This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)

Module ECON1051: The Economics of Sustainability

Department: Economics

ECON1051: The Economics of Sustainability

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	1	20	Available in 2025/2026	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

A Level Mathematics, minimum grade A or equivalent

Corequisites

Principles of Economics (ECON1011)

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To facilitate students' understanding of evolving approaches to how economists analyse environmental issues as well as contribute to decision-making about the environment and intergenerational equity. Students will be made aware of the limitations of economic approaches in the real world.

Content

A range of material is covered at an introductory level with emphasis on topics such as:
Economics of sustainability: intergenerational equity, discount rates, interdisciplinary approaches to environmental issues
Growth and the Environment: limits to economic growth and technology.
Green accounting and environmental indicators.
Welfare economics.
Environmental valuation.
Analytical tools - e.g. cost-benefit analysis, cost effectiveness and alternatives.
Economic efficiency and markets, market failure, externalities.
Instruments of pollution control policy: environmental standards, taxes, tradable permits.
Criteria for evaluating environmental policies.
Resource economics: renewable and non-renewable.
Energy economics.
Global environmental problems: Climate change, biodiversity loss, land use, world fisheries, urban-rural tensions.
Topics in the economics of sustainability and policy solutions.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

Understand how Economics can help to assess and solve environmental problems
Be able to formulate environmental policy recommendations

Subject-specific Skills

How to use economic tools and mathematical and graphical analysis for the solution of environmental problems

Key Skills

Written Communication - e.g. through summative assessment.
Initiative e.g. by searching relevant literature and information in preparation for assessed work

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Teaching is by lectures and seminars. Learning takes place through attendance at lectures, preparation for and participation in seminar classes, and private study.
Summative assessment is by means of a written examination to test students' knowledge and understanding of the subject matter. A formative assignment will also help prepare for the on campus exam.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	20	1 per week	2 hours	40
Revision Classes	1	1 in Term 3	2 hours	2
Seminars	7	2 in Term 1, 5 in Term 2	1 hour	7	Yes
Preparation and Reading				151
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Examination	100%	On Campus Written Examination	2 hours	100%

Formative Assessment

One written piece of work to prepare students for the summative exam.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.