Course Code: C105

Course Title: Natural resource economics

College: SOAS CEDEP

Course Director: Laurence Smith

Course Description: This course examines a number of economic models of natural resource allocation and demonstrates their application to policy making and natural resource management to provide useful insights to both policy makers and managers. The course develops a rationale for, and explains the methodologies used in, the application of economic theory to the allocation of natural resources. Using a series of resource sectors as examples, a number of economic models are explained in detail in a way that is intended to raise the learner's confidence in the interpretation and assessment of various policy insights that are derived from the models. The second part of the course considers the economic dimensions of sustainable economic growth and development. Practical policy applications are used throughout the course in order to bridge the gap between theory and practice.

By the end of this course you should be able to:

• discuss the extent of, and factors contributing to, natural resource scarcity

• develop a rationale for the use of natural resource economics

• apply the insights gained from the economic methods used in the temporal and inter-temporal theories of resource allocation to the analysis of natural resource use problems

• explain how an economist can contribute to the development of policy that supports sustainable development

• assess critically the limitations of the neo-classical paradigm in the allocation of resources and demonstrate an understanding of how current research initiatives are attempting to overcome these limitations

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