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56949-01 - Colloquium: The Economics of Climate Change (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2020 |
| Course frequency | Every spring sem. |
| Lecturers | Rebecca Lordan-Perret (rebecca.lordan-perret@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | In this course, we focus on economic approaches to assessing climate change from a social welfare perspective. We begin with an overview of the scientific basis of climate change and its fundamental connection to economics. We then investigate the current methods used to price the externalities caused by greenhouse gas emissions, including methods to estimate the value of non-market goods (e.g., biodiversity and health) toward the estimation of the social cost of carbon. We discuss the intrinsic ethical meanings and implications of economic modeling choices; the sensitivity of economic results to functional form, underlying assumptions, and uncertainty; and the importance of economic results in informing climate policies globally. |
| Learning objectives | Students will develop an understanding of how economists try to translate the physical impacts of climate change into economic costs using integrated assessment models. By the end of the course, students should have deep understanding of the implications of various modeling assumptions and valuation techniques that enable them to think critically about the useful applications and limitations of these models for policymaking. |
| Bibliography | To be distributed in class. |
| Comments | Use of electronic devices not permitted during course time (this includes taking notes on tablets, laptops, etc). This course is designed to be interactive and discussion-based; electronic devices in this setting have little use and, in fact, typically hinder participation and attention. Please understand that no exceptions can be made for the sake of fairness. |
| Weblink | Weblink to ADAM |
| Admission requirements | Basic course in microeconomics assumed. Familiarity with econometric methods is beneficial. |
| Course application | Registration: Please enrol in MOnA. EUCOR-Students and students of other Swiss Universities have to enrol at the students administration office (studseksupport1@unibas.ch) within the official enrolment period. Enrolment = Registration for the exam! |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|
No dates available. Please contact the lecturer.
| Modules |
Module: Core Competences in Economics (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Electives (Master's Studies: Business and Economics) |
| Assessment format | end-of-semester examination |
| Assessment details | The colloquium is composed of weekly readings to motivate our roundtable discussions/lectures of 1.5 hours and homework assignments (format: essays, presentations, or problem sets). As the course is discussion based, attendance is required and will be documented. There are no exams. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Registration: course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |