ECON3912 – Environmental, resource and energy economics for less developed countries

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

This course is equivalent with ECON4912 – Environmental, resource and energy economics for less developed countries (discontinued)

The course addresses topics in environmental, natural resource and energy economics that are specific to, or particularly relevant for, less-developed (low-income, and middle-income) countries. The course focuses on and explains problems related to the environment, natural resources and energy that are particularly severe in lower-income countries, and on how institutional and governance problems create obstacles to achievement of targets. One important topic is the impacts of climate change on less developed countries, and these countries’ relationships to the Paris Agreement on international climate action.

Learning outcome

After taking the course you should

  • Have a good understanding of environmental problems in developing countries, both those problems that may follow from activities in the countries themselves (such as pollution and urban congestion), and those that may follow from climate change

  • Have a good knowledge of some widespread policy failures related to the management of natural resources and energy, such as fossil energy subsidies, and the “resource curse”, and their reasons

  • Understand some of the policy paths, and institutional improvements, required to overcome these problems

  • Understand how environmental problems in rich and poor countries differ

Skills

On the basis of this course you should have developed the following skills:

  • Have a basic understanding of the most serious environmental and resource management problems in lower-income countries, and why they have not been adequately addressed to date

  • Have a basic understanding of political and governance problems in lower-income countries

  • Understand how institutional problems aggravate these problems, and what it may take to overcome the institutional barriers

  • Understand how government policies may solve or reduce these problems

Competence

On the basis of knowledge obtained in this course, you should

  • Be able to seriously address environmental, natural resource and energy issues and problems in less-developed countries

  • Become acquainted with the literature on environmental, natural resource and energy issues and problems in less-developed countries

  • Have a good basis for writing a Master Thesis within the topic area of the course

Admission

Students at UiO must apply for courses in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

You can not attend this course if you have already passed specific ECON-courses at a higher level.

This course is not available for single course students.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Alternatively

Recommended previous knowledge

As a basis for taking the course, you should have background from the following:

  • Have a solid background in microeconomics, preferably with some understanding of basic game theory

  • Have a basic understanding of welfare economics including the theories of externalities and public goods

Teaching

Lectures: 2 hours per week throughout the semester

Seminars: 2 hours per week during parts of the semester

The seminars will be integrated with the lectures, and will form an important part of the course by giving the students important practical skills and more hands-on training, in understanding and handling the topics of the course. Students are strongly encouraged to (attempt to) solve the problems on their own or in groups, ahead of the seminar sessions.

Examination

A 3-hour written school exam.

You must have been registered for the course autumn 2017 to sit for the exam. You register for the exam in StudentWeb. If you have problems signing up for the exam, please contact SV-info: info@sv.uio.no.

Digital examination

The written examination is conducted in the digital examination system Inspera. You will need to familiarize yourself with the digital examination arrangements in Inspera.

Read more about written examinations using Inspera.

Examination support material

Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English.You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

Resit an examination

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

Special examination arrangements

Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.

Evaluation

The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.

Facts about this course

Credits
10
Level
Bachelor
Teaching
Autumn 2017

Last teaching semester autumn 2017

Examination
Autumn 2018

Last exam autumn 2018

Teaching language
English

Contact

SV-info