HEN444 Economics and Environment I

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Ing. Stanislav Kutáček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Zbyněk Ulčák, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ivona Tolarová
Timetable
Wed 8:00–9:40 P24
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those 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:
show basics of economics
explain diffrences between the main stream economics theory and environmental and ecological economy
provide students with basic explanation of terms and tools of contemporary economics
prepare the students for a more critical view presented in the HEN 445 course (Economics and the Environment II.)
The students will understand basic concepts of economics after attenting the course and they will be able to critically reflect them.
Syllabus
  • Introduction, expectations, testing, overview of the course
  • What is economics? Positive vs. normative economics. Microeconomics vs. macroeconomics. Selected streams of economics thinking (neoclassical, environmental, ecological economics). Fundamentals of economic: supply and demand.
  • Scarcity. Source of value in economics. Demand (willingness to pay, consumer surplus). Supply.
  • Market - analysis. Equation, elasticities, utility and production function.
  • Market failures. Private and public goods. Nonexcludability from consumption, nonrivalry. External costs, non existent markets.
  • Macroeconomics. Measurement of the economy output, alternative approaches. Inflation.
  • Money. Money creation, deposit multiplication, financial market
  • Distribution. Pareto optimality. Gini coeficient. Lorenz curve.
  • IS-LM Model - interaction of real and financial markets. Monetary and fiscal policy.
  • International market, comparative advantage. Capital mobility. Institutions of international trade.Mezinárodní obchod, komparativní
  • Macroeconomic policy and international flows - balance of payments, exchange rates, economic stability.
  • Methods for valuation of non marketed goods - market approaches, avoidance costs, contingent valuation, hedonic valuation, travel cost method.
  • Project assessment. Cost benefit analysis, multi criteria analysis, discounting.
  • Economic policy - tools, goals, approaches. Regulatory vs. market based tools. Limits, tradable permits.
Literature
  • DALY, Herman E. and Joshua C. FARLEY. Ecological economics : principles and applications. Washington: Island Press, 2004, xxvii, 454. ISBN 1559633123. URL info
  • FUCHS, Kamil and Pavel TULEJA. Základy ekonomie (The Basic of Economics). 2.upravené. Praha: Ekopress, odborné nakladatelství, 2005, 348 pp. ISBN 80-86119-94-7. info
Teaching methods
Lectures supported by selected Internet information and film, discussions in class, simulation game, compulsory reading.
Assessment methods
Evaluation: min. 30% attendance in class, voluntary written test, essay, oral examination.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2011, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2011/HEN444