ENS242 Green Economics

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2012
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Molly Scott Cato (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 15. 10. 18:00–19:40 U33, Tue 16. 10. 12:00–13:30 U43, Wed 17. 10. 8:00–9:40 U41, 14:00–15:40 U53, Thu 18. 10. 12:00–13:30 P21, Fri 19. 10. 10:00–11:40 P22, Mon 22. 10. 8:00–9:40 U35, Tue 23. 10. 8:00–9:40 U33, Wed 24. 10. 14:00–15:40 U53, Thu 25. 10. 12:00–13:30 P21
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
To understand that the economy is limited by the ecological system of planet earth; To begin to consider the implications of these limits in terms of their impact on systems of provisioning and the existing economic model which relies on economic growth; To consider how an economy without growth might challenge the structures of the prevailing economic model in terms especially of the way money is created and the use of energy; To consider how respecting the limits of the planetary system implies a reconsideration of issues of allocative justice; To explore the impact of the process of globalisation on natural resources and ecological systems and to consider the options for more local systems of provisioning.
Syllabus
  • 1. Why Green Economics?
  • 2. Energy: Why do we worry so much about money, when energy is the scarce resource?
  • 3. Money: How does the system of money creation impact on the environment?
  • 4. Climate change: challenge or opportunity?
  • 5. Climate change and social justice
  • 6. Comparative advantage or trade subsidiarity?
  • 7. Green taxation
  • 8. Land, work and self-provisioning
  • 9. Economics and permaculture
  • 10. Economics of Transition
  • Specific policies and projects to be included: community-land trusts; Stroud community agriculture; Contraction and Convergence; Cap-and-Share; bioregional economics; citizens’ juries; community currencies; Transition Towns.
Literature
  • Molly Scott Cato: Green Economics: An Introduction to Theory, Policy and Practice: G1-135
  • Molly Scott Cato: Environment and Economy
  • Jonathon Porritt, Capitalism as if the World Matters: L2-968
  • Richard Douthwaite: The Growth Illusion: L2-127
  • Richard Douthwaite and John Doping (eds.): Growth: The Celtic Cancer: SKL-15154
  • The Lean Economy Connection: Energy and the Common Purpose: http://www.theleaneconomyconnection.net/downloads.html
  • Feasta: Cap and Share: http://capandshare.org/download_files/C&S_Feasta_booklet.pdf
  • Global Commons Institute, Carbon Countdown : http://www.gci.org.uk/Documents/Carbon_Countdown.pdf
  • Joan Martinez-Alier, Ecological Economics: L2-1056
  • Herman Daly: Ecological Economics: EKO-246
  • Jules Pretty, The Earth Only Endures: L2-969
  • Richard Douthwaite, Short Circuit: L2-128
  • Tim Jackson, Prosperity without Growth (find a book review online here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jan/23/properity-without-growth-tim-jackson)
  • Rod Hill and Tony Myatt, The Economics Anti-Textbook (a critical account of the teaching on orthodox economics): http://www.zedbooks.co.uk/book.asp?bookdetail=4326
Teaching methods
The course will involve both powerpoint presentations of selected topics and a substantial amount of structured student discussions, activities and work in groups. The students will be encouraged to ask and answer questions and present their points of view on all the topics presented and discussed in class.
Assessment methods
Set reading will be allocated for the period before the teaching block. Assessment for the course will consist of three parts: a shorter essay (30%), a longer essay (50%) (both based on the topics presented in class) and a mark for attendance and participation (20%).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2013, Spring 2015.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2012, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2012/ENS242