Global and Climate Change Economics
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
This course provides a compendium to the economists' views on climate change. The course will apply economic and econometric principles to the analysis of climate change problems. Besides applying advanced microeconomics concepts to the analysis of climate policies as in a standard environmental economics course, the course will introduce the basics toolkit of climate modeling and the main econometric issues to estimate climate change impacts on socioeconomic variables. Finally, the international dimension of climate change policies will be analyzed using game theory and in-class games. An active students' participation is required through group presentations and collective discussions around the main debates on climate policies.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will get a comprehensive knowledge of the main climate change issues and their policy solutions; will be familiar with pros and cons of different policy instruments; will get acquainted with the main econometric and modelling techniques used in climate change economics; will be up to date with the international climate change negotiation process, political drivers of climate policies and their acceptability. This knowledge will enable student to interpret critically the results of the rapidly expanding body of economic literature assessing the effect of climate change impacts and policies, will expand students' capacity to think in a multi-disciplinary way connecting political, scientific and economic processes on climate change issues; should contribute to form the students' skills to conduct independent research in these areas.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Specific indications for the delivery of lectures and practicals in the academic year 2021/2022 will be given in the next months, according to the evolution of the sanitary situation.
Course syllabus
1. The Scientific evidence
2. Scenario analysis
3. Impacts of climate change
4. Econometric issues on climate change impacts
5. Climate change and economic development
6. Applied lecture: students' presentation
7. Social efficiency and externalities
8. Climate policies: taxes, standards, subsidies and emission trading
9. Broadening the view: competitiveness, innovation and green policies
10. Basics of climate change modelling
11. Advanced issues I: discounting and the green paradox
12. Advanced issues II: uncertainty and irreversibility
13. Advanced issues III: double dividend and green deal plans
14. Applied lecture (if time permits): class debates: i. act now or later; ii. carbon pricing vs. systemic view on policy; iii. social cost of carbon or not.
15. Politics of climate policies: domestic dimension
16. Politics of climate policies: international dimension
17. Applied lecture: the public good game
18. Improving international cooperation on climate change
19. Review lecture
2. Scenario analysis
3. Impacts of climate change
4. Econometric issues on climate change impacts
5. Climate change and economic development
6. Applied lecture: students' presentation
7. Social efficiency and externalities
8. Climate policies: taxes, standards, subsidies and emission trading
9. Broadening the view: competitiveness, innovation and green policies
10. Basics of climate change modelling
11. Advanced issues I: discounting and the green paradox
12. Advanced issues II: uncertainty and irreversibility
13. Advanced issues III: double dividend and green deal plans
14. Applied lecture (if time permits): class debates: i. act now or later; ii. carbon pricing vs. systemic view on policy; iii. social cost of carbon or not.
15. Politics of climate policies: domestic dimension
16. Politics of climate policies: international dimension
17. Applied lecture: the public good game
18. Improving international cooperation on climate change
19. Review lecture
Prerequisites for admission
Students are expected to be familiar with undergraduate-level notions of calculus, statistics, and basic notions of microeconomics, macroeconomics.
Teaching methods
Teaching activity is based upon lectures and class presentation/discussion of group assignements that are examining in depth topic analysed in class.
Teaching Resources
Slides of the lectures and various references (mostly papers and reports) listed in the Syllabus (course website).
Assessment methods and Criteria
Grading is based upon (a) an oral exam (40% of grade) (b) the drafting of an essay to be prepared as a group work and to be presented as a seminar during the lectures (30% of grade); (c) a quick test on the first part of the program (20%); (d) participation to the applied activities (10%). The topics for the essay will be assigned by the teacher. Groups will be composed by 3 to 4 students. Students not attending classes are not requested to participate to the working groups. In their case their evaluation will be based only on the exam.
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
please contact me to make an appointment
via Celoria 2, first floor