OVERVIEW

"Environmental, Ecological and Circular Economics" illustrates the extensions of economic theory in three directions:

• the management of optimal resource allocation problems in the presence of market failures (environmental economics);
• the interface between ecological and economic systems and the introduction of bio-ecological constraints and feedback (ecological economics);
• the interface between physical and economic systems and the introduction of physical-technical constraints in resource and energy management (circular economics).

The perspective is that of public economics. The theoretical tools and methods discussed in classroom are pre-requisite and foundation for decision-making processes that are the responsibility of different levels of government.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide a theoretical framework for interpreting the links between the economic system and the environment and for analyzing the decision-making process of the public operator from both a normative and a positive approach in order to deal with environmental problems deriving from economic activities.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning Goal: To acquire knowledge and understanding of methods and tools for analyzing phenomena related to environmental degradation and externalities, resource use, and their interactions with the functioning of the economy and the process of economic growth and development.

Learning Outcomes (according to the Dublin descriptors):

• Knowledge and Understanding: The student will be able to describe and explain the relationships between environmental preservation, economic efficiency, and market failure, and to illustrate strategies for integrating economic growth and sustainability, in contexts of theoretical and applied analysis.
• Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The student will be able to apply the methods learned to critically evaluate the role of environmental policy and public intervention in guiding and regulating markets and actors toward the goal of sustainability; assess how public and private environmental choices affect the distribution of resources and income on the national economy, between rich and poor countries of the world, and the allocation of resources to future development; independently evaluate the main economic effects of alternative hypotheses of environmental instruments and policies (environmental taxation, pollution certificates, green economy, etc.).
• Autonomy of judgment: The student will be able to make autonomous and critical assessments of environmental policy choices and will be able to analyze the main economic effects of public and private environmental choices from both equity and efficiency perspectives.
• Communication skills:  The student will be able to use the technical language of the discipline to communicate clearly and unambiguously with specialist and non-specialist interlocutors in oral or written presentations.
• Learning skills: The student will be able to independently investigate the main topics of the discipline, including in work contexts, using up-to-date sources and self-education tools.

PREREQUISITES

There are no specific requirements

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching methodology includes lectures, seminars, exercises to be carried out at home and/or in the classroom, and group work. Attendance is optional.

Regarding organizational aspects (live and/or online teaching), all necessary information and any updates due to extraordinary situations will be provided on the AulaWeb platform.

In any case, the University of Genoa  regulations regarding the conduct of teaching apply, also with particular reference to the support arrangements for students with DSA.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Topics covered include:

• Scarcity, optimal allocation, and the environment
• An integrated environment-economy model: ecosystem services
• Resources and residues
• Scarcity and resource stock management
• Market failures
• Environmental externalities
• Tools for controlling environmental externalities
• Environmental valuation
• Cost-benefit analysis

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

To supplement the slides, which constitute primary teaching material and will be made available regularly and in advance of class on Aulaweb, you can consult the text R.K. Turner, D.W. Pearce, I. Bateman, Economia Ambientale, 2003, Il Mulino.

All students are encouraged to periodically consult the page for this teaching on the AulaWeb e-learning portal (accessible from the University website or at: http://www.aulaweb.unige.it/). All further information and materials related to this teaching are posted exclusively on that site.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

First Semester from September 2025 according to the published timetable

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The Examination involves a written test. The examination test is structured with open questions and numerical exercises. Each answer is worth a maximum of 5/30 or 10/30, depending on the type. The test is passed by scoring at least 18/30.

The lecturer reserves a subsequent oral assessment if he/she has doubts or reservations about the overall evaluation of the written test.

There is no limitation on the number of exam sessions a student may attend.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For the verification of the expected learning outcomes, the written test is structured to specifically assess knowledge and understanding and ability to apply it, autonomy of judgment and communication skills through the formulation of open-ended questions in which the ability to autonomously evaluate and critical spirit on proposals and choices of Environmental Economics and Policy inspired by the issues on the agenda of policy makers and in the current economic debate is required.

Parameters of evaluation include: quality of exposition; ability to formalize also in graphical or analytical terms the exposition; use of appropriate technical language; autonomy of thought and capacity for critical judgment.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For more information contact the lecturer.