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MPhil Environmental Economics

Introduction

Environmental Economics talks about the complex connections and wide interactions between Economics and the Environment. Over the last few decades, the tools of economic analysis have become essential in analyzing environmental problems and providing the basis for developing sustainable policy solutions. Environmental Economics is playing an increasingly central role in both understanding the causes of, and designing policy solutions to, existing environmental problems. Amongst others, economic analyses have been used to determine the net costs/benefits of different policy scenarios, to better understand how to achieve and sustain international co-operation, and to evaluate the efficiency of different environmental policy instruments. In these, and across a wide range of other issues, from biodiversity and ecosystem loss, air pollution to, more broadly, the link between the environment and sustainable economic development, the theory and applied tools of Environmental Economics are uniquely placed to inform and guide decision-makers in addressing environmental challenges. Keeping in view the importance of these issues and to bring the students closer to the frontier of knowledge, the Department of Environmental Economics was established at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad, Pakistan to:
• Impart a sound understanding of the nexus between the economy and the environment;
• Teach major concepts and theories to explain and describe the economic behaviour of human beings and its impact on the environment.
• Outline and contrast the major economic schools of thought on the environment, and highlight the weaknesses of each market system (especially with regard to environmental aspects) and discuss the associated role of the government in the economy.
• Supply high quality personnel to the federal and provincial governments, to educational institutions, to research institutions and to the private sector.
The teaching curriculum focuses on developing the role and application of economic approaches for environmental issues, essