Course description
Title of the Teaching Unit
Topics in Economics and Environment
Code of the Teaching Unit
21EC017
Academic year
2026 - 2027
Cycle
Number of credits
5
Number of hours
60
Quarter
2
Weighting
Site
Montgomery
Teaching language
French
Teacher in charge
ROMAN Philippe
Objectives and contribution to the program
General objectives of the course – students are expected to…
- Understand the multidirectional and complex relationships between economic systems and socio-ecological systems, and develop critical personal reflection on this subject.
- Learn about the facts, concepts, theories and analytical tools that allow to analyse and assess these relationships, and be able to identify the conditions for their relevant use.
- Identify the implications of these relationships in terms of management and conceive desirable alternatives to unsustainable practices.
The course also contributes to the development of the following skills:
- Exercise a critical mind and be able to reflexively address the complex and systemic ecological challenges of economic development.
- Imagine and design desirable futures.
- Understand the importance of various environmental and regulatory factors, supported by reliable data, to make informed decisions.
- Express oneself clearly in English using the appropriate vocabulary.
Prerequisites and corequisites
Content
The following topics will be addressed:
- The place and significance of environmental issues in economic theories
- The impacts of economic activity on ecosystems and their theoretical framing
- The constraints that evolving resource stocks and ecosystems place on economic performance
- The diverse ways of conceptualising and measuring sustainability at the global and national levels, as well as at the level of individual firms
- Alternative business models with high sustainability potential
- Environmental policies and their effects on firms
Teaching methods
The course is designed to be interactive and participative, combining traditional lectures with sessions focused on student engagement, including Q&A, group work, discussions, and quizzes. Reading academic papers is an integral part of the course, serving as a foundation for informed debate and critical reflection.
Assessment method
The final grade is based on a 2h exam held at the end of the semester (summative assessment).
Summative assessment (final exam)
The final assessment consists of a written, closed-book 2h exam held on campus. No external materials or calculators are permitted. No digital devices are allowed. The exam includes multiple-choice and open-ended questions, with no ‘negative points’ for incorrect answers in the multiple-choice section.
The August/September session follows the same rules.
Formative assessment (non graded continuous learning and training)
Frequent Wooclap quizzes are used to help students engage with and better understand key concepts, facts, and theories.
The course encourages active participation through in-class discussions and collaborative research and interpretation of online data and information, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills.
References
All course slides, papers and useful links to be found on Moodle.
Indicative bibliography:
core-econ.org
Gossen, M., Niessen, L., (2024), Sufficiency in Business. The Transformative Potential of Business for Sustainability, transcript.
Harris, J.M., Roach, B., (2013), Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. A Contemporary Approach, Routledge.
O'Neill et al., (2018), A good life for all within planetary boundaries, Nature Sustainability, vol. 1, p. 88-95.
Raworth, K., (2018), Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist, Random House.
Ropke et al., (2017), Ecological Economics, Aalborg University.
Sommer, A., (2012), Managing Green Business Model Transformations, Springer.