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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014 -
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Engineering : Postgrad (School of Engineering)

Postgraduate Course: Energy and Environmental Economics (PGEE11001)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Engineering CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Course typeStandard AvailabilityAvailable to all students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits10
Home subject areaPostgrad (School of Engineering) Other subject areaNone
Course website http://www.see.ed.ac.uk/research/IES/msc/ Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThe aim of this course is to provide a theoretical grounding in economics from first principles, therein exploring the fundamental principles of efficiency in the distribution of resources in society. These principles are then applied in the fields of energy and environment, using case studies to discuss applications in practice.. The course covers both conventional (neo-classical) economics and also criticisms of this dominant paradigm. No prior knowledge of economics is assumed. Each topic is introduced in a lecture.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus?Yes
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 1, Available to all students (SV1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  None
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Course Start Date 16/09/2013
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 22, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 74 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 100 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours:Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Energy and Environmental Economics2:00
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
1. Definitions and conceptual frameworks: scale; efficiency; equity; sustainable development.
2. Ecological Economics (EE) versus conventional economics. History of EE thought.
3. Rational behaviour and welfare economics. Indifference curve analysis.
4. Welfare Economics: link to sustainability.
5. Objectives of companies and objectives of environmental sustainability.
6. Modelling resource extraction under different industry structures.
7. Externalities and instruments of pollution control.
8. The Kyoto Protocol and control of GHG emissions.
9. Carbon tax, landfill tax and other energy-related instruments.
Assessment Information
Examination (100%)
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Not entered
Syllabus Course Outline:

ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS: PERSPECTIVE SETTING
- Definitions
- Conceptual frameworks: scale; efficiency; equity; sustainable development
- EE versus conventional economics
- History of EE thought

PRINCIPLES IN ECONOMICS: RATIONAL BEHAVIOUR AND WELFARE ECONOMICS
- Theories of consumer behaviour
- Indifference curve analysis
- Welfare Economics: link sustainability
- Rational Actor Theory - criticisms of conventional economic axioms of behaviour

THE INDUSTRY/ECOLOGY INTERFACE
- What are firms' objectives?
- Modelling resource extraction under different industry structures
- Stakeholder management
- Evolutionary economics

EXTERNALITIES AND INSTRUMENTS OF EMISSIONS CONTROL
- optimal choice under certainty
- optimal choice under uncertainty
- the emitter/regulator interface
- emissions and energy-related instruments: Climate Change Levy; Carbon Taxes.
Transferable skills Not entered
Reading list Edwards-Jones, Davies and Hussain (2000) Ecological Economics: An Introduction. Blackwell, Oxford.
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Salman Hussain
Tel: (0131) 535 4307
Email: Salman.Hussain@sruc.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Sharon Mulvey
Tel: (0131 6)51 7076
Email: Sharon.Mulvey@ed.ac.uk
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