ENSn4444 Economics for Environmentalists

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Ing. Martin Černý (lecturer)
Ing. Stanislav Kutáček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Hendrychová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 10:00–11:40 U41
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! HEN444 Economics for Environmentalist &&!NOW( HEN444 Economics for Environmentalist )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to present a basic overview of the assumptions, concepts and methods of mainstream economics while cultivating a critical perspective stemming from hetorodox economic and other streams of thought. Emphasis will be placed on the environmental aspects and implications of the topics discussed.
Learning outcomes
After having taken the course, the student will:
understand basic economic assumptions, concepts, assertions and thought patterns, informed by an environmental perspective,
be able to discuss the hidden assumptions behind the concepts and assertions of mainstream economics and their environmental implications,
enhance her/his capacities of critical thinking, reflection, discussion and dialogue.
Syllabus
  • 1.Introductory lesson - introduction, expectations, assessment system, objectives and course content
  • 2.Hidden assumptions of mainstream economics
  • 3.Supply and demand, efficiency and productivity, general equilibrium model and Pareto optimum
  • 4.Critical perspectives on the general equilibrium model, efficiency and productivity, alternatives
  • 5.Nature valuation methods and cost-benefit analysis, reflection on their assumptions
  • 6.The question of money in economics, the concept of commodification and its implications
  • 7.Economic growth as an economic evergreen, issues around green growth
  • 8.Critique of economic growth, the problem of decoupling, other paradigms: degrowth, circular economy
  • 9.Equality and inequality, distribution and justice in (ecological) economics
  • 10.Nature and property from the perspective of mainstream economics
  • 11.Other forms of property and forms of production in economics and their implications
  • 12.Free trade and its criticisms, value chains in the economy and economic localization
Literature
    recommended literature
  • SPASH, Clive. Routledge Handbook of Ecological Economics: Nature and Society. Routledge, Abingdon, 2017
  • ACKERMAN, Frank: Can we afford the future? The economics of a warming world. Zed Books,London, 2009
  • A future beyond growth : towards a steady state economy. Edited by Haydn Washington - Paul Twomey. First publieshed. London: Earthscan, from Routledge, 2016, xxiv, 256. ISBN 9781138953024. info
  • JOHANISOVÁ, Naděžda. Ekologická ekonomie: vybrané kapitoly (Ecological Economics: Selected Chapters). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 88 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7116-2. info
  • HILL, Roderick and Anthony MYATT. The economics anti-textbook : a critical thinker's guide to microeconomics. London: Zed Books, 2010, ix, 305. ISBN 9781842779392. info
  • SMITH, Adam. Pojednání o podstatě a původu bohatství národů. Translated by Vladimír Irgl. Nové, přeprac. vyd. opatř. Praha: Liberální institut, 2001, 986 s. ISBN 8086389162. info
  • FRIEDMAN, Milton. Essays in positive economics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1953, 328 s. ISBN 0226264033. info
Teaching methods
Lectures accompanied by structured discussions and other activities, continuous work and regular readings during the semester.
Assessment methods
Evaluation: minimum attendance at 7 classes, voluntary online test, continuous work during the semester, group project, oral examination. For each course, students receive a detailed sylabus which includes an update of the readings.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2021/ENSn4444