Syllabus

Econ 360: Advanced Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Term: Spring 2023

Classroom: JRHH 260

Time: T/TH 8:00 - 9:30

Instructor: Dr. Moriah Bostian

Office: JRHH 324 

Office Hours: Tue 1:30-3:00 (324 JRHH); Wed 11:00 - 12:30 (via zoom)

Email: mbbostian@lclark.edu

Watzek Library Liaison:

E.J. Carter, ecarter@lclark.edu

Required Texts:

Charles D. Kolstad (2011).  Environmental Economics, 2nd Edition.  

Tom Tietenberg and Lynne Lewis (2018). Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, 11th Edition.

Prerequisite: Econ 301

Course Description:

This course will apply intermediate microeconomic theory to contemporary environmental and natural resource problems, such as air and water pollution, climate change, fisheries and forest management.  For instance, we will use utility maximization to derive the demand for environmental goods, revealed preferences to value changes in environmental quality, and discounting theory to determine optimal resource use over time.  We will also focus on the theory of environmental and natural resource policies, such as pollution standards and fees, permit markets, and land use regulations, as well as their implementation in practice.

Throughout, we will engage with the environmental and natural resource economics literature.  This will include article reading assignments and presentations, two midterm exams drawn from both the course notes and readings, and a final research project.      

Course Objectives:

I have three main objectives for this course:

• You will be better able to apply advanced microeconomic theory learned at the intermediate level to real problems related to environmental quality and natural resource use.

• You will gain experience in critically reading and presenting articles from the environmental and natural resource economics literature.

• You will be better prepared to combine economic literature, theory and methods to analyze an original research question.

Student Responsibilities:

Fulfilling the objectives above will require each of you to engage in this course.  Your primary responsibilities as a student are to:

• Come to class.  This course will utilize discussion, group activities and in-class exercises as learning methods.  For these methods to be effective, you must be present.  I will take attendance at the beginning of class daily, and allow three absences during the semester.  If you are absent more than three times, I will lower your final grade by one letter grade for each additional absence. 

  • Complete the assigned readings before class.  It is especially important for you to read any assigned articles before class because we will be discussing these readings in class.  Use the textbook as a reference for class exercises and lecture material.  

• Participate in class.  Participation includes contributing to class discussions and collaborating on in-class exercises.  

• Maintain the learning environment for others.  I expect you to be a considerate member of our classroom community.  This includes refraining from texting and cell phone use during class. If you plan to use a laptop to take notes in this class, please do so for that purpose only and avoid distracting other students.  

• Complete assignments on time.  In this course, we will cover a set of topics that build sequentially.  Your comprehension of and ability to apply course concepts at any point in the semester depend on your understanding of previous material.  Late work will not be accepted.  

Tips for doing well in this course:

Here are a few helpful strategies for success in Econ 360:

• • Do not fall behind.  This course covers a breadth of advanced material at a rigorous pace.  As a general rule, plan to spend 2 - 3 hours outside of class on the readings and homework for each class session.  If you are having trouble keeping up with the course, please visit me in office hours to develop a better study plan.  

  • Ask questions.  Bring questions from the readings to class, raise your hand if you have a question during class, and visit me during my office hours to go over material outside of class.  

  • Come to office hours!  If you are unable to make my regularly scheduled office hours, please email me to set up an appointment.  

  • Start working on the homework soon after class.  The material will be more fresh, applying the concepts from class will help to solidify your understanding, and this also leaves you time to ask for help on difficult problems.  

  • Form a study group.  Get together with a few other people in class to work on homework problems, rehash the lecture and review for exams.  Study groups are fun, supportive and a great way to fill in the gaps.  

  • Take good notes in class.  We will be solving problems, drawing graphs and outlining concepts at the board.  If it goes on the board, it should go into your notes.

  • Start thinking like an Environmental Economist!  Apply economics to news stories you read, other classes you are taking and environmental issues that interest you.  

Grading:

I will base your grade on two in-class midterm exams, three homework sets, your final project and article discussions as follows: 

• 10%, Homework

• 25%, Exam 1 

• 25%, Exam 2

• 30%, Final Project    

• 10%, Article Presentations

The homework problems will correspond to the readings and examples from lecture, and are designed to build your understanding as we move through the course.  This term, homework will be a group effort, with 2-3 students per group. Please turn in one set of answers per group.  

The exams will include problems that are similar to the homework problems and examples from class, as well as questions that challenge you to go beyond these exercises.

Your research project should examine a contemporary environmental or natural resource issue through the lens of economics.  I will provide more information on expectations for the research project early in the course.  

Students will take turns leading article discussions from the literature with a partner.  I will post these articles as we move through the course and you can access the course readings online, via the Watzek library catalogue.  This is a good way for you to start honing those research skills!  

Final letter grades will be based on the percentage of total points earned as follows:

Academic Integrity:

I expect everyone who is participating in this course to adhere to the college's academic integrity policy.  The Lewis & Clark Academic Integrity Policy states:

"Acts of academic dishonesty involve the use or attempted use of any method or technique enabling a student to misrepresent the quality or integrity of his or her academic work.  Academic dishonesty with respect to examinations includes but is not limited to copying from the work of another, allowing another student to copy from one's own work, using crib notes, arranging for another person to substitute in taking an examination, or giving or receiving unauthorized information prior to or during the examination. Academic dishonesty with respect to written or other types of assignments includes but is not limited to: failure to acknowledge the ideas or words of another that have consciously been taken from a source, published or  unpublished; placing one's own name on papers, reports, or other documents that are the work of another individual, whether published or unpublished; flagrant misuse of the assistance provided by another in the process of completing academic work; submission of the same paper or project for separate courses without prior authorization by faculty members; fabrication or alteration of data; or knowingly facilitating the academic dishonesty of another."

I will not treat academic dishonesty lightly in this course.  Nor will I consider ignorance of the LC academic integrity policy as an excuse for its violation.  Please consult me if you have any questions regarding academic integrity while working on your research project.

Accommodations:

If you have a disability that may impact your academic performance, you may request accommodations by submitting documentation to the Office of Student Accessibility in the Albany Quadrangle (x7156). After you have submitted documentation and filled out paperwork there for the current semester requesting accommodations, staff in that office will notify me of the accommodations for which you are eligible. You can find additional information about accommodation arrangements on the Student Support Services website.

Tentative Class Schedule: