316-325 Ecological Economics

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

This subject may only be taken with the permission of the lecturer. Permission will normally only be given provided a student has (a) completed the third year subject 316-324 Environmental Economics and (b) completed at least one environmental studies subject from the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject gives an understanding of the relationships between ecosystems and economic systems are central to many of humanities current problems and to building a sustainable future. Ecological economics is a new transdisciplinary approach to understanding and managing the ecology and economics of our world for sustainability, on local, regional and global scales. This subject will focus on the basic world view of ecological economics; accounting, modelling and analysis of ecological economic systems; and necessary institutional changes to achieve sustainability. Use will be made of the tools for conventional economics and ecology as appropriate, and new approaches will be introduced where needed. It should be noted that no prior knowledge of ecology is assumed.

Assessment

A 2-hour end-of-semester examination (45%), an essay of approximately 4000 words (45%) and an in-class assessment (in the form of seminar presentation and class participation) (10%).