AG2142 Political Economy for Environmental Planners 7.5 credits

Educational level	Second cycle	Academic level (A-D)	D
Subject area	Built Environment	Grade scale	A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• http://www.infra.kth.se/sb/sp/0php/

• Course page on KTH Social

Learning outcomes

The aims are to:

• familiarise students with the mechanisms of the global economy and its impacts on global, national and local environmental and sustainability issues,
• provide an understanding of decision-making processes concerning sustainability issues at all levels, with an emphasis on environmental negotiation

After the course the student will be able to:

• describe some economic and political tools to solve environmental problems like e.g. cost-benefit analysis,
• explain the relevance of the political, social and economic systems in addressing environmental issues,
• exemplify how specific economic and political concepts have been applied to environmental issues, like e.g. values, ideas, interests, burden sharing,efficiency, cost/benefit,
• identify the influence of socio-economic and cultural differences related to environmental and economic decisions, and
• account for the special attributes of international environmental negotiation. 

After the course the students will also have gained experience concerning some generic capabilities, and will be able to:

• write a literature paper conforming to general requirements regarding the structure of a text and with proper referencing/quotations, and
• produce a summary of another author's work and a critical assessment of the thoughts of the author. 

Course main content

The course provides a basic introduction to the environmental and sustainability aspects of the operation of the global economic and political system. It also provides an introduction to the economic and regulatory methods for the creation of environmental policy.

One part of the course will be devoted to understanding economic and political mechanisms and concepts by drawing up basic theoretical perspectives from the fields of international economics, environmental and ecological economics, environmental systems analysis, and political science

Another perspective of the course will be to analyze the relationship between economic transformation and environmental problems at different geographical levels. Concrete examples of integrating the elements of sustainability in political or planning programmes will also be addressed. A focal point will be the processes of environmental negotiations where students engage in a simulated negotiation exercise.

Disposition

Class time activity is divided up into lectures, guest lectures and seminars.
The course follows two main lines, one of political economy and sustainable development and the other about international environmental negotiations, as a tool to address global sustainability issues. It is concluded with a written examination covering both lines.

Eligibility

A Bachelor’s degree in architecture or landscape architecture, civil engineering in the built environment or equivalent, urban and regional planning or social sciences including courses corresponding to a minimum of 30 ECTS credits in the field of urban, transport or regional planning and economics, geoinformatics or environmental sciences.

In addition documented proficiency in english corresponding to English B/English 6 or equivalent (TOEFL, IELTS e g).

Literature

Compendium (incl i a parts of Sjöstedt, G (ed), 1993, International Environmental Negotiations; Daly, H, 1991, Steady-State Economics).

Examination

• LIT1 - Course Papers, 4.5 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 3.0 credits, grade scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Requirements for final grade

Course papers (LIT1; 4.5 cr)
Written examination (TEN1; 3.0 cr)

The course is mainly presented as lectures and seminars. Attendance at all lectures is highly encouraged but the minimum requirement is at least 75% of the lectures. Participation in all the seminars is mandatory to fulfill the course requirements.

Offered by

ABE/Urban and Regional Studies

Contact

Peter Brokking, peter.brokking@abe.kth.se, Tel 08-7909270

Examiner

Professor Göran Cars

Supplementary information

First prio: Students within TEESM-program.
Second prio: Incoming exchange-students S.

Add-on studies

AG2143 Sustainable Urban and Rural Development
AG2501 Human Settlement and Housing

Version

Course plan valid from: Autumn 13.
Examination information valid from: Autumn 07.