ECON7017 – Ecological Economics

2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

Download as PDF

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Rohan Best rohan.best@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites Admission to MRes
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit provides an introduction to ecological economics - a trans-disciplinary approach to the application of economics to issues of environmental management, development and human welfare, stressing the complex nature of the ecosystem within which economic activity is embedded and the crucial constraints imposed on the scale of human economic activity. Topics covered include sustainability and sustainable development, limits to economic growth, the definition and measurement of welfare and economic progress, and the development of policy for a closed and rapidly-filling world. The unit will be applied in focus, with significant use of case studies and an individual applied research component.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://students.mq.edu.au/important-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

ULO1: Demonstrate competence in the use of advanced terminology and concepts associated with the analyses of environmental issues from an ecological economics perspective.
ULO2: Evaluate ecological aspects of environmental problems, including key stakeholders and important incentive effects, and the role of ecological constraints.
ULO3: Critically analyse the major theoretical approaches to the ecological analysis of environmental issues, the assumptions on which they are based and their implications regarding the effects of changes in key parameters.
ULO4: Assess and compare policy alternatives in relation to environmental issues from the perspective of ecological economics.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Content quizzes	20%	No	Week 2-13
Written reflections	20%	No	Week 7 & First day of Macquarie University’s Exam Period
Research assignment summary	20%	No	Week 8
Research assignment	40%	No	First day of Macquarie University’s Exam Period

Content quizzes

Assessment Type ¹: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours
Due: Week 2-13
Weighting: 20%

There will be weekly online quizzes from weeks 2-13. Each quiz involves 10 multiple choice questions on course content and readings.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate competence in the use of advanced terminology and concepts associated with the analyses of environmental issues from an ecological economics perspective.
Evaluate ecological aspects of environmental problems, including key stakeholders and important incentive effects, and the role of ecological constraints.
Critically analyse the major theoretical approaches to the ecological analysis of environmental issues, the assumptions on which they are based and their implications regarding the effects of changes in key parameters.
Assess and compare policy alternatives in relation to environmental issues from the perspective of ecological economics.

Written reflections

Assessment Type ¹: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task ²: 10 hours
Due: Week 7 & First day of Macquarie University’s Exam Period
Weighting: 20%

This task involves two reflective blog entries on course content. Students are to identify what the key points are from particular sections of the course, and explain why. Each 500 word blog is worth 10%.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate competence in the use of advanced terminology and concepts associated with the analyses of environmental issues from an ecological economics perspective.
Evaluate ecological aspects of environmental problems, including key stakeholders and important incentive effects, and the role of ecological constraints.
Assess and compare policy alternatives in relation to environmental issues from the perspective of ecological economics.

Research assignment summary

Assessment Type ¹: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task ²: 8 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%

This task involves the submission of a written 200 word abstract for the major research assignment.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate competence in the use of advanced terminology and concepts associated with the analyses of environmental issues from an ecological economics perspective.
Evaluate ecological aspects of environmental problems, including key stakeholders and important incentive effects, and the role of ecological constraints.
Critically analyse the major theoretical approaches to the ecological analysis of environmental issues, the assumptions on which they are based and their implications regarding the effects of changes in key parameters.
Assess and compare policy alternatives in relation to environmental issues from the perspective of ecological economics.

Research assignment

Assessment Type ¹: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task ²: 22 hours
Due: First day of Macquarie University’s Exam Period
Weighting: 40%

The research assignment will include a 3000-word literature review of a topic in ecological economics.

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate competence in the use of advanced terminology and concepts associated with the analyses of environmental issues from an ecological economics perspective.
Evaluate ecological aspects of environmental problems, including key stakeholders and important incentive effects, and the role of ecological constraints.
Critically analyse the major theoretical approaches to the ecological analysis of environmental issues, the assumptions on which they are based and their implications regarding the effects of changes in key parameters.
Assess and compare policy alternatives in relation to environmental issues from the perspective of ecological economics.

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
the Learning Skills Unit for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Classes Students are advised to check https://timetables.mq.edu.au for times. This unit provides 3 hours online learning per week consisting of recorded and interactive components. It is recommended that students attend all online sessions.

Recommended Texts There is no required textbook. Some recommended references include:

Daly, H.E. and Farley, J. (2010). Ecological Economics: Principles and Applications, Second Edition.

Spash, C.L. (2017). Routledge Handbook of Ecological Economics.

Technology Used and Required: Unit Web Page Lecture and tutorial material as well as up to date information concerning any aspect of the unit, including any changes to the schedule, will be available to students by logging on to the unit web page at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au. You are strongly encouraged to regularly visit the website and use it as a resource centre to assist with your learning.

Unit Schedule

Section 1: Introduction, key principles

- Introduction and definition of ecological economics

- Key ecological and economic principles

- Renewable and non-renewable resources

Section 2: Microeconomics

- Markets

- Externalities

- Market failure

Section 3: Macroeconomics

- Money

- Globalisation

- Measures of economic output and welfare

- Sustainable development and limits to growth

Section 4: Policy

- General overview

- Carbon pricing

- Distribution and equity

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Appeals Policy
Academic Integrity Policy
Academic Progression Policy
Assessment Policy
Fitness to Practice Procedure
Grade Appeal Policy
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.

Student Enquiry Service

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Equity Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.