Syllabus for ECN 263 – The Economics of Natural Resources, Population
and the Environment – Spring, 2011
Revised March 20, 2011
Section 49790
This is an Internet based course.
3 Credit Hours
Instructor: Scott Gustafson
E-mail: sgustafson@mesacc.edu
Web Page: http://www.mesacc.edu/~sgustafson/
Scott's Blog: http://azecon.blogspot.com/
Scott's Economics Bookmarks: http://delicious.com/gr8econ
Office: S&D Campus - SCO 55
Office: Red Mtn Campus - PV233
Office Phone: 480 461 7067 (I'm rarely in my office so not much point in calling.)
A note on the course schedule: This is a compressed class. We will do 3 credit hours of course work in 8 weeks instead of the usual 16. The course is broken up into 8 modules so we will cover one module per week. This is not a self paced course. All of the modules, except the first and last, start on a Friday and end ten days later on a Monday. Hence, there is an overlap of modules each weekend. That allows you some flexibility in scheduling your work.
Course Description:
Applies economic analysis to both the causes and possible remedies of the problems
of environmental deterioration and natural resource depletion. Includes discussion
of the economic problems of urban communities and the relationship between
population and economic growth and the depletion of natural resources and
environmental pollution. Prerequisites: ECN100, or ECN 160, or ECN211, or ECN212.
Course Objectives: At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. Describe the connection between the environment and the economy. (I)
2. Develop students' skills using analytical tools such as supply and demand
graphs to critically analyze environmental quality and natural resource problems.
(II)
3. Describe the methods that policy makers use to evaluate improvements or
modifications to environmental quality. (III)
4. Apply cost-benefit analysis and marginal analysis to answer the question:
How much environmental quality can we afford? (III)
5. Assess various environmental policy choices by identifying criteria and
applying it to various control strategies; includes major criticisms and defenses
of each strategy. (IV)
6. Trace the factors that have contributed to the historical development of
major water pollution, air pollution, and toxic and hazardous substance control
policies. (V)
7. Identify and describe factors that have contributed to the historical development
of current natural resource policy issues. (VI)
8. Describe appropriate techniques for evaluating efficient economic use of
renewable, nonrenewable, and recyclable resources. (VI)
9. Identify and describe the determinants of population growth. (VII)
10. Compare and contrast the arguments for and against population control.
(VII)
11. Compare and contrast, from an economics point of view, the basic pessimist
model and the basic optimist model of population growth. (VII)
Required Text: The Economic Approach to Environmental and Natural Resources, 3rd edition, by James R. Kahn
A note on the text book: A first or second edition of the text may be found on-line for far less money ($10 or less) than the current third edition ($125.) You can use any of the editions, but you will need to be aware of the changes. Between the second and third editions, Chapters 7 & 8 have been rewritten into two new chapters (8 & 9) that focus on energy and the environment. (These are covered together in Module 4.) Chapter 4 has also been split up with the new Chapter 4 focused on valuation issues and Chapter 5 on decision making criteria. (These are covered together in Module 2.) The schedule follows the third edition so follow the topics rather than the Chapter numbers if you’re using an earlier edition.
Prerequisites: Any principles level economics course. ECN 211 or ECN 212 or ECN 100 or ECN 160 or consent of instructor. If you understand marginal cost, marginal benefit and opportunity cost, then you'll be OK.
Technology Requirements: As this is an Internet based course, you will need a PC with access to the internet. If you don’t have access to one at home or at work, the computing commons in the MCC library is available.
For software, you'll need a web browser with graphics capability. This will give you access to the WebCT site that we'll use for the course. In addition, you should have a PDF file reader and a way to read Microsoft word files. (Both of these readers are available for free if you don’t already have them.) E-mail capability is included in the WebCT environment.
Word processing software is strongly suggested but not required. It’s generally easier to compose (and spell check) your papers in a word processor, but you can do it with a simple text editor. Spreadsheet software (Excel or a similar product) is also useful on occasion. You can do the work by hand, but a spreadsheet makes it faster and easier.
Course Structure & Schedule: This is an internet based course but it is not self paced. Interaction with the other participants is required as we move ahead. Because of that, we have to move through the material together.
