AØKK08372U Seminar: Environmental Economics

Volume 2018/2019
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.

 

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):

  1. Sustainable development: Theory and empirical measurement
  2. The debate on limits to growth
  3. Ecological breakdowns: Theory and historical examples
  4. Danish climate policy
  5. EU climate policy
  6. The European Emissions Trading System
  7. Negotiating international climate agreements: Theory and practice
  8. The choice of instruments in environmental policy
  9. The discount rate controversy in the economics of climate policy
  10. Integrated Assessment Models of climate change
  11. Green certificates as an environmental policy instrument
  12. Prospects and support for renewable energy
  13. Energy policy and the future energy system
  14. The transition to renewable energy in the transport sector
  15. The role of agriculture in climate policy
  16. The future of oil
  17. Green tax reforms in theory and practice
  18. Regulation of the fishery in the EU
  19. Biodiversity and conservation of nature
  20. The importance of ecosystem services for the economy
  21. Valuation of environmental goods
  22. The Green Net National Product
  23. Global environmental problems and international environmental agreements
  24. Bioenergy and the future provision of food and energy
Learning Outcome

Additional for the learning outcome specified in the Curriculum, the learning outcome of the seminar is for the student to be able to

Literature

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.

BSc in Economics or similar
The seminar builds on the course 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 project paper, presentation of own project, constructive feedback to another student´s project and actively participating in discussions at class.

The aim of the presentations is, that the student, who presents, uses the presentation as an opportunity to practice oral presentations skills and to receive feedback improving the seminar project.

Process:
It is strongly recommended that you start your search for a topic before the semester begins, as there is only a limited amount of weeks from the kick-off meeting to the first submission.

Before the presentations, your largely finished version of the seminar project paper must be uploaded in Absalon, as the opponents and the other seminar participants have to read and comment on the paper. It is important that you upload a nearly finished project due to the fact that the value of feedback and comments at the presentation is strongly associated with the skill of the seminar project paper.

After the presentations, you can make a light correction of the seminar project to include the feedback and comments emerged during the presentations. It is NOT intended that you rewrite or begin the writing of the full project AFTER the presentation has taken place.

The seminar project paper must be uploaded in the Digital Exam portal for assessment with in the deadline announced under Exam.
Schedule:

Spring 2019:
• Kick-off meeting: February 6, 2019 12:15-13:00
• Deadline of submitting commitment paper: not later than March 1, 2019.
• Extra days of introducing teaching: Individual advisory meetings offered on request
• Upload of the pre-paper to Absalon: one week before the worshops.
• Presentations: May 6, 8:15-16:15; May 20, 8:15-16:15.

All information from the lecturer regarding the seminar is communicated through Absalon including venue.
  • 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  Seminars (DK) is required to participate in the exam.

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Aid
All aids allowed

for the project paper.

The supervisor defines the aids that must be used for the presentations.

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Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
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Exam period

Exam information:

Deadline for uploading the final seminar paper: June 3, 2019 before 10 AM

 

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

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Re-exam

Reexam information:

The reexam is a written paper as stated in the Curriculum.

Deadline and more information is available at Seminars (UK) and Seminars (DK).

More information about reexam etc is available at Master (UK)andMaster (DK).

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the seminar and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes in the Curriculum of the Master programme.

 

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.