51茶馆

Staffing

Examiner:

Other Requisites

Students are required to have access to a personal computer, e-mail capabilities and Internet access to UConnect. Current details of computer requirements can be found at .

Rationale

Since the 1970s, mainstream policies aimed at maximising economic growth have come under increasing scrutiny regarding their disregard of the resulting effects on the environment; particularly the effects of pollution from industrial production, the depletion of natural resources and impacts on biodiversity. Although these limits to growth had been recognised by Classical economists in the late 18th century, it was work such as 鈥淭he economics of the coming spaceship earth鈥� by Kenneth Boulding in 1966 (in Daly 1973) that began a process that has resulted in the current international drive for sustainable development. This recognition has now been institutionalised to the extent that many government policies exist with the explicit aim of promoting sustainable development. The policies are generally aimed at changing the way that individuals and businesses make decision about production and consumption of goods and services. As such, it is important from a business perspective to understand the design of these tools and techniques for sustainable development and how they impact on firms and their customers.

Synopsis

This course is concerned with the policy tools that governments use to try to achieve sustainable development and how businesses and individuals may react to those tools. The course stresses the complementary nature of economic and environmental systems, and examines the growing recognition of the importance of natural resources and the environment in economic policy decision making. Government intervention in markets is an integral element in the drive for sustainable development, and managers as well as individuals should be aware of the importance of these policies. Policy tools can be considered in three groups: decentralized policies such as liability laws, property rights and voluntary action; 'command and control' strategies such as standards and regulations; and market-based programs such as taxes, subsidies and tradable pollution permits. This course examines the nature and impact of each of these policies, discusses criteria for evaluating their effectiveness in achieving their goals, and considers their appropriateness for particular aspects of sustainable development.

Objectives

Topics

Text and Materials

Reference Materials

Student Workload Expectations

Assessment Details

Important assessment information

1. Attendance requirements:
   
   There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
   
   
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   
   To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item.
   
   
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   
   Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4)
   
   
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
   
   
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
   
   
6. Examination information:
   
   There is no examination in this course.
   
   
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   
   There is no examination in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.
   
   
8. University Student Policies:
   
   Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
   
   

Assessment Notes

1. Referencing in assignments:
   Harvard (AGPS) is the referencing system required in this course. Students should use Harvard (AGPS) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (AGPS) style to be used is defined by the USQ Library's referencing guide at .