On completion of the course, the students will be able to:

1. Describe how different economic perspectives relate and contribute to a sustainable society
2. Explain how economic conditions and restrictions interact with sustainable development

3. Analyse the economic tradeoffs and ethical implications linked to a broad range of contemporary social and environmental issues
4. Analyse alternative welfare measurement tools beyond GDP and their potential to contribute to a sustainable society
5. Analyse how economic incentives influence individual and groups behaviors, and how incentives can be used to explain and address social and environmental challenges in society

6. Perform theoretical and methodological analysis of policy instruments with respect to economic efficiency and sustainable development
7. Evaluate and reflect upon contemporary debates surrounding issues of sustainability and economic evaluation/development in society

The course Economics for a Sustainable Society explores the interplay between economics and sustainability. Students will examine economics approaches to understand its benefits and limitations in relation to sustainable development of society. This course provides the economic foundations for decision-making regarding wellbeing, environmental quality and natural resources. It provides an overview of economic tools and techniques for evaluating and working with sustainable development issues and introduces alternative economic perspectives, which challenge neo-classical economics. The course places emphasis on how tools of economic analysis can be used to identify sources of social and environmental challenges and solutions to them.

Connection to Research and Practice
The content of this course is closely connected to research and current practices of economics for a sustainable society. This course will deeper students’ understanding of the complexity of sustainability where research is contently changing our knowledge and perception of the economic tradeoffs and ethical implication of social and environmental issues. Issues connected to sustainability are fundamental to all research areas of JIBS.
Students are trained throughout the course to view sustainability challenges from different perspectives where strengths and weaknesses are constantly discussed. Guest lecturers with real-world applications of economic tools to contribute to a sustainable society are invited to strengthen the students’ ability to bridge theory and practice. The assignments are connected to current trends in practical development and use of economic tools to address sustainability challenges in our society.

The course is based on a series of lectures and seminars.

The teaching is conducted in English.

General entry requirements 60 credits in Business Administration and/or Economics, with at least 30 credits in Business Administration with at least 15 credits in economics. Proof of English proficiency is required.

The course is graded A, B, C, D, E, FX or F.

The ILOs listed above are assessed through the following types of examination:
Individual written exam (ILOs 1 – 7) representing 4.5 credits.
Individual assignment (ILOs 4, 7) representing 1.5 credits.
Group assignment (ILOs 5, 7) representing 1.5 credits.

To pass the course, students must pass each element of examination.

Name of the Test	Value	Grading
Individual written exam1	4.5 credits	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Individual assignment1	1.5 credits	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F
Group assignment1	1.5 credits	A/B/C/D/E/FX/F

¹ All parts of compulsory examination in the course must be passed with a passing grade (A-E) before a final grade can be set. The final grade of the course is determined by the sum of total points for all parts of examination in the course (0-100 point). Grade is set in accordance to JIBS grading policy.

It is the responsibility of the examiner to ensure that each course is evaluated. There must be course evaluators identified among the students. The evaluation is carried out continuously as well as at the end of the course, through a survey. After the course, the course Examiner meets with student evaluators to discuss the survey results and possible improvements. A summary report is also created. The report is followed up by program directors and discussed with faculty and relevant others (e.g. Associate Dean of Education, Associate Dean of faculty, Director of PhD Candidates, Dean, or Director of Studies). The next time the course runs, students should be informed of any measures taken to improve the course based on the previous course evaluation.

Academic integrity

JIBS students are expected to maintain a strong academic integrity. This implies to behave within the boundaries of academic rules and expectations relating to all types of teaching and examination.

Copying someone else’s work is a particularly serious offence and can lead to disciplinary action. When you copy someone else’s work, you are plagiarizing. You must not copy sections of work (such as paragraphs, diagrams, tables and words) from any other person, including another student or any other author. Cutting and pasting is a clear example of plagiarism. There is a workshop and online resources to assist you in not plagiarizing called the Interactive Anti-Plagiarism Guide.

Other forms of breaking academic integrity include (but are not limited to) adding your name to a project you did not work on (or allowing someone to add their name), cheating on an examination, helping other students to cheat and submitting other students work as your own, and using non-allowed electronic equipment during an examination. All of these make you liable to disciplinary action.

Book:
Hussen, A. (2018) Principles of Environmental Economics and Sustainability: An Integrated Economic and Ecological Approach, 4th ed, Routledge
Articles:
A list of articles will be supplied at the course introduction.