The course contains eight modules. Although we will complete one module each week, the schedule provides some overlap to help accommodate participants' schedules.
Module 1 – Introduction and review of basic economic theory
Chapter 1 – Introduction and definitions
Chapter 2 - Economic Efficiency and Markets
Appendix 2 a & b – Discounting and Present Value, Dynamic Efficiency
Chapter 3 – Market Failure and Government Intervention
Module 2 – Economic techniques for analyzing environmental decisions.
Chapter 4 – Valuing the Environment
Chapter 5 – Environmental Decision Making: Criteria and Assessment Methods
Module 3 – Macroeconomic implications & Application, Ozone and Global
Warming
Chapter 6 – Macroeconomics of the Environment
Chapter 7 – Ozone Depletion and Global Climate Change
Module 4 – Application, Energy
Chapter 8 – Energy Production
Chapter 9 – Energy Use
Module 5 – Application, Minerals and Solid Waste
Chapter 10 – Minerals, Materials and Solid Waste
Module 6 – Application, Fisheries
Chapter 11 – Fisheries
Module 7 – Application, Forests
Chapter 12 – Temperate Forests
Chapter 13 – Tropical Forests
Module 8 – Application, Water & Agriculture
Chapter 15 – Water Resources
Chapter 17 – Agriculture
Grading and Evaluation: Each module is worth 100 points. Your grade for the first two modules will be determined by your grade on an online exam (50 points) and your participation in an online discussion. A minimum of two posts demonstrating that you have read and understand the material are required (50 points). Your discussion participation must take place within the module timeframe to be counted toward your grade. Late discussion may be interesting and useful, but won't be graded.
Your grade on the six application modules will be determined by your written assignment analyzing an economic issue (50 points) and your participation in the online discussion. You'll need to post your written assignment and defend its analysis and conclusions (25 points). You'll also need to comment on other student's assignments (25 points). Your discussion participation must take place within the module timeframe to be counted toward your grade. Late discussion may be interesting and useful, but won't be graded.
The grading scale will be:
720 – 800 points A
640 – 719 points B
560 – 639 points C
480 – 559 point D
0 – 479 points Fail
What you should expect: This class doesn't have a lecture component. You are going to have to get most of your information from reading the text and the supplemental online material. We will use the discussion area to answer questions and clarify the material in addition to the required discussion component for the modules.
Attendance: You need to be active in the course at least twice a week.
Requesting Accommodations: It is a college policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. If you would like to request accommodations due to a physical, mental, or learning disability, please contact the Disability Resources & Services office.
Other Student Responsibilities: You are responsible for understanding the information included in this syllabus. You are also responsible for adhering to the college policies included in the college catalog and the student handbook.
MCC Early Alert Program (EARS): Mesa Community College is committed to the success of all our students. Numerous campus support services are available throughout your academic journey to assist you in achieving your educational goals. MCC has adopted an Early Alert Referral System (EARS) as part of a student success initiative to aid students in their educational pursuits. Faculty and Staff participate by alerting and referring students to campus services for added support. Students may receive a follow up call from various campus services as a result of being referred to EARS. Students are encouraged to participate, but these services are optional.
Early Alert Web Page with Campus Resource Information can be located at: http://www.mesacc.edu/students/ears
or at the "Early Alert" selection at the mymcc link from MCC’s
home page.
Office Hours: On the Southern and Dobson Campus my office is in SCO 55. I will be available there MWF from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and MW from 1-3 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I am on the Red Mountain campus. I will be in my office in PV233 from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. TR and I can be found TR in the Learning Enhancement Center on the first floor of the library on the Red Mountain Campus from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Drop by and see me if you need some help. If those times don't work out for you, let's get together before class and schedule something.
Contacting Scott, turning in assignments, discussion area: We will use WebCT for the course. It includes email. In general, us the WebCT email to contact me, not my outside email addresses. WebCT email is all self contained in the course, so the good news is if you can see that you sent it, then you know that I got it. I generally respond within a day during the workweek and two days over weekends and holidays. Use the drop box to turn in assignments. Again, this will ensure that I get the assignment. The discussion area is also inside the WebCT course environment as are the online quizzes.
Withdrawal Policy: You may withdraw at any time with a W. I will drop you from the course (with a W) if you fail to participate in two modules.