AØKK08372U Seminar: Environmental Economics

Volume 2017/2018
Education

MSc programme in Economics

The seminar is primarily for students at the MSc of Economics

Dette seminar er en engelsk udgave af den tidligere øvelse Miljø-, ressource- og klimaøkonomi (AØKK08103U), hvorved det ikke tilladt at deltage på "AØKK08372U Seminar: Environmental Economics", hvis man har været tilmeldt øvelsen Miljø-, ressource- og klimaøkonomi (AØKK08103U).

Content

The seminar gives students the opportunity to dig deeper into a topic of their own choice within the Economics of the Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change. Students will gain experience in presenting an economic analysis in writing and orally and in commenting in a professional way on the presentations by other students.

Learning Outcome

Participants in the seminar pick a topic according to their area of particular interest. Here are some examples of topics (but note that students can pick another topic within Environmental Economics):

  • Sustainable development: Theory and empirical measurement
  • The debate on limits to growth
  • Ecological breakdowns: Theory and historical examples
  • Danish climate policy
  • EU climate policy
  • The European Emissions Trading System
  • Negotiating international climate agreements: Theory and practice
  • The choice of instruments in environmental policy
  • The discount rate controversy in the economics of climate policy
  • Integrated Assessment Models of climate change
  • Green certificates as an environmental policy instrument
  • Prospects and support for renewable energy
  • Energy policy and the future energy system
  • The transition to renewable energy in the transport sector
  • The role of agriculture in climate policy
  • The future of oil
  • Green tax reforms in theory and practice
  • Regulation of the fishery in the EU
  • Biodiversity and conservation of nature
  • The importance of ecosystem services for the economy
  • Valuation of environmental goods
  • The Green Net National Product
  • Global environmental problems and international environmental agreements
  • Bioenergy and the future provision of food and energy

A broad introduction to the economics of the Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change may be found in the textbook by Nick Hanley, Jason F. Shogren and Ben White: Environmental Economics in Theory and Practice, Second Edition, Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

The seminar builds on the course in the Economics of the Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change. However, even if a student has not followed this course, he/she can participate in the seminar if he/she has acquired some prior knowledge of Environmental Economics, for example by studying the textbook mentioned above.
Kick-off meeting, research and writing process of the seminar paper, sessions with presentation of own paper and critical evaluation/feedback to another student´s paper, actively participating in discussions at class.

Before the session a "so-finalized-as-possible"-draft of the paper must be uploaded in Absalon. After the presentations, the student submit an edited version of the paper in the Digital Exam portal as the final exam paper. The aim is that students use the presentation sessions as an opportunity to receive and use the constructive feedback to improve the paper.

The seminar paper must include a clear research question, a coherent and systematic analysis based on relevant theory/data/literature and with a well-founded conclusion, cf. the academic aims for seminars. The teacher will give students oral and/or written critical feedback both on their proposed research question, choice of literature, manuscripts and draft seminar paper so as to enable and motivate students to fulfill the academic aims as far as possible.
Schedule:

Spring 2018:
• Kick-off meeting: February 5, 2018, 12.15-13.00
• Deadline of submitting commitment paper: not later than March 1, 2018.
• Upload of the pre-paper to Absalon: one week before the worshops.
• Presentations: April 30 and May 14, 2018 8.15-16.00.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Project work
  • 186
  • Seminar
  • 20
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
- a seminar paper in English that meets the formal requirements for written papers stated in the curriculum and at KUNet for seminars.
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Exam registration requirements

Attendance in all activities at the seminar as stated in the formal requrements in the Curriculum and at the  KUnet for seminars (UK) and Kunet for seminars (DK) is required to participate in the exam.

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Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
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Exam period

Deadline for uploading the final seminar paper to DE: 1st of June 2018 before 10:00 AM

 

Exam information:

For enrolled students more information about examination, rules, exam schedule etc. is available at the intranet for  master students (UK) and  master students (DK)

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Re-exam

The reexam is a written paper as stated in the  Master curriculum and at the KUnet for seminars for  master students (UK) and master students (DK). 

 

Exam information:

For enrolled students more information about re-examination, rules, re-exam schedule etc. is available at the intranet for  master students (UK) and  master students (DK)

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the seminar and the objectives stated in the Curriculum.

To receive the top grade, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.