ECO2020 : Ecological Economics and Environmental Policy
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Matt Walker
- Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
To introduce the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of ecological and environmental economics and approaches to the economic analysis of environmental issues. Students will examine the economics of the biosphere, considering alternative schools of thought in which activity is either external or embedded in nature, with application to policymaking.
Outline Of Syllabus
An indicative list of topics that will be covered on this module is as follows: nature as an asset; market failure; common-pool resources; intertemporal fairness; limits to growth; sustainable development; environmental policy instruments (e.g., regulation, carbon pricing); optimal policy design; and global environmental problems (e.g., climate change and biodiversity loss).
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 16:00 | 16:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | PiP lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 33:00 | 33:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Pip seminars. Seminars will be interactive and will allow students to apply their knowledge to discuss key concepts covered in the lectures and to analyze an environmental policy case study which will be examined in the assessment. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Pre-assessment clinic. Students are encouraged to discuss ideas and ask questions around the assessment. |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 32:00 | 32:00 | N/A |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will provide a critical overview of key theoretical concepts and empirical evidence.
Seminars will be student-led and interactive to gain a deeper understanding of the methodological debates involved and the application of policy instruments.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | A | 100 | 2,000 word take-home written exercise. Part A will be based on conceptual and theoretical underpinnings. Part B will be based on policy applications. Part C (10% of the overall mark) will be linked to seminar work. |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 2 | M | In-class feedback during seminar activities. Written feedback on seminar group work. In-class feedback during pre-assessment clinic. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The written exercise is designed to encourage independent study on a particular interaction between the economy and environment and enable application of theoretical concepts to practice. An environmental case study evaluated in one of the seminars will link directly into part of the assessment.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ECO2020's Timetable