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Environmental Economics

  • Autumn 2025
  • Kennari: Dr. David Cook
Kennsluskrá

Um námskeiðið

The course introduces students to the basic principles of sensible utilization and preservation of environmental goods from the neoclassical perspective of environmental economics. It explores the main ways in which the market fails when it comes to the environment, discussing the pros and cons of different economic instruments for correcting these distortions. The course focuses on the topic of cost-benefit analysis, both from the small-scale perspective of projects and large-scale issues such as the tackling of climate change. Students are introduced to the different techniques that environmental economists apply when they endeavour to value the environment and changes in its quality.

Kennari

Dr. David Cook:

David er aðjúnkt við Háskóla Íslands og tengist námsleiðinni Umhverfis- og auðlindafræði. Rannsóknir hans beinast að tengslum hagkerfa og velferðar fólks, með sérstakri áherslu á verðmat vistkerfisþjónustu á norðurslóðum. Hann starfar einnig sem kennari í umhverfishagfræði við Háskóla Íslands.

Árið 2018 lauk hann doktorsprófi í umhverfis- og auðlindafræði við Háskóla Íslands. Doktorsverkefni hans snerist um þróun hagfræðilegs líkans til að meta umhverfiskostnað vegna nýtingar jarðhita.

Nemendur við Háskólasetur Vestfjarða eru alltaf áhugasamir og tilbúnir að kynna sér og takast á við hugtök námskeiðsins, óháð því hversu mikla reynslu þeir hafa áður af hagfræði. Það þarf því litla hvatningu til að fá þá til að hugsa á gagnrýninn hátt.

Kennsluskrá

The course provides an overview of environmental and resource economics as well as public policy tools and instruments in the context of management of coastal and marine environments and sustainable development (SD). The course introduces elements of standard economic analysis (neo-classical economics) as well as other approaches such as ecological economics. A focus is placed on how to manage resources in such a way that the health of ecosystems as well as the economy is taken into consideration. The course aims to provide students with the necessary tools to make informed choices with regard to environmental and resource management in coastal and marine communities.

On completion of the course, a student:

  • understands the various ways in which markets fail and consider these issues in relation to coastal and marine areas.
  • can apply theories of environmental economics and various policy instruments.
  • understands the practice and implications of cost-benefit analysis, including in connection to climate change.
  • can demonstrate knowledge and practical expertise in non-market valuation techniques for valuing environmental impacts, and communicate this through surveys, reports and presentations.
  • can develop/plan, draft, revise and complete a research writing project.
  • comprehends the implications of environmental and resource economics with respect to marine spatial planning and sustainable development.
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