| The first part compares different environmental paradigm. The main focus in traditional neoclassical environmental economics is the human individual and his/her utility function. This approach differs from an ecological economy perspective that values the intrinsic value of nature independently from human utility.
The second and third part discuss economic and political-economic causes of environmental problems.
Chapter IV introduces environmental instruments that will be evaluated by different criteria such as ecological effectiveness, economic efficiency and so on.
The international aspects in part V cover two topics: The first one is on how far environmental regulation influences the international competitiveness (key word: Eco - Dumping). The second one deals with transboundary pollution using simple game theoretical instruments.
The use of environmental instruments requires an empirical estimation of external costs and benefits. Therefore, part VI covers the comprehensive topic of environmental valuation. In the beginning the basic principles of cost/benefit analysis will be developed followed by a comprehensive assessment instruments.
Main class topics:
- Environment as subject of economics
- Market failure as a cause for environmental problems
- The political economy of environmental problems
- Instruments of environmental policy
- International environmental policy
- Environmental Valuation
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