Module

Voraussetzungen

Inhalte

The lecture “Economic instruments for climate policy” will introduce the broader field of climate economics. It will first give an overview of welfare economic assessment frameworks of environmental (particular climate) policy instruments, including different normative viewpoints. It will then introduce modern political economy debates and how they relate to the analysis and assessment of climate policy instruments. Students will also learn about the role of distributional effects and acceptability for assessing policy instruments. The seminar “Political Economy of Energy Transitions” will illustrate political economy problems in energy transitions using a simulation game. After an introduction to the topic of energy transitions and key political aspects, students will prepare the positions of specific actors relevant for the energy transition in a selected country. Material and background information will be provided, but students are encouraged to also engage in their own analyses and research. The course will culminate in a simulation game to illustrate barriers and potential solutions to energy transitions.

Lernziele

The module "Economic and Social Instruments of Environmental and Resource Management" consists of two parts. The lecture "Economic instruments for climate policy" covers different policy instruments and their economic assessment. The lecture features an introduction to various perspectives on environmental policy, including first-best welfare economic perspectives. It will also introduce to a political economy perspective, including decision problems of different economic agents. The lecture will provide guidance on how to evaluate policy instruments and introduce students to the most common strands of policy analysis. The seminar "Political Economy of Energy Transitions" will expand students' understanding of challenges to energy transitions. For example, energy transitions may consist of phasing out coal. This course features threats to effective and just energy transitions and options to possibly overcome such threats.

Prüfungsleistung

• Winter Term: 1 written assignment (1000-2000 words, 30%) at mid-term and one exam (70%) at the end of the semester [together 50% of the grade] • Summer Term: Seminar paper and preparation for the simulation game (~20 pages in total, 60%) and presentation (~15 minutes, 40%) • Details to be explained at the beginning of the course.