- UCAS course code
- L900
- UCAS institution code
- M20
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
- Typical A-level offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: ABB including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: BBB including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 36 points overall with 6,6,6 at HL, including specific subjects
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
| 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)
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 |