Bachelor of Arts (BAEcon)

BAEcon Development Studies

In-depth study into the problems and options faced by the developing world.

  • Duration: 3 or 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: L900 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad
  • Industrial experience

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £29,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

Scholarships and bursaries, including the Manchester Bursary , are available to eligible home/EU students.

Some undergraduate UK students will receive bursaries of up to £2,000 per year, in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.

You can get information and advice on student finance to help you manage your money.

Course unit details:
Environmental Economics

Course unit fact file
Unit code ECON20101
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

The aim of this module is to introduce students to how environmental problems are conceptualised within economic theory, and how that conceptualisation tracks through to the design & evaluation of policies aimed at addressing environmental problems. The unit involves formal economic theory, evaluation of empirical evidence and engagement with some of the tools that environmental economists use in practice. 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Introductory Mathematics ECON10061 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Advanced Mathematics ECON10071A Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Principles of Microeconomic Theory 1: Consumers, Welfare, Production and Costs ECON10171 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Microeconomics 1 ECON10221 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Microeconomics 1 ECON10331 Pre-Requisite Compulsory
Advanced Mathematics ECON10071B Pre-Requisite Compulsory
(ECON10331 OR ECON10221 OR ECON10171) AND (ECON10061 OR ECON10071)

(ECON10331 or ECON10221 or ECON10171) and (ECON10061 or ECON10071)

Aims

The unit aims to: 
The aims of this course are to explore the use of economic analysis to investigate the causes, consequences and possible solutions to problems associated with degradation of the environment due to economic activity.  

At the end of the course unit, students will be able to understand and explain: 
1. the history of environmental economic thought; 
2. how neoclassical economics frames environmental problems in terms of market failure; 
3. the theory and practice of valuing, in monetary terms, changes in environmental quality; 
4. cost-benefit analysis, including the discounting of future values; 
5. the economics of environmental regulation; 
6. the economics of climate change and associated policy
 

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course unit, students will be able to:
1. Understand how neoclassical economics conceptualises environmental problems in terms of market failure
2. Understand the theory and practice of valuing, in monetary terms, changes in environmental quality 
and use of such values in cost-benefit analysis
3. Understand the economics of alternative approaches to regulating local and global pollution including emission standards, technology-based regulations, pollution taxes, subsidies, and tradable pollution permits
4. the economics of climate change and its implications for policy design 

Awareness and knowledge as well as the ability to communicate on these issues will be an important skill in a job market in which all organisations (government, business and charities) will have to respond to environmental challenges.

Syllabus

Topic 1 Introduction to Environmental Economics 
Topic 2 Economic Valuation of Environmental Change 
Topic 3 Cost Benefit Anayis & Discounting 
Topic 4 The Economics of Environmental Regulation 
Topic 5 The Economics of Climate Change 
 

Teaching and learning methods

16 hours Lectures 
5 hours Tutorials 
79 hours independent study 
 

Intellectual skills

(i) Understand the economics of environmental problems and the theory and practice of environmental regulation
(ii) Develop and utilise problem-solving skills
(iii)  The ability to analyse and interpret empirical data

Practical skills

(i) The ability to analyse and interpret empirical data
(ii)The ability to analyse economic mechanisms and policies 
(iii)The ability to select and deploy relevant information
 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

(i) select and deploy relevant information; (ii) communicate ideas and arguments in writing and verbally; (iii) apply skills of analysis and interpretation; (iv) manage time and work to deadlines; (v) ability to work in a small group.

Employability skills

Analytical skills
Problem solving

Assessment methods

  • Timed written Assignment (Cadmus) (1000 words/1 Hour) 60%
  • 2 x Online Mobius Test (20 questions/40 minutes) 2 x 20%

Feedback methods

  • Timed written Assignment - On essays and aggregate feedback document on Bb 
  • 2 x Online Mobius Test - Auto feedback available on mark release in Mobius Test Gradebook &  discussion on Piazza

Recommended reading

Topic 1. Introduction to Environmental Economics 
‘Chapters 1-4’, in Brian Roach Jonathan M. Harris, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: A Contemporary Approach (5th edition, Routledge 2920) 
‘Chapters 1 and 2’ in Hanley, Shogren and White, Introduction to environmental economics  (Third edition, Oxford University Press 2019) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348835785780001631?auth=CAS 
Sandmo A, ‘The Early History of Environmental Economics’ (2015) Review of Environmental Economics And Policy 9 (43) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/347303377330001631?auth=CAS 
‘Chapter 4 Welfare Economics and the Environment’ in Perman et al, Natural resource and environmental economics (4th edition) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348835957620001631?auth=CAS 

Topic 2. Environmental Valuation 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/lists/345314084130001631?auth=CAS§ion=348836062900001631‘Chapter 6’, in Brian Roach Jonathan M. Harris, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: A Contemporary Approach (5th edition, Routledge 2920) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348836112740001631?auth=CAS 
‘Chapters 3 and 4’ in Hanley, Shogren and White, Introduction to environmental economics  (Third edition, Oxford University Press 2019) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348839805920001631?auth=CAS‘Chapter 12 Valuing the Environment’ in Perman et al, Natural resource and environmental economics 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348839809960001631?auth=CAS 
Barbier E (ed), ‘Chapters 3-6’ in Hanley, Shogren and White, Pricing nature: cost-benefit analysis and environmental policy  (Edward Elgar 2009) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348839817500001631?auth=CAShttps://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348839992320001631?auth=CAS 

Topic 3. Discounting and Cost-Benefit Analysis 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/lists/345314084130001631?auth=CAS§ion=348840096190001631 
‘Chapter 7’, in Brian Roach Jonathan M. Harris, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: A Contemporary Approach (5th edition, Routledge 2920) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348840122010001631?auth=CAS‘Chapter 11 Cost-Benefit Analysis’ in Perman et al, Natural resource and environmental economics 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348840156870001631?auth=CAS 
Bateman Ian (ed), ‘Chapters 2, 7 and 13’, Economic valuation with stated preference techniques : a manual  (Edward Elgar 2002) 
HM Treasury.  The Green Book. Central Government guidance on appraisal and evaluation 2022. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-green-book-appraisal-and-evaluation-in-central-government/the-green-book-2020 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348840170920001631?auth=CAS 

Topic 4. Environmental Regulation 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/lists/345314084130001631?auth=CAS§ion=348840192390001631 
‘Chapter 8’, in Brian Roach Jonathan M. Harris, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: A Contemporary Approach (5th edition, Routledge 2920) 
https://www.readinglists.manchester.ac.uk/leganto/public/44MAN_INST/citation/348840240070001631?auth=CAS ‘Chapter 5 (Pollution Control Targets), Chapter 6 (Pollution Control Instruments) and Chapter 7 (Pollution Policy with Imperfect

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Daniel Rigby Unit coordinator

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