Prof. Charles D. Kolstad Class meets:

Office: 3036 North Hall TuTh 2:00--3:15

Office Hours: Tues 3:30-5:30; Wed 3:00-4:00; or by appt. Phelps 1508

Phone: 893 2108; email: kolstad@bren.ucsb.edu

This is a course in analyzing environmental policies. The objective of the course is to train students to be able to identify policy problems, articulate options to solve those problems and to analyze those options, choosing the option most socially desirable (or at least narrowing the choices). The course has a quantitative orientation and draws heavily on the economics paradigm for analysis. The prerequisite is ESM 204.

There is a mid-term on Nov. 3 and no written final exam. A major part of the course is the preparation of a paper which is a policy analysis of an environmental problem. The topic of the paper will be defined by you but with my approval. There will be assignments during the term related to pieces of your final paper (deadlines handed out separately). The final exam period (Tuesday, Dec 8, 4-7pm) will be taken up with each student making a short (5-10 minute) presentation on their paper to an educated lay audience. The paper is due at that time. Furthermore, during the first half of the course, you will be given frequent short writing assignments, typically to prepare a memo on some policy problem. Late assignments will be accepted but with a grade penalty. Your final grade will be computed on the following basis: mid-term (20%), paper (30%), presentation (10%), class participation (20%), homework (20%).

There are two texts required texts for the course, available in the UCEN Bookstore.

It is important that students do the assigned readings in advance of the corresponding class meeting; ie, the dates in the course outline. This is not a lecture course, at least not entirely. About half the course is devoted to Case Studies. For effective discussion of cases, you need to be very familiar with the case before class. Class will be conducted in the Socratic tradition. Given your backgrounds, I expect some of you to bring a good deal of experience to the class. I hope that we can have lively discussions in class in which we will all learn.

Sept. 29 Policy Analysis: What is it? How do you do it? What is ethical?

W&V, Ch 1 & 2; Bardach, Introduction and Ch 1; Morgenstern, Ch 2

Oct. 1, 6 Tools for Market Analysis; reasons for government action

W&V, Ch 3

Oct 8 Limits of the Competitive Paradigm

W&V, Ch 4

Oct 13 Non-efficiency Policy Criteria

W&V, Ch 5

Oct 15, 20 Criteria for Making Social Decisions in Democracies

W&V, Ch 6; "Managing Environmental Risks: The Case of Asarco" [Readings]

Oct 22 Correcting Market Failure/ Constructing Regulatory Alternatives

W&V, Ch. 7; Bardach, Appendix B

Oct 27 Benefit-Cost Analysis

W&V, Ch 9

Oct 29 Analyzing Policy Alternatives

W&V, Ch 8; "Atkinson and Tietenberg" [Readings]

Nov. 3 Midterm

Nov 5 Economic Analysis -- "Lead In Gasoline," Morgenstern, Ch 3 & 4

Nov 10 Benefits -- "Visibility in Grand Canyon" Morgenstern, Ch 10

Nov 12 Doing Cost-Benefit -- "Saving the Tuolumne" [Readings plus Reserve Report]

Nov 17 Constructing Regulatory Alternatives -- "Cleaner Air and Cleaner Roads" [Readings]

Nov 19 Analyzing Policy Alternatives -- "Regulating Airport Noise" [Readings]

Nov 24 Intangible Benefits -- "Wetlands Protection" [Readings]

Dec 1 Political Considerations -- "Controlling Acid Rain" [Readings]

Dec 3 Refining Market Alternatives -- "Big Dirties" [Readings]