ENS242 Green Economics

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2013
Extent and Intensity
0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Molly Scott Cato (assistant)
RNDr. Naděžda Vlašín Johanisová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Zdeňka Lechnerová (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
Tue 29. 10. 10:00–11:40 M011, 14:00–15:40 M011, Wed 30. 10. 12:00–13:30 U32, Thu 31. 10. 14:00–17:40 M011, Fri 1. 11. 10:00–11:40 Studio 527
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
The course is taught in English by Molly Scott Cato, Professor of Strategy and Sustainability at the University of Roehampton, London. It will be taught via daily face-to-face teaching in a block lasting one week. Please see the study materials of the course on the course website for a detailed time outline (In 2013, we expect the course to be taught between 29 October and 1 November, daily). The aim of the course is to present a basic overview of an emerging system of thinking known as Green Economics. Green Economics is focused on a search for solutions of the current environmental crisis in the shape of new economic approaches, tools and policies, which respect planetary limits and which have the explicit goal of a just and sustainable economy. At the end of the course, the student will be able to discuss the economic implications of global warming, have learned about the issues of land, work and food from a Green Economics perspective, and will be aware of functioning models of community ownership and of case studies of Green Economic ideas applied in a British context. The course will be interactive and the lecturer, in conjunction with the students, will attempt to link the presented ideas with the present and future in Brno and Moravia.
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
  • Cato, M.S. The Bioregional Economy Land, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Routledge.
  • Molly Scott Cato: Green Economics: An Introduction to Theory, Policy and Practice: G1-135
  • Molly Scott Cato: Environment and Economy
  • 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
  • Jonathon Porritt, Capitalism as if the World Matters: L2-968
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: an essay and a mark for attendance and participation.
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 2012, Spring 2015.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2013, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2013/ENS242