EEP 101/ ECON 125Economics of Resources and

the Environment

EEP 101/ ECON 125Economics of Resources and

the Environment

Professor David Zilberman

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics University of

California, Berkeley

Lecture 1: IntroductionLecture 1: Introduction

• Guest Lecturer: Professor David Roland-Holst• The Professor• GSIs• Sections• Readings (Online Texts)• Grading• Course Outline• What You Will Study, Hopefully• Special Issues• Details available on the syllabus and online on the class

website: (http://are.berkeley.edu/courses/EEP101/spring06/ )

The ProfessorThe Professor

• David Zilberman• Currently in Zurich, Switzerland • Will Return on Thursday for Lecture 2• Office Location: 337 Giannini Hall• Office Hours: Thursdays 11 a.m.-12 p.m.• Website: http://are.berkeley.edu/~zilber/

• Email: zilber@are.berkeley.edu

The ProfessorThe Professor

Background of ZilberBackground of Zilber

• Originally from Israel: You can tell by his Zilbonic accent.

• Works on water in California: Got a Drippey award, The Oscar of Plumbing (come see the wax trophy in his office)

• Expert on biotechnology, environmental services, and pesticides: Always attracted to toxic materials and never shies from controversy.

• Basketball Fanatic: Had assistant type this lecture up, while at the Warriors game.

GSIsGSIs

• Kristin Kiesel• Office: Giannini 308• Office Hours: TBA• Phone: 643-5413• E-mail: kiesel@are.berkeley.edu• Sections: 101 and 102

• Anin Aroonruengsawat• Office: Giannini 325• Office Hours: TBA• Phone: (510) 643-5415• E-mail: anin@are.berkeley.edu• Sections: 105 and 106

SectionsSections

• Section 101: Monday 9-10, 2070 VLSB (GSI: Kristin Kiesel)

• Section 102: Monday 3-4, 2301 Tolman (GSI: Kristin Kiesel)

• Section 105: Friday 9-10, 2070 VLSB (GSI: Anin Aroonruengsawat)

• Section 106: Friday 3-4, 87 Dwinelle GSI: Anin Aroonruengsawat)

• IMPORTANT!!! If you are in sections 103 or 104, you MUST switch into sections 101, 102, 105, or 106 via Telebears

Readings (Online Texts)Readings (Online Texts)

• There is no required textbook. The detailed course notes on the course website serve as required text for the course (available at http://are.berkeley.edu/~zilber/EEP101/spring06). There will also be a course reader.

• For supplementary readings, we recommend the textbooks listed on the syllabus.

• Detailed text and lecture summaries are available at http://are.berkeley.edu/~zilber/EEP101/spring06 . The detailed notes and lecture summaries will be modified to reflect the revised content of the class.

GradingGrading

• Grading• 30% midterm, 50% final, and 20% homework.

• Students may opt to submit a paper. In this case grading is 66% classwork (the above) and 34% for the paper.*

• * Possible topics for the optional paper, in addition to sample papers, can be found on the class website

Course OutlineCourse Outline

• The syllabus includes a class outline revealing the material to be covered in each outline.

• The first five lectures are as follows:• Lecture 1: Introduction (Today!)

• Lecture 2: When Is a Market Socially Optimal? Production and Consumption Externalities

• Lectures 3-4: Market Failure and Policy Instruments: Standards, Taxes and Subsidies

• Lecture 5: An Economic Model of Positive Externalities

What You Will Study, HopefullyWhat You Will Study, Hopefully

• Theory of externalities • How to use carrots & sticks to reduce pollution• The political economy of pollution control

• Public goods• The economics of parks and environmental amenities• Collective actions for a greener world

• Evaluation of non-market benefits• Resource management over time

• Conservation policies• Sustainability

Special IssuesSpecial Issues

• Water

• Climate Change

• Pesticides

• Biotechnology

• Environmental Services

• Animal Waste