MICHIGAN

STATE UNIVERSITY

SPRING 2015

COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE NAME AND NUMBER


ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS: EEP 320
CLASS PERIOD




TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 2:40PM 4:00PM
LOCATION




140 NATURAL SCIENCES BUILDING

INSTRUCTOR




ROBERT SHUPP
EMAIL





SHUPPROB@MSU.EDU
OFFICE





211E AGRICULTURE HALL
OFFICE HOURS




TBD AND BY APPOINTMENT

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course addresses analytical methods for evaluating economic impacts of environmental
policies and understanding the economic causes of environmental problems.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course introduces students to environmental resources, economic efficiency, and market
failures in the context of environmental policy. Specifically, students will be able to understand
and explain:

The economic causes of environmental problems
The effects of externalities in the allocation of environmental resources
Attributes of the range of policy instruments available to correct for externalities
The total economic value of environmental resources and methods of valuation
The tools for analyzing the benefits and costs of environmental policies
The economic implications of climate change

PREREQUISITES

EC201 Introductory Microeconomics
EEP255 Ecological Economics

TEXT BOOK


Economics and the Environment
Eban S. Goodstein John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2008
6th edition

Additional reading assignments along with the syllabus and class presentations will be placed on
the course D2L site, which can be accessed at http://d2l.msu.edu.

EVALUATION

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION (50 PTS)
10%
PROBLEM SETS (25 PTS EACH X 4 = 100 PTS)
20%
LAB REPORTS (25 PTS EACH X 4 = 100 PTS)
20%
MIDTERM EXAM (100 PTS)


20%
FINAL EXAM (150 PTS)



30%

TOTAL (500 PTS)




100%

GRADING SCALE









GRADE
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.0
POINTS 500-450 449-425 424-375 374-350 349-300 299-275 274-250 <249


PROBLEM SETS (20%)
Four problem sets for homework, each worth 25 points, will be assigned throughout the
semester. These assignments will include analytical problems to help reinforce the concepts
presented in class and to prepare for exams.

1) PROBLEM SET 1 (5%) DUE FEBRUARY 3
2) PROBLEM SET 2 (5%) DUE FEBRUARY 24
3) PROBLEM SET 3 (5%) DUE MARCH 31
4) PROBLEM SET 4 (5%) DUE APRIL 16
NOTE: DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

CLASSROOM EXPERIMENTS
A series of four classroom experiments will be conducted during class meetings. You are required to
be present for each experiment, unless you have discussed your reason for absence ahead of time
with the instructor. For each experiment you will be expected to submit a one to two page Learning
Synthesis Lab Report outlining your experimental behavior and describing how the experiment
contributed to your knowledge of the course material.

EXPERIMENTAL LAB REPORTS (20%)

1) DUE FEBRUARY 10
2) DUE FEBRUARY 24
3) DUE MARCH 26
4) DUE APRIL 14
NOTE: DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

EXAMS (50%)

1) MIDTERM EXAM (20%) ON MARCH 5 IN CLASS
2) FINAL EXAM (30%) ON TUESDAY, MAY 5 12:45-2:45 IN CLASS
NOTE: DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

EXPECTATIONS

ACADEMIC HONESTY: Students are expected to adhere to high standards of integrity and
honesty. Any form of dishonesty or plagiarism with regard to assignments or examinations will
not be tolerated. The University policy on academic dishonesty is provided in the Student
Handbook and Resource Guide, which can be downloaded from:
http://www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/.

ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION AND DISCUSSION: The framework of the course is based on the
assumption that learning takes place best in a dynamic, interactive and critical atmosphere.
Accordingly, the course relies heavily on student participation. Students are expected to be
present and prepared, and to actively participate in class discussions. Readings on current
environmental issues will occasionally be posted to the Angel site. Students are expected to
read the posted article before class and be prepared to present your own discussion questions.

MUTUAL RESPECT: In order to create a positive atmosphere for open discussion, students
should feel confident that they can express their views and perspectives freely without penalty
and that their comments will not be attributed to them outside the classroom. Trust and
respect should permeate this class.

COURSE SCHEDULE AND TOPICS (subject to change)

DATE
JANUARY 13
JANUARY 15
JANUARY 20
JANUARY 22
JANUARY 27
JANUARY 29
FEBRUARY 3
FEBRUARY 5
FEBRUARY 10
FEBRUARY 12
FEBRUARY 17
FEBRUARY 19
FEBRUARY 24
FEBRUARY 26
MARCH 3
MARCH 5
SPRING BREAK
MARCH 17
MARCH 19
MARCH 24
MARCH 26
MARCH 31
APRIL 2
APRIL 7
APRIL 9
APRIL 14
APRIL 16
APRIL 21
APRIL 23
APRIL 28

TOPIC
COURSE INTRO
ECON REVIEW
MOTIVATION
SOCIAL WELFARE
PUBLIC GOODS
ENVIRONMENT
PUBLIC GOODS
POLLUTION AND
EXTERNALITIES
WATER RESOURCES
EFFICIENCY AND OPEN ACCESS
EFFICIENCY AND OPEN ACCESS
SAFTEY
SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY
REVIEW
MIDTERM
~
ECOSYSTEM
SERVICES
BENEFITS
(WTP/WTA)
BENEFITS
(APPLICATION)
COSTS
COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
REGULATION
MONITORING/
ENFORCEMENT
INCENTIVE BASED POLICY
INCENTIVE BASED POLICY
INCENTIVE BASED POLICY IN
PRACTICE
POVERTY, POLLUTION AND
THE ENV.
CATCHUP DAY
REVIEW

TEXT

HANDOUT
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

ACTIVITY

LECTURE
LECTURE
LECTURE
LECTURE
PANEL DISCUSSION
EXPERIMENT
LECTURE

BLUE GOLD
CHAPTER4
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6&7



~
VANISHING OF
THE BEES
CHAPTER 8

FILM
LECTURE
EXPERIMENT
LECTURE
LECTURE
GUEST LECTURE
REVIEW SESSION
EXAM
~
FILM

CHAPTER 8

EXPERIMENT

CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15

LECTURE
LECTURE
LECTURE
LECTURE

CHAPTER 15&16
CHAPTER 15&16

EXPERIMENT
LECTURE
LECTURE

LECTURE

LECTURE