Course Syllabus

 

Course Description

In this course we will explore the economic dimensions of the global transition to sustainability, with a focus on the challenges, friction costs, trade-offs, and political tensions that shape pathways toward a greener economy. We will take a critical look into how economic systems, policy tools, and social behaviors interact in attempts to reconcile growth with ecological limits, while actively engaging with questions such as: Can capitalism ever be truly sustainable? What are the limitations of market mechanisms like carbon taxes and tradable permits? How do issues of equity, power, and culture influence environmental policy outcomes?

Our study tour to Dublin explores how environmental economics takes shape in a national context marked by both opportunity and constraint. Ireland faces sharp tensions between its reliance on agriculture, which sustains rural economies but drives high emissions, and its ambitions for renewable energy and climate leadership.

Drawing on Sweden and Ireland as case studies, together we will investigate core topics in environmental economics, including environmental valuation, cost-benefit analysis, renewable energy transitions, agricultural dilemmas, and green finance.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Critically evaluate sustainability concepts by distinguishing between environmental economics, ecological economics, and broader notions of environmentalism and welfare.
2. Apply economic valuation methods (e.g., cost-benefit analysis, contingent valuation, ecosystem services valuation) to real-world environmental goods and services.
3. Analyze policy mechanisms such as carbon taxes, emissions trading, Pigouvian taxes, subsidies, and regulatory frameworks, including their strengths, weaknesses, and political economy dimensions.
4. Understand behavioral dimensions of sustainability, drawing on behavioral economics, cultural practices, and social norms to explain why individuals and societies struggle to “walk the talk.”
5. Synthesize theoretical and practical insights through group projects, fieldwork, and final presentations, demonstrating the ability to connect economic reasoning with real-world environmental dilemmas.

Faculty

PhD @ Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden), M.Sc. @ Hanken School of Economics (Finland). Co-founder of the SSE Methods Lab, and co-founder of SIDI (Stockholm Interdisciplinary Initiative) at DIS Stockholm. Research focus on economic regulation, market dynamics, and antitrust. Expertise from the airline industry. Coffee enthusiast and a book collector.

Readings

All readings are available for download in Modules.

• Hardin, G. (1968). "The Tragedy of the Commons." Science, 162(3859), 1243–1248.
• Costanza, R. et al. (1997). "The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital." Nature, 387, 253–260.
• Goulder, L. H., & Parry, I. W. H. (2008). "Instrument Choice in Environmental Policy." Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 2(2), 152–174.
• Unruh, G.C. (2000). Understanding carbon lock-in. Energy Policy, 28(12), 817–830.
• Poore & Nemecek (2018) – Reducing food's environmental impacts through producers and consumers.pdf
• Bulat, V. (2025). Integrating sustainable tourism into EU strategies for economic security through a comparative regulatory analysis.
• OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024: Building a more balanced future for tourism for more sustainable outcomes
• OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2024: Sweden Profile.pdf
• Sörensson, A., and von Friedrichs, Y. (2016). Sustainable tourism smong Swedish tourism service providers - easy to say but difficult to implement.pdf

Guest Lecturers

• L06: Is Sweden ’the most sustainable travel destination in the world’? by Dr. Natalie Bye

DIS Accommodations Statement

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter on the first days of class. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support acadsupport@disstockholm.se

Expectations of the Students

I expect all of you to show up to class with a good attitude, and the understanding that your laptop will remain closed unless I state otherwise.

I also expect all of you to have done your readings, homework, and assignments in a timely manner. If you encounter a situation that could cause a delay, please communicate that asap.

For work that needs to be submitted:

• 1-2 days delayed: work will be accepted, but an automatic penalty of points will be taken.
• 3< days delayed: work will no longer be accepted, and the points given will be 0.

Use of laptops or phones in class:

• No phones or laptops open unless stated otherwise. Lecture slides will be posted into Canvas afterwards, but should you need to make notes, you may do so by hand. If you physically cannot do that, please do not hesitate to share your accommodation letter and we can adapt accordingly.

Evaluation

Aside from the submitted materials, you will also be evaluated based on an abundance of in-class work. Some of it will be individual, most of it will be in groups. I do not expect perfection, but I do need to see genuine effort being put into the work you do in class.

Grading

Assignment	Percent
Classroom Assignments	40%
Study Tour Assignment	30%
Final Assignment	30%