Environmental Economics: Theory and Applications

This course presents a broad based introduction to the theory and application of environmental economics. Topics are introduced in the context of real world environmental policy questions (with special emphasis on energy policy), then translated in to microeconomic theory to highlight the salient constraints and fundamental tradeoffs faced by policymakers. Topics include property rights, externalities, Pigouvian taxes, command and control regulation, cap and trade, valuation of environmental quality, cost benefit analysis, policymaking under uncertainty, and interregional competition.