EDS351 Ecological Economics and Degrowth

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Erik Nicolas Gomez Baggethun, Guri Bang

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Course frequency:Annually.

Nominal workload:Participation in lectures (2hx14=24h), seminars (2hx6=12h), workshops (hx2=8h) =56h; independent work (preparations for lectures + writing of term paper): 194 hours. Sum: 250h

Teaching and exam period:Autumn parallell

About this course

The aim of this course is providing master students with concepts, frameworks, methods, and tools in ecological economics and degrowth, and with capacity to use them in sustainability research and policy. Emphasis is made on the understanding of the biophysical underpinnings of society and the economy, environmental accounting and valuation frameworks, links between ecosystems and human well-being, and sustainable governance of ecological life support systems.

Learning outcome

After following the course, students should have a reached understanding of:

- Core concepts and frameworks in ecological economics and degrowth

- Environmental limits and biophysical dimensions in economic analysis

- Basic material needs and human wants

- Relations between growth and different sustainability indicators

- Theories and trends on (de)coupling and (de)materialization of the economy

- Methods in environmental accounting and social metabolism

- Methods and tools in social, ecological and economic valuation

- Dynamics in sustainable natural resource and waste management

- Regulatory tools and economic instruments for environmental protection

- Basic notions in environmental policy and governance

- Basic understanding of key issues in macroecological economics

- Key notions around sustainable economic welfare

Learning activities
Lectures, seminars, group discussions, group work
Prerequisites
Bachelor degree
Recommended prerequisites
The course is adapted to the background of the students enrolled in the M-IES and MIDS programs, but will also be suitable for NMBU students enrolled in economics and various interdisciplinary programs. The course is interdisciplinary. Basic knowledge in environmental sciences, economics, ecology and political science will allow optimal following of the course contents.
Assessment method
Written assignment/oral presentation in ENGLISH.
Contribution in class and seminars counts 20%, Written assignment counts 80%.
One final grade (A-F) is provided at the end of the term.

Portfolio Grading: Letter grades
Examiner scheme
Written assignments will be marked by the course teachers/lecturers. An external examiner will quality check the curse content and the evaluation system.
Mandatory activity
Attendance to some classes and all seminars is compulsory. Participation in the group assignment and related seminars and supervisions is obligatory. All students must also attend the final wrap up session where the course is evaluated by the students. Absence from mandatory activities without previous notice and justified/documented reason (e.g. health related) will result in the loss of the student’s right to take the exam and be evaluated.