BPR_ENEK Environmental Economy

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Ing. Dominika Tóthová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Dominika Tóthová, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Dominika Tóthová, Ph.D.
Department of Regional Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Ing. Iveta Suchomelová Vašíčková
Supplier department: Department of Regional Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The objective of the course is to introduce students to the fundamental principles of environmental economics, with a focus on understanding the economic causes and consequences of environmental problems, the role of market failures, and the potential for corrective measures through economic instruments. Emphasis is placed on both theoretical concepts and analysis, as well as the application of models to specific environmental policies. Students will develop the ability to think economically about environmental issues and to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental policy instruments.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Explain the basic concepts and approaches of environmental economics, including the role of externalities and market failures.
Work with simple economic models related to the environment and natural resources.
Quantitatively analyse the impacts of different environmental policy instruments.
Apply economic principles to evaluate policies aimed at pollution control and natural resource use.
Critically interpret current approaches to environmental issues based on economic theory.
Independently analyse real-world cases using calculations and model-based approaches.
Syllabus
  • The course will cover the following thematic areas:
  • Introduction to environmental economics, historical background, overview of approaches
  • Economic thinking in the context of the environment – goods, utility, preferences
  • Market failures: externalities – theory and examples, public goods, and marginal social costs
  • Environmental policy instruments: taxes, subsidies, tradable permits, regulation
  • Economic growth, the environment, and sustainability
  • The economics of environmental quality
  • Valuing the Environment
  • Environmental risks and consumer behavior
  • Environmental policy and economic evaluation
  • Climate change from the perspective of environmental economics
Literature
    required literature
  • HANLEY, Nick; Jason F. SHOGREN and Ben WHITE. Introduction to environmental economics. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019, xi, 392. ISBN 9780198737230. info
    recommended literature
  • FIELD, Barry C. and Martha K. FIELD. Environmental economics : an introduction. Release 2024. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2024, xix, 425. ISBN 9781266887390. info
Teaching methods
The course is primarily taught through weekly lectures and seminars held every other week. Students are expected to engage in continuous work and active participation in seminars, including discussions, completion of regular assignments, and ongoing self-study.
Assessment methods
Student assessment is based on a combination of continuous work during the semester and a final evaluation of acquired knowledge and skills. Continuous work may include problem-solving tasks, home preparation, active participation in seminars, short tests, or presentations. The final evaluation will assess the students’ ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical problems in environmental economics. Emphasis will be placed on both understanding theoretical concepts and the ability to apply them in quantitative and practical contexts. Detailed assessment criteria are specified in the course plan published at the beginning of each semester. If a student registers for the course while participating in a study abroad program, they must independently complete individually assigned tasks and pass a final exam or an alternative form of assessment as agreed with the course guarantor.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
General note: Přednášky jsou dostupné online a ze záznamu.
Credit evaluation note: k=1.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/autumn2025/BPR_ENEK