Winter, 2014
Department of Economics, Queen’s University
Econ 391: Topics in Environmental Economics
Professor Devon Garvie, 344 Dunning Hall, 533-2286
Office hours: Wednesdays 10-11:30am or by appointment
Email: garvie@econ.queensu.ca
Course website: http://qed.econ.queensu.ca/pub/faculty/garvie/econ391/391Home.html
Course Overview
This course provides students with an opportunity to learn about a myriad of topics in
environmental economics in an active learning environment. The course consists of lectures,
case studies, discussions, presentations, and, if time permits, games. Class will be held in Ellis
Hall 333, one of the new active learning classrooms at Queen’s University.
The course requires students to think critically about the complex nature of environmental
decision-making through participation in classroom learning activities designed to promote
critical thinking. Analytical tools acquired during the course will be applied to several case
studies. Case materials will be assigned prior to case study classes to allow students to
familiarize themselves with the material, to undertake research and to prepare individual
written answers to assigned discussion questions. Students will need to purchase some case
materials online from Harvard University. Cases require individual work and group work, each
worth 25% your final grade. A 1,200 word individual paper for the Arsenic case is worth 10%.
Group case work and individual work for cases other than the Arsenic case will receive zero
points if unsatisfactory, 1 point if satisfactory and 2 points if excellent. Only individual work
handed in at the beginning of class will be graded. Group work will include submitted written
work and short presentations.
There are seven case topics listed on the syllabus. However, as this is the first use of Ellis 333,
there will be a learning curve which could result in fewer or different cases being studied as
well as changes in individual or group work.
There are three 40 minute quizzes. Your top two quiz scores are each worth 12% and your
lowest score is worth 6% of your final grade. There is an examination in the final class that is
worth 20% of your final grade. There is NO examination during the final examination period.
Course Evaluation
1,200 word individual paper on Arsenic case (submitted to turnitin)
Individual case work for cases other than Arsenic case
Group case work
Three quizzes
Last class examination
10%
15%
25%
30%
20%
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Course Grading Policy
There will be no makeups for missed case work, quizzes or last class exam; missed or late
course work will receive a grade of zero.
The default for a group case grade is an equal grade for each group member. If individual
students believe groups members to not contribute equally to group work, then they may
submit peer-assessed grades at the end of any case class. Peer-assessment works as follows: a
student may distribute 10 points × number of group members across group members,
including oneself. For scores to count, you must place a star beside your name. If a group
member does not submit peer-assessed grades, the default peer-assessment for that member
is equal distribution. I will compute a final group grade for each student as follows:
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If no peer-assessed grades are submitted, each group member’s final grade = group grade
If a group member receives a lower than average grade from others, their final grade < group grade
If a group member receives a higher than average grade from others, their final grade > group grade
Queen’s University’s Regulation 1 on Academic Integrity will be enforced for all course work.
Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the regulation and ensuring that all
course work conforms to the principles of academic integrity. Actions which contravene the
regulation will be sanctioned.
(Tentative) Course Topics and Readings*
*
Additional readings will be posted on the course website during term. Case reading lists will be provided
with case assignments.
1. Choosing and Implementing an Energy Portfolio
Anderson, D. (2010) Ch. 7 Energy in Environmental Economics and Natural Resource
Management.
Madlener, R. et. al. (2011) “Promoting Renewable Electricity Generation in Imperfect Markets:
Price vs Quantity Policies.” FCN Working Paper. 1-9 only.
IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources. (2011) Summary for Policymakers and
Chapter 11 Policy, Financing and Implementation extracts, Cambridge University Press.
Stokes, B. (2009) “What, exactly, is a feed-in tariff?” National Journal.
Lipp, J. (2007) “Lessons for effective renewable electricity policy from Denmark, Germany and
the United Kingdom.” Energy Policy, (35), 5481-5495.
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Case: Harvard Kennedy School. (2012) Gainsville Regional Utilities FIT
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Individual answers to assigned questions
Group answers and short presentations
2. Environmental Ethics
Perman et. al., Ch 3, Ethics, economics and the environment.
Stern Review on the economics of climate change, Ch.2, Economics, ethics and climate change
and Ch.2 Technical annex: Ethical frameworks and intertemporal equity.
Case: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: to drill or not to drill
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Individual answers to questions on an assigned environmental ethic
Group: in-class Jigsaw Game, group policy recommendation and short presentation
3. Environmental Cost-Benefit Analysis
Kolstad, C. Ch 6, 114-123 in Environment Economics, 2e. (2011) Oxford University Press.
Perman et. al., Ch 11, Cost-benefit analysis. Selected pages.
Stern Review Ch.2 Technical annex: Ethical frameworks and intertemporal equity.
4. Controlling Carbon Emissions: Taxes, Emissions Trading and Hybrid Schemes
Perman et. al. Ch 6.4 and 6.6.
Hepburn, C. (2006) “Regulation by Prices, Quantities, or both: A Review of Instrument Choice.”
Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 22, 2, 226–247.
J. Aldy, A. Krupnick, R. Newell, I. Parry, and W. Pizer. (2010) “Designing Climate Mitigation
Policy.” Journal of Economic Literature, 48:4.
Case: Harvard Kennedy School. (2011) The Political Economy of Carbon Trading
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Individual and group work TBA
5. Accounting for Space
Kolstad, C. Ch 14, 284-293 in Environment Economics, 2e. (2011) Oxford University Press.
Perman et. al. Ch 6.5.
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Case: Controlling pollution in the Saint John River, New Brunswick
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Group problem
Group Policy Memo on Jurisdictional Choice
Case for Topics 3 and 5: Harvard Kennedy School. (2003) Arsenic in Drinking Water
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Individual paper
Group written work and presentation
6. International Environmental Agreements
Perman et. al., Ch 9, International environmental problems.
Kolstad, C. Ch 19, 413-419 in Environment Economics, 2e. (2011) Oxford University Press.
Case, Individual and Group Work: TBA
7. The Noah’s Ark Problem (if time permits)
Shogren et. al. (1999) “Why Economics Matters for Endangered Species Protection.”
Conservation Biology, (13), 6, 1257-1261.
Weitzman, M. (1998) “The Noah’s Ark Problem.” Econometrica. (66), 6, 1279-1298.
Metrick, A. and M. Weitzman. (1998) “Conflicts and Choices in Biodiversity Preservation.”
Journal of Economic Perspectives. (12), 21-34.
Zander, K. Et. Al. (2009) “Choosing the “cargo” for Noah’s Ark - Applying Weitzman’s approach
to Borana cattle in East Africa.” Ecological Economics, (68), 2051-2057.
Innes, R. And G. Frisvold. (2009) “The Economics of Endangered Species.” The Annual Review of
Resource Economics. 1, 485-512.
Walls, M. And A. Riddle. (2012) “Biodiversity, Ecosystem Service, and Land Use: Comparing
Three Federal Policies.” RFF Discussion Paper.
Polasky, S. et. al. (2005) “The Economics of Biodiversity.” Ch. 29 in Handbook of Environmental
Economics. 3, 1517-1552.
(Tentative) Case study: University of Virginia (2012) The Black Rhino.
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individual and group work TBA
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