ENVIRONMENTAL AND TERRITORIAL ECONOMYModule ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: GIUSEPPE DI VITAExpected Learning Outcomes
Provide the knowledge for understanding the relationship between the economic system and environmental resources, the principles and tools of economic policy useful for generating an improvement in social well-being in line with the needs of sustainable development.
In terms of learning, the achievable results can be summarized as follows:
Knowledge and understanding - ability to acquire useful knowledge to understand the interrelationships between economic development and the environment and aspects of an economic, social and environmental nature
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding - the study and analysis of the basic elements of economic tools useful for promoting interventions compatible with sustainable development allow us to understand their applicability with reference to diversified environmental conditions
Autonomy of judgment - the assimilation of the contents of the discipline stimulates awareness of the diversification of territorial contexts and of the need to operate objectively and transparently to achieve a real improvement in social well-being
Communication skills - ability to understand, illustrate and argue with appropriate mastery of language and basic content on environmental economics issues
Learning skills - Acquisition of useful basic knowledge that can be used in the world of work within the scope of the course of study attended and to access higher education levels
Course Structure
Principles of general economics; The environment and the economic system; Environmental externalities; The tools for regulating externalities; International, community and national environmental policies; Criteria for the use of renewable and non-renewable resources; Economics and politics of climate change; Principles and models of territorial organization.
As a guarantee of equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their specific needs and on teaching objectives of the discipline. It is also possible to ask the departmental contacts of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or DSAs).
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Textbook Information
- Turner R.K., Pearce D.W., Bateman I., Economia ambientale, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2003.
- D. Acemoglu, D. Laibson, J. A. List, Microeconomia. Teoria ed evidenza Empirica, Pearson 2017
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | Intoroduction Turner |
| 2 | The extended economy | Chapter 1 Turner |
| 3 | Environment and ethics | Chapter 2 Turner |
| 4 | Economic growth, population growth and the environment. The environmental Kuznets curve | Chapter 2 Turner and documents provided by the teacher |
| 5 | Lo sviluppo sostenibile e gli indicatori di sostenibilità ambientale | Chapter 2 Turner and documents provided by the teacher |
| 6 | Strumenti di supporto alle decisioni: cenni sull’Analisi Costi-Benefici | Chapter 6 and 7 |
| 7 | Rischio e incertezza | Chapter 8 |
| 8 | International conferences and agreements for the transnational protection of the environment | Provided by the teacher |
| 9 | The Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and the state of implementation in Italy | Provided by the teacher |
| 10 | Circular economy, bioeconomy and efficient use of resources | Provided by the teacher |
| 11 | The green economy and sustainable finance | Provided by the teacher |
| 12 | Environmental policies and the institutions. International, European and national agencies | Provided by the teacher |
| 13 | Le imposte ecologiche | Chapter 12 |
| 14 | I permessi negoziabili | Chapter 13 |
| 15 | I meccanismi basati sugli strumenti normativi: gli standard ambientali | Chapter 11 |
| 16 | Energia, ambiente, clima e territorio: le risorse rinnovabili | Provided by the teacher |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Verification of learning takes place through an oral interview.
The evaluation of the student's preparation will take place on the basis of the following criteria: learning ability and level of depth of the topics covered, properties of synthesis and exposition, and the student's ability to reason.
The vote follows the following scheme:
Unsuitable
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Important shortcomings. Significant inaccuracies
Ability to analyze and synthesize: Irrelevant. Frequent generalizations. Inability to synthesize
Use of references: Completely inappropriate
18-20
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: At the threshold level. Obvious imperfections
Analysis and synthesis skills: Just enough skills
Use of references: As appropriate
21-23
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Routine knowledge Analysis and synthesis skills: It is capable of correct analysis and synthesis. Argue logically and consistently
Using references: Use standard references
24-26
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Good knowledge
Analysis and synthesis skills: Has good analysis and synthesis skills. The arguments are expressed consistently
Using references: Use standard references
27-29
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Knowledge more than good
Ability to analyze and synthesize: He has considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis
Use of references: Has explored the topics
30-30L
Knowledge and understanding of the topic: Excellent knowledge
Ability to analyze and synthesize: He has considerable abilities of analysis and synthesis.
Use of references: Important insights.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
- What is sustainable development?
- What are the main international conferences and conventions on environmental protection?
- What are environmental externalities?
- What does the Coase Theorem state?
- Why and how does the public operator protect and improve the environment?
- What are environmental standards and taxes and how do they work?
- What are the strategies to combat climate change?
- Principles and strategies of the European Union's environmental policy