Course Code: C121

Course Title: Economics of environmental policy

College: SOAS CEDEP

Course Director: Laurence Smith

Course Description: This course provides a theoretically rigorous coverage of the economic concepts and principles of environmental policy. It provides the knowledge and analytical tools needed to design and evaluate public policies towards the environment. It covers externalities such as pollution and public goods, exploitation of natural resources, trade and sustainable development.

The course covers the theory underlying the different policy strategies and at how these strategies work in practice. Examples of existing policies are used to illustrate the difficulties of applying the theory in practice. Many of these examples are taken from the United States or the European Union but students should apply the analyses to environmental problems and policies implemented in other countries. The course draws on a number of examples from the rural and agricultural sectors, but the theory applies to environmental problems and policies in general.

This course will help you:

• To understand the main interactions between the environment and the economy and the physical constraints that place limits on the interaction.

• To apply specific methodologies so that solutions to environmental problems can be identified and implemented.

• To use the knowledge acquired to be able to effectively evaluate environmental policy that is already in practice.

• To understand the divergence between policy design in principle and the practical reality.

Assessment: Exam 100%

Course Credit: All SOAS CeDEP short course students receive a certificate of completion. Students of SOAS CeDEP Short Courses who may wish to transfer credit to Certificate, Diploma or Masters-level programmes are advised to select short courses which also act as Core Modules on CeDEP's various programmes.

Course Study Hours/Duration: 240 hrs over 35 weeks

Schedule of Availability: Feb - Oct (Enrolment deadline prior to Feb start - 30th November)

Delivery Mechanisms: Print; CD-Rom; Online Discussion

Cost: £960

How to apply: To enquire about applying for this course, or for any other information, please contact the Course Administrator using the online Enquiry Form below