Ecological Economics

Course Code:

ECON 477

Course Type:

Elective

P:

3

Application:

0

Credits:

3

ECTS:

5

Course Language:

İngilizce

Course Coordinator:

Nuri Vedit İNAL

Course Objectives:

This course's aim is to increase the interests and awareness levels of the students on environmental problems and global environmental change, through providing an introduction to the ecological economics and economic analysis of the environmental problems, with a specific focus on the political economy environment.

Course Content:

While the mainstream environmental economics approach will be discussed shortly, the main focus of the course will be concepts, models, and methods used in ecological economics and political ecology literature. On completion of this course, students should have an understanding of the relationship between economic, social and ecological systems; appreciate the interdisciplinary approach for the analysis of environmental problems and be able to apply various methods and models used in ecological economics to such problems; have a critical awareness of the issues relating to economic growth, environmental valuation and evaluation methods, ecological distribution conflicts, societal metabolism, and political economy of environment in Turkey.

Course Methodology:

Lecture, Question-Answer, Discussion, Case Study

Course Evaluation Methods:

Testing, Homework, Quiz

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
To acquire a good understanding of the ecological problems.	17, 18	1, 2, 3, 12	A, C, Q
To be able to critically evaluate the various approaches in mainstream environmental economics	2, 4, 7, 10	1, 2, 3	A, C, Q
Development of the systematic and logical methods of ecological economic analysis	2, 3, 5	1, 2, 3	A, C, Q
To understand the environmental problems of the Turkish economy and discuss the necessary changes and policies	1, 4, 7	1, 2, 3, 12	A, C, Q
To understand contemporary subjects in ecological economics and political economy of environment.	1, 3, 10	1, 2, 3, 12	A, C, Q
To understand the ethical, social and ecological dimensions of individual actions and acquire the awareness to become an active citizen	17, 18, 19, 20	1, 2, 3	A, C, Q

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT
Week	Topics	Study Materials
1	Introduction to ecological economics and the environment	Common and Stagl, Ch 1
2	Humans and environment: Extraction and pollution (air, water, soil)	Common and Stagl, Ch 1, Ch2
3	Planet earth and the global environmental change: Ozone layer depletion, climate change, biodiversity loss	Common and Stagl, Ch2, Ch13, Ch14
4	Humans and the economy in the environment: some history and a conceptual framework	Common and Stagl, Ch 3, Ch4
5	Environmental accounting and other sustainability indicators (ecological footprint, HANPP, EROI)	Common and Stagl, Ch 5
6	Economic growth and the environment: Limits to growth, steady state economics, and sustainable degrowth	Common and Stagl, Ch 6, Ch 7
7	Exchange, markets, and limits to markets	Common and Stagl, Ch 8, Ch 9
8	Environmental policy instruments	Common and Stagl, Ch 11
9	Value and ethics: Environmental valuation vs commodification	Articles and class notes
10	Ecological Distribution Conflicts and Environmental Justice	Articles and class notes
11	Political Ecology: Relations between human society and its bio-cultural-political complexity	Articles and class notes
12	Environmental and Ecological Economics in Turkey	Articles and class notes
13	Political Economy of Environment and Political Ecology in Turkey (cont'd)	Articles and class notes
14	Course review: what did we learn?	Class notes

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES
Textbook		Common, M., & Stagl, S. (2005). Ecological economics: an introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Additional Resources		Adaman, F. & Arsel, M. (2016). Environmentalism in Turkey: between democracy and development?. Routledge.

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING
Documents		A number of articles will be handed out throughout the term.
Assignments		2 Assignments will be given throughout the term
Exams		The performance of the students will be determined by two assignments and a written final exam.

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Mid-terms	1	50
Quizzes (attendance, presentation, etc.)	1	25
Assignments	1	25
	Total	100
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade		50
Contribution of In-Term Studies to Overall Grade		50
	Total	100

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution
		1	2	3	4	5
1	Students should be able to analyze the developments in the world and Turkish economy and examine how Turkish economy is affected by these changes.				X
2	Students should examine the growth and accumulation of economic thought and critically evaluate it.				X
3	Students should analyze contemporary subjects in international political economy.			X
4	Students should possess qualitative and quantitative knowledge and techniques to test different economic theories in order to solve contemporary economic problems.					X
5	Students should analytically evaluate economic problems and explain logical patterns, assumptions and results of different perspectives.					X
6	Students should be able to use statistics and econometric analysis programs.	X
7	Students should possess the sufficient knowledge, discipline and responsibility to be able to conduct independent study/ project/research and a comprehensive research and/or project report.					X
8	Students should be able to fulfill their responsibility in teams and projects in businesses as well as being able and capable to act as a leader.	X
9	Students should be able to design and plan projects to achieve organizational goals and objectives and/or improve organizational performance.			X
10	Students should be able to critically evaluate the body of knowledge in the fast changing economics arena, and assess self-competency, and direct self-learning efforts accordingly.				X
11	Students should understand the importance of life-long learning and self-assessment to maintain their personal and professional development.					X
12	Students should understand that the rapidly-evolving dynamics of national and global environments requires flexible thinking, adaptability, and the ability to formulate innovative solutions to pursue a successful career.					X
13	Students should be able to effectively communicate in written or oral English with people from diverse backgrounds, and should have the English proficiency to follow and interpret the global dynamics that shape the economics area.				X
14	Students should be able to clearly and effectively convey their knowledge, ideas, research, and conclusions supported with relevant data, in national/international interdisciplinary academic and professional settings in Turkish or in English.					X
15	Students should understand the importance of respect for individual and cultural diversity, and should be able to emphatically interact with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds in social and professional settings.					X
16	Students should be able to effectively utilize computer, communication and information technologies commonly used in economics.			X
17	Students should understand the standards of personal, professional and social ethics, evaluate the ethical implications of various practices related to the area of business administration, and have awareness of the importance of ethical behavior in adding value to society.					X
18	Students should understand the personal, social and ecological dimensions of social responsibility and have the awareness that being socially responsible is an active citizenship duty of each and every individual.					X
19	Students should know that universality of social rights and social justice are the principle components of contemporary society and that scientific thinking in essential prerequisite for maintaining social advancement and global competitiveness.					X
20	Students should understand the importance of quality, safety and health management, corporate social responsibility, personal, professional and cross-cultural respect and professional ethics in maintaining organizational sustainability.					X

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COUSE DESCRIPTION
Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Including the Exam Week: 15 x total course hours)	15	3	45
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	15	3	45
Mid-terms	1	10	10
Quizzes (attendance, presentation, etc.)	0	0	0
Assignments	0	0	0
Final Examination	1	15	15
Total Work Load			115
Total Work Load / 25 (s)			4,6
ECTS Credit of the Course			5

None

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