Environmental Studies 233PE - Political Economy of the Environment

This course addresses environmental protection and environmental degradation, including both pollution and natural resource depletion. In addition to the neoclassical economic question of how scarce resources are allocated among competing ends, this course explores the political economy question of how resources are allocated among competing individuals, groups, and classes. Topics include the goals of environmental policy, globalization, poverty, natural assets, and climate policy. A fundamental conclusion is that the relationships between people and nature are largely determined by the relationships between people.

Prereq: ENVST-100 or ECON-110.