Course 2014-2015 a.y.

Go to class group/s: 31

CLMG (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - M (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - IM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - MM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - AFC (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - CLAPI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - CLEFIN-FINANCE (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - CLELI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - ACME (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - DES-ESS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06) - EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/06)

Course Director:
ALBERTO CAVALIERE

Course Objectives

This course aims to provide students with the basic knowledge and essential tools to deal with environmental problems considered in a broad perspective, integrating globalization, innovation, technological change, consumer preferences and environmental regulation. The course starts by discussing the relationship between innovation, globalization, sustainability and green technologies. Then, it examines the concept of sustainable development proposed by economic theories. Issues related to the green economy are analyzed from the point of view of technology, considering the topic of climate change, according to the Kyoto Protocol perspective and the diffusion of renewable energy sources. Then, the course considers the main instruments of environmental policy: taxes, subsidies and the market for pollution allowances. In the last part of the course, Voluntary Approaches is considered, analyzing the relationship between the growth of demand for green products and the competitive strategies adopted by firms. During the course, students learn how to conceive environmental issues not only as a constraint imposed on firms but also as a strategic opportunity for technological innovation, economic growth and investments in environmental technologies. In order to reach this objective, the traditional analysis of economic instruments is coupled with the study of voluntary approaches and the analysis of overcompliance, characterizing firms involved in environmental certification, green labelling and other similar strategies.

Course Content Summary

• Innovation, globalization and new emerging countries.
• Green technologies and economic development.
• The concept of sustainable development.
• Global environmental problems: the Kyoto protocol and climate change.
• Interdependency between the environment and the economic system: environmental externalities and the Coase Theorem.
• Economic instruments: environmental taxation and the Carbon tax examples.
• Economic instruments: environmental subsidies and the example of renewables.
• Decentralized systems for pollution control: Cap and Trade and the ETS (Emission Trading Scheme) in Europe.
• Voluntary approaches: classification, economic foundations and environmental effectiveness.
• Overcompliance and Environmental Strategies: product differentiation, asymmetric information and Environmental Reputation.
• Voluntary Approaches: case studies in environmental certification, green labels and other environmental strategies implemented by firms, industries and Countries.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

For attending students
Papers and class presentations to be prepared by students plus a short written exam.

For non attending students 
Written exam.

Textbooks

Readings are assigned at the beginning of the course.

A few chapters are taken from the following textbooks:

• R. PERMAN, Y. MA, J. MCGILVRAY, et al., Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, Pearson, 2011.
• A. BARANZINI, P. THALMANN, Voluntary Approaches in Climate Policy, Edward Elgar, 2004.

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Last change 25/03/2014 15:30