ECO 260 Environmental Economics, Regulation and Policy

3 hours 

The economic roots of environmental problems such as resource depletion, pollution, toxic wastes, and global warming are explored. The global issues of sustainable development, environmental justice, and the intertwining of poverty and environmental problems are studied. Different environmental standards and decision-making techniques are presented and their relative merits examined. The corrective potential of a variety of policies such as civil and criminal regulation, taxation, tradable permits, auditing, environmental impact requirements and international treaties are analyzed. The implications of alternative theoretical perspectives for public policy are considered.