ENSn4444 Economics for Environmentalists

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Ing. Michal Struk, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Eva Fraňková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Klára Dubinová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 18:00–19:40 U32
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! HEN444 Economics for Environmentalist &&!NOW( HEN444 Economics for Environmentalist )&&TYP_STUDIA(N)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to provide an overview of selected fundamental topics in economics relevant to understanding the interconnections between the economy and the environment, including an introduction to selected economic approaches to nature and natural resources. The course also covers selected topics in public economics and public finance that are relevant to environmental protection.
Learning outcomes
After having taken the course, the student will:
understand basic economic concepts and thought patterns and their relevance to environmental perspective,
be able to discuss selected economic concepts and their environmental implications,
enhance own capacities of critical thinking, reflection, discussion and dialogue.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction – Introduction, Expectations, Evaluation System, Objectives and Course Content
  • 2. What is Economics and Its Brief History
  • 3. Market, Supply and Demand, (Hidden) Assumptions
  • 4. Money and Economics, Property and Free Trade
  • 5. Economic Growth and Sustainability, Distribution and Inequality
  • 6. Public Sector and Public Projects
  • 7. Cost-Benefit Analysis, Non-Market Valuation Methods
  • 8. Public Finance, Finance at the Local Level, Data
  • 9. Public Choice
  • 10. Environmental Economics, Instruments of Environmental Policy
  • 11. Circular Economy, Waste Management
Literature
    recommended literature
  • TIETENBERG, Thomas H. and Lynne LEWIS. Environmental economics : the essentials. 2nd edition. New York: Routledge, 2024, 1 online. ISBN 9781032689029. info
  • STEJSKAL, Jan; Beáta MIKUŠOVÁ MERIČKOVÁ; Ondřej KUBA and Nikoleta MUTHOVÁ. Veřejná ekonomie. Vydání první. Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2023, x, 248. ISBN 9788076766808. URL info
  • JOHANISOVÁ, Naděžda. Ekologická ekonomie: vybrané kapitoly (Ecological Economics: Selected Chapters). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 88 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-7116-2. info
  • SLAVÍKOVÁ, Lenka; Eliška VEJCHODSKÁ and Jan SLAVÍK. Ekonomie životního prostředí : teorie a politika. 1 vyd. Praha: Alfa nakladatelství, 2012, 287 s. ISBN 9788087197455. info
  • ŠAUER, Petr. Environmental Economics and Policy With Economic Lab Experiments and Class Exercises. 2012. ISBN 978-80-86709-19-2. info
  • MANKIW, N. Gregory. Zásady ekonomie. Translated by Milan Sojka. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 1999, 763 s. ISBN 9788071698913. info
Teaching methods
Lectures accompanied by structured discussions and other activities, continuous work and regular readings during the semester, reflection of texts, group project.
Assessment methods
Evaluation: attendance and continuous work during the semester (reflection of articles, essays), group project with presentation, written exam. For each year, students receive a detailed sylabus including suggested readings.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2025/ENSn4444