Welcome to the Ecology of the Economic Process!
Ecology and economics are generally conceptualized and taught as separate, unrelated disciplines. Ecology is considered a natural science, while economics is taught primarily as a social science. We believe the intersection of economics and ecology is an important vantage point for understanding and managing the relationship between humans and the natural world and an essential requirement for understanding and implementing real sustainability. The goal of this course is to examine economics from a systems perspective and develop more effective models and tools for managing the natural world to meet human needs and wants. A critical component of all this will be the study of how energy operates in natural and human-dominated systems. This is biophysical economics.
Course Objectives:
1. Examine what constitutes an economic question. How is this related to value? What value systems have been dominant now and in the past.
2. Examine the intersection, similarities, and differences between ecology and economics
3. Examine the biophysical underpinnings of all economic activity and how this reality is dealt with (or not) in dominant economic discourse and theory
4. Examine the critical role of low entropic energy and material flows in human culture and economies
5. Review the basics of physiocrat, classical, and neoclassical economic theory
6. Examine some important shortcomings of contemporary economic theory and determine to what degree a biophysical approach resolves these issues.
7. Explore the history and current trends of biophysical economics
8. Examine the impact of depletion, peak oil, and net energy on economies and culture
9. Explore several developing countries, including and especially Costa Rica, as a case study using these principles
10. Examine the ability and shortcomings of NCE and markets to effectively manage our future
11. Apply all this to the creation of new economic theories, models, and policies
Grading:
Participation - 20%
Critical Reviews - 25%
Final Exam - 25%
Final Paper - 25%
Abstract and Outline - 5%
Participation 20%
Attendance, Discussion , Readings.
Critical Reviews 20 %. There will be two critical review papers Each review should be 3-5 pages long. More details when assigned.
Final Paper 25%. The final paper should be a synthesis and expansion on the concepts you learned in class. Papers should be at least 6 pages but no longer than 12 pages with 1.5 spacing. The goal is not to summarize what you have learned, but to apply this knowledge to qualitative and quantitative analysis of human dominated ecosystems/economies. You must site at least five of the articles read in the class and three additional sources. Be responsibly creative within the theoretical and scientific foundations established in the course. The format should be as if you were writing a paper in the Journal of Ecological Economics or Biophysical Economics. The paper is due by the last day of class. Please put your name on the back of the last page of your paper only.
Abstract and Outline 5%
To help develop your paper topics, you must submit an abstract and outline for your paper by the beginning of week 10. You will get this back the following week with a grade of either “REVISE” or “PROCEED” and comments. Please put your name on the back of the last page only.
Final Exam 25%
The final exam will be in short answer and essay format and cover everything from the course. Students can receive two bonus points on the exam by submitting three possible exam questions before the last week of class. Put your name on the back of the last page only.
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