Description:
The lecture course develops a set of economic ideas from economic theory that can be used to develop pragmatic policy solutions for the environmental crises the world faces today. A particular focus is on the implications of environmental impacts and environmental policy on inequality.
Topics include, but are not limited to: an economic analysis of the sustainable development goals and economic theories of sustainability, decision-making for situations of environmental catastrophes, applying theories of justice to assessing the urgency of environmental problems, the use of behavioural economics for advancing environmental policy (especially health co-benefits of environmental protection), economic analysis of critiques of consumerism, the role of economic rents in understanding the macroeconomics of climate change and land use, difficulties with valuing biodiversity and the role of animal farming, a formal analysis of arguments for and against economic growth, the role of fiscal policy for environmental protection and political economy of carbon pricing. The course covers a selection of policy examples from around the world, with a focus on political feasibility.
Literature:
see syllabus
Time & venue:
Lectures: Tuesdays, 14:00-16:00 (starting on 19.10.2022); TU Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, 10623 Berlin, Ernst Ruska Building, room ER 164
Tutorials: Thursdays, 14:00-16:00 (starting on 28.10.2022); TU Berlin, Fraunhoferstraße 33-36, 10587 Berlin, room 302
Exam:
Combined exam (“Portfolioprüfung”). Written exam (“schriftlicher Test”, 50%), three sets of graded homework (25%) and an extra task for each homework (25%). For the first and third homework, this consists of an additional, more demanding problem to be solved. For the second homework, a paper that is connected to the essay’s topic has to be read, understood and presented in class.
More information can be found in the course syllabus.
