| Section Title: | Environmental Economics |
| Instructor(s): | Shama Gamkhar |
| Course: | P A 693B - Political Economy |
| Unique Number: | 62885 |
| Day & Time: | Wednesdays, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Room: | SRH 3.106 |
| Waitlist Information: | For LBJ Students: UT Waitlist Information |
Description: This course seeks to develop student capabilities for analysis and decision-making in the area of environmental economic policy. The course will also provide a comparative perspective on environmental policies in the US and in South Asia. The focus in this course will be on air quality at the local, regional and global levels. The course format will primarily be a combination of lectures, discussions, case studies, research papers and some problem sets. Students are expected to have a good understanding of microeconomics.
The first half of the course will cover the economic theories of externalities, public goods and taxation that are relevant for the design of environmental policy. In this context we will examine the effectiveness of various regulatory instruments (command and control methods, marketable emission permits, environmental taxes and subsidies) in realizing the goals of environmental policy. Additionally, we will examine techniques for measuring costs and benefits of environmental improvement and the role of these and other policy issues in setting environmental standards.
In the second half of the course we will discuss the development of environmental regulation in the United States and in select countries in South Asia. The focus will be on policy issues in the implementation and enforcement of environmental regulations in these countries. Other issues of environmental policy may be added on the basis of student interests.