)
I will offer several unannounced quizzes that cover material from the current week’s readings or
from previous sessions. Students may use a one-page (front and back) set of notes on their quiz.
If you are absent, you receive a quiz score of zero. The two lowest quiz scores will be dropped.
Mid-term Examination (115 points)
I will distribute a take-home mid-term on March 2, 2016. The exam is due March 9th. The exam
will cover Part 1 of the course (Building an economic toolkit) and will include a mix of multiple
choice, short answer, and essay questions. Students may not collaborate on the exam.
Reflection Pieces (60 points)
Reflection pieces are short write-ups of 500-600 words. Specific topics and reflection questions
will be distributed in class. There are seven assigned reflection pieces. Your lowest score will be
dropped.
3
DRAFT December 18th, 2015
In-class activities (50 points)
You are expected to participate in class discussions and activities.
Student-led teaching (50 points)
With a team, you will teach a one-hour class session on an application of environmental
economics. You will prepare a reading guide, deliver a lecture, lead a class activity, and design an
assessment. A list of suggested topics will be provided, although groups are welcome to propose
alternative topics.
Research paper (125 points)
Each student will submit a research paper of 4,000 to 5,000 words. Full formatting details will
be shared in class. Writing is a process and nearly all writers need extensive edits to produce a
strong manuscript. To practice this process, we will spend class time throughout the semester
writing, editing, and improving our drafts. In addition to a final draft (Due: May 4), you will be
required to submit five interim assignments: two annotated bibliographies, two drafts, and a
peer evaluation (see the Schedule for for due dates).
Table 1 Class assignments
Number of points
Share of final grade
Quizzes
100 points
20%
Mid-term
115 points
23%
Reflection Pieces
60 points
12%
In-class activities
50 points
10%
Total=50 points
10%
Student-led teaching

Draft teaching materials
10

Final teaching materials
20

Presentation
10

Self-evaluation
10
Final paper
Total=125 points

Annotated bibliography 1
10

Annotated bibliography 2
10

Draft 1
30

Draft 2
30

Peer evaluation
10

Final draft
35
Total Points
500
4
25%
100%
DRAFT December 18th, 2015
TEXTS:
There is no textbook for the course. I will provide course materials on Sakai.
ABSENCES:
Students must be in class to participate in discussions, take quizzes, or submit reflection papers.
As such, attendance is required. Students who miss class will receive a zero for participation that
day and will earn a zero on any quizzes (if applicable). Reflection pieces may be emailed to me
by the start of class. I drop the lowest score for quizzes and reflection pieces, so if you only miss
one class, you can drop your scores for the missed session.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Academic honesty and intellectual integrity are fundamental to the process of learning and to
evaluating academic performance. This is the responsibility of all members of the university,
and students share the responsibility for creating and maintaining an atmosphere of honesty
and integrity. If you have any doubt about what constitutes academic integrity, consult:
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-at-rutgers.
TOPICS:
Topic 1: Markets and Market Failure
Topic 2: Contrasting market and non-market approaches to addressing
environmental problems
Topic 3: Valuing environmental goods
Topic 4: What is the right amount of pollution? Cost-benefit analysis
Topic 5: Monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations
Topic 6: Equity in environmental economics
Topic 7: Dealing with carbon: An international perspective
Topic 8: Critiques of environmental economics
Topic 9: Natural Resource Economics
5
DRAFT December 18th, 2015
POTENTIAL TOPICS FOR STUDENT TEACHING:
The following topics are suggestions for you to consider for teaching.
Environmental Kuznets Curve
This hypothesized relationship suggests that the environment worsens as national income
increases until a tipping point and after that further increases in income lead to improvements
in the environment. Is it true and if so, does it apply to all types of environmental issues?



Taylor, Timothy (2013) China and the Environmental Kuznets Curve.
http://conversableeconomist.blogspot.com/2013/05/china-and-environmentalkuznets-curve.html
Stern, David. 2004. The Rise and Fall of the Environmental Kuznets Curve. World
Development. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X04000798
Dinda, Sounmyananda. 2004. Environmental Kuznets Curve Hypothesis: A Survey.
Ecological Economics.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800904001570
The Economics of Drought and water

Episode 640: The Bottom of the Well. Planet Money.
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/07/22/425392169/episode-640-thebottom-of-the-well
Climate change adaptation: A case for optimism?
Climate change will wreak havoc on our cities. Adaptation will be a painful and expensive
process. Or will it? Some economists argue that, with the right policies, climate change adaption
can be relatively painless.


Kahn, Matthew (2010) Climatopolis: How will climate change impact urbanites and their
cities? VOX CEPR’s Policy Portal. http://www.voxeu.org/article/climatopolis-how-willclimate-change-impact-urbanites-and-their-cities
Kahn, Matthew (2010); Climatopolis: How Our Cities will thrive in the Hotter Future.
Basic Books
Can paying to kill a Black Rhino protect them from extinction?

The Rhino Hunter. Radiolab. September 7, 2015. http://www.radiolab.org/story/rhinohunter/
What is the Coase theorem and why did Ronald Coase actually hate it?



Lee, Timothy (2013) The Coase Theorem is Widely Cited in Economics. Ronald Coase
hated it. The Washington Post: Wonkblog.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2013/09/04/the-coase-theoremis-widely-cited-in-economics-ronald-coase-hated-it/
Torts Handout-The Coase Theorem. Georgia State University College of Law.
https://insidelaw.gsu.edu/edmundson-coase-theorem/
Medema, Steven. The Curious Treatment of the Coase Theorem in the Environmental
Economics Literature, 1960-1979.
http://reep.oxfordjournals.org/content/8/1/39.abstract
6
DRAFT December 18th, 2015
The Green Paradox
When governments announce that they will adopt a climate policy in the future, companies have
an incentive to increase carbon emissions today. How can we get around this green paradox?


Jensen, Svenn et al. (2015) An Introduction to the Green Paradox: The Unintended
Consequences of Climate Policies. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy.
http://reep.oxfordjournals.org/content/9/2/246.short?rss=1&ssource=mfr
Sinn, Hans-Werner (2015) Introductory Comment-The Green Paradox: A Supply-Side
View of the Climate Problem. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy.
http://reep.oxfordjournals.org/content/9/2/239.short?rss=1&ssource=mfr
The economics of recycling
Whether something is junk or not is determined, in part, by prices.

Episode 613: Trash! Planet Money
http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/03/27/395815221/episode-613-trash
De-growth movement
Some people contend that the scale of environmental problems is so great that the economy
needs to shrink to meet our sustainability goals.


De-growth in the Americas. What is de-growth?
http://montreal.degrowth.org/aboutdegrowth.html
Porter, Eduardo (2015) Imagining a World Without Growth. New York Times. December
1, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/02/business/economy/imagining-aworld-without-growth.html
7