Print Syllabus

Syllabus

HU0009 The Economics of Sustainable Development, 15.0 Credits

Nationalekonomisk analys av hållbar utveckling

Subjects

Sustainable Development

Education cycle

Bachelor’s level

Modules

Title	Credits	Code
Exam	7.0	0101
Essay and presentation	4.0	0102
Assignments	4.0	0103

Advanced study in the main field

First cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Bachelor’s level (G1F)

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

Knowledge equivalent to

30 credits sustainable development

English 6

Exemption granted from the general entry requirement of Swedish.

Objectives

The aim of the course is for students to gain a broad understanding of how the tools of economic analysis can be used to help us to understand sustainable development in all three dimensions – ecological, social, and economic. This includes understanding historical developments, interpreting the current global situation, predicting future developments, and analyzing how the current trajectory of sustainability can be changed through policy interventions. Students will also gain a critical understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of economic analysis in relation to other methodologies, and hone their skills in data analysis, scientific writing, and presentation.

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• describe the fundamental mechanisms in the malthusian economy, link these mechanisms to real-world examples, and simulate them in a simple computer model
• explain the historical links between technological progress and economic growth, and their combined effects on natural resource extraction and energy use, biodiversity, and inequality both within and between nations
• detail the broad contours of quantitative data regarding the current global situation (including the direction of change) in relation to sustainable development, in particular population, income, health, happiness, non-renewable natural resources, biodiversity, and inequality
• explain how different researchers draw different conclusions on the basis of these data, in relation to the three dimensions of sustainability
• explain the mechanism behind the frequently-observed rise and fall of emissions of specific pollutants in specific places, and critically analyze the implications of this mechanism for future global sustainable development
• discuss the mechanisms behind changes in inequality both within and between nations, including both income and health outcomes, and discuss possible future scenarios regarding both policy and outcomes
• discuss the future of work, consumption, and economic growth from the perspective of the three dimensions of sustainability
• analyze the role of individuals, states (including sweden in particular), and multilateral organizations (including the un, imf and the world bank) in relation to sustainability in all three dimensions, accounting for the importance of economic instruments
• discuss in depth a specific question related to sustainability in relation to literature from different perspectives, and through the lens of the methods learned in the course.

Content

Subject content:

Part 1, How we arrived at our current position: (i) the Malthusian economy, population dynamics, and interlinkages with nature; (ii) technological innovation, the demographic transition, and industrialization.

Part 2, Where are we now: (i) study of data on technology and population, health, wealth, happiness, environment and natural resources, and inequality; (ii) alternative interpretations of the data, exemplified by for instance Gapminder and the late Hans Rosling, and Johan Rockström and the idea of planetary boundaries.

Part 3, Projecting future trends with the help of theory and data: (i) technological progress, labour supply, and economic growth; (ii) polluting emissions and the degradation of natural resources and nature, including the Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis; (iii) health and inequality, both between countries and individuals.

Part 4, Where we should be heading, and how to get there: (i) the role of policy with regard to the rate and direction of technological change, firms’ production choices, and household labour supply and consumption patterns; (ii) the keys to reaching the SDGs and other sustainability goals.

Course implementation:

The course uses different teaching methods to promote students’ learning and discussions through:
Lectures, literature studies, seminars and project work.

The course focuses on the following general competences:
Critical thinking, problem solving, scientific methods, oral communication, written communication.

The following components are compulsory:
Attendance at seminars and guest lectures.

Grading form

The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.

Formats and requirements for examination

Passed written examination.
Approved written presentation of project work.
Approved oral presentation. 
Approved participation in compulsory components.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Responsible department

Department of Economics