Course description
What is the relationship between economics and management of natural resources such as forests and fisheries? How do human activities affect the sustainability of global resources such as forests and oceans? What role can governments play for the sustainable management of natural resources? What roles can communities play in natural resource management and sustainable development? What role do international organizations such as the World Bank and United Nations have in promoting sustainable management of global resources and economic growth? This course is designed to explore these questions through a series of readings, exams, group discussions, and research. Students learn to use the principles of economics to understand and analyze issues related to natural resource use, sustainability, and the interrelationship between the two. They learn the fundamental theories that explain the economics of natural resource use. Students learn about the main ideas and concepts related to sustainability such as the difference between weak and strong sustainability. Through these discussions, we seek answers to questions such as: what is the relationship between economic efficiency, equity, and sustainability? What policy options do governments have to pursue sustainable development? What is the role of international trade in resource use and sustainable development?
