Students

ECON3059 – Environmental Economics

2024 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Wylie Bradford
wylie.bradford@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ECON2003 or ECON203
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit applies economic principles to understand the challenges in sustainably managing environmental assets. An understanding of the nature and causes of environmental problems, and ways to achieve efficient and sustainable use of environmental resources, is vital for our future welfare. This unit covers the optimal exploitation of assets such as energy, minerals, water, forests and fisheries, as well as the management of water, air and soil pollution. Case studies are drawn from Australian and international experience. Students can develop their understand how the implications of economic theory combine with contributions from ecological economics, and the role of institutions.

Important Academic Dates

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

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Identify and describe concepts associated with the economic analysis of environmental issues.
  • ULO2: Analyse the relevant economic aspects of environmental problems and policy responses, including key and varying stakeholders and important incentive effects and their determinants.
  • ULO3: Critically evaluate different theoretical approaches in the assessment and comparison of policy trade-offs and alternatives with respect to environmental issues.

General Assessment Information

Attendance is required at lectorial sessions in order for submitted blogs to be valid and marked. Lectorial sessions will not be recorded. Blog results will be affected by performance in the weekly content exercises.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.  

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Personal case study 40% No Weeks 4, 8, 13
Individual blog 30% No Fortnightly, starting Week 3
Class discussion 20% No Weeks 8, 12
Quiz 10% No Weekly

Personal case study

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Weeks 4, 8, 13
Weighting: 40%

 

Students choose a real-world environmental case study to work on over the session. The case study is written up in the form of a wiki, and scaffolded feedback is provided at two points during the session with final grading based on the content at the end of week 13.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe concepts associated with the economic analysis of environmental issues.
  • Analyse the relevant economic aspects of environmental problems and policy responses, including key and varying stakeholders and important incentive effects and their determinants.
  • Critically evaluate different theoretical approaches in the assessment and comparison of policy trade-offs and alternatives with respect to environmental issues.

Individual blog

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Fortnightly, starting Week 3
Weighting: 30%

 

Weekly sessions will involve small-group discussion and responses to the provided online material. The group outputs will be synthesised and discussed by the group as a whole. Individuals will keep a record of their own reflections on the sessions in a personal blog on iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe concepts associated with the economic analysis of environmental issues.
  • Analyse the relevant economic aspects of environmental problems and policy responses, including key and varying stakeholders and important incentive effects and their determinants.
  • Critically evaluate different theoretical approaches in the assessment and comparison of policy trade-offs and alternatives with respect to environmental issues.

Class discussion

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 13 hours
Due: Weeks 8, 12
Weighting: 20%

 

Twice during the session a discussion forum will be opened and starting topics provided. Students will be expected to contribute to the discussions and interact with peers in sharing perspectives and information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Analyse the relevant economic aspects of environmental problems and policy responses, including key and varying stakeholders and important incentive effects and their determinants.
  • Critically evaluate different theoretical approaches in the assessment and comparison of policy trade-offs and alternatives with respect to environmental issues.

Quiz

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

Short content quizzes will be held during each lectorial session covering the content presumed to have been read/watched prior to participating in the session.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify and describe concepts associated with the economic analysis of environmental issues.
  • Analyse the relevant economic aspects of environmental problems and policy responses, including key and varying stakeholders and important incentive effects and their determinants.

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 Writing Centre 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

1 x 2 hour 'lectorial' per week. Note that as assessment is linked to lectorial participation, in-class sessions will not be recorded.

Required Texts and/or Materials

Aruga, K. (2022) Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (Springer).

This text can be accessed FREE in pdf or epub form from the following link, so long as you access it via the University network (e.g. using wifi on campus):

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-95077-4_1

The ebook version is recommended.

Technology requirements: a device with online connectivity (phone, tablet, laptop) to participate in online assessment in class.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook