Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

ECON 781: Environmental Economics
The study of economics as it applies to environmental issues and policies. Topics include the theory of externalities and its implications, the design of environmental policies with applications, open-economy environmental economics encompassing the impact of international trade on the environment and global environmental management, and the measurement of the costs and benefits of environmental programs.

ECON 785: Advanced Economics of Natural Resources
The use of exhaustible and renewable natural resources from normative and positive points of view. Analysis of dynamic resource problems emphasizing energy, mineral, groundwater, forestry and fishery resources. Optimal, equilibrium and intergenerational models of resource allocation.

Field Requirements in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Major field: Econ 781 and 785 and one other course approved by faculty in the field. Average grade of B+ or better in courses. Field exam where students must synthesize the literature on a particular topic and elaborate on its policy implications. There will be an "environmental" topic and a "natural resource" topic chosen from a list specified in advance of the exam.

Minor field: Econ 781 and 785. Average grade of B+ or better in courses, or pass field exam.

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