Queen's University
ENSC 290
Introduction to Ecological Economics
Fall Term, 2007
Wednesday  1:00 pm - 2:30 pm and Friday  11:30 am - 1:00 pm
  Ellis Hall Room 324

Course Homepage



Instructor Contact Information:

Ian Keay
Email: ikeay@econ.queensu.ca
Office: Dunning Hall 317
Office Hours    Monday 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
                      Thursday 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
                      By appointment
 

Teaching Assistants: Kevork Hacatoglu (kevork.hacatoglu@chee.queensu.ca)
                                      Jason Wamboldt (7jmw1@qlink.queensu.ca)

Course Outline and Reading List

Assignments:

Assignments will be provided in class and mounted on this homepage at least 2 weeks before the due date.

Assignment # 1 - Due by 4:00 pm, Wednesday, October 17

Assignment # 1 Answer Key

Assignment # 2 - Due by 4:00 pm, Wednesday, November 28

Assignment # 2 Answer Key


Overheads:

Slide 1 - Definitions

Slide 2 - Public Good Example

Slide 3 - Negative Externality Example

Slide 4 - Equimarginal Principle

Slide 5 - Brundtland Commission's Definition of Sustainable Development

Slide 6 - Pollution Exporting Example
 

Announcements:

As a result of poor copy quality in the reading package, please find PDF files for the readings in the section on the standard neo-classical economic model:
Field and Olewiler, Chapter 3
Field and Olewiler, Chapter 4

Midterm tutorial: Monday, November 12, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Abramsky Hall Room 2

Final exam tutorial: Tuesday, December 18, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Biosciences Complex Room 2109

Final exam office hours: Monday, December 17, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

                                   Wednesday, December 19, 10:30 am - Noon

Final Exam Readings: All required readings (*) included on reading list EXCEPT Topic # 8 (Ecological Economists Critique # 4).

Assignment # 2 pick up:    Jason Wamboldt
                                        Friday, December 14, Noon - 2:00 pm
                                        Biosciences Complex Room 2112 B
                                        OR
                                        Kevork Hacatoglu
                                        Monday, December 17, Noon - 2:00 pm
                                        Biosciences Complex Room 2112 B


Topics:

(1) Introduction: Defining ecological economics.

(2) The standard neo-classical economic model: Marginal benefits, marginal costs and market interactions.

(3) Introducing environmental assets into the standard model: Externalities, public goods and market failures.

(4) The neo-classical response: Command and control, and market based policies.

(5) Ecological economists’ critique # 1: Measuring non-use and non-market values.

(6) Ecological economists’ critique # 2: Trading off wealth and welfare (the environmental Kuznet’s curve).

(7) Ecological economists’ critique # 3: Defining and measuring sustainable growth and sustainable development.

(8) Ecological economists’ critique # 4: Optimal extinction.
 

Textbook:

A reading package containing all required readings is available on reserve at the AMS P & CC and at Stauffer Library.


Requirements:

Two assignments - Wednesday, October 17
                            AND
                            Wednesday, November 28

Midterm exam - Wednesday, October 24

Final exam - 9:00 am, December 20


Grade Distribution

Student's best assignment will count for 10% of their course grade.

Student's worst assignment will count for 5% of their course grade.

Student's midterm will count for 30% of their course grade.

Student's final exam will count for 55% of their course grade.