Description du cours
Intitulé de l'Unité d'Enseignement
Topics in Economics and Environment
Code de l'Unité d'Enseignement
21EC017
Année académique
2025 - 2026
Cycle
MASTER
Nombre de crédits
5
Nombre heures
60
Quadrimestre
2
Pondération
Site
Montgomery
Langue d'enseignement
Anglais
Enseignant responsable
ROMAN Philippe
Objectifs et contribution de l'Unité d'Enseignement au programme
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.
Prérequis et corequis
Description du contenu
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
Méthodes pédagogiques
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.
Mode d'évaluation
The final grade is based on a 2h closed-book written exam on campus composed of multiple choice questions and open questions.
Références bibliographiques
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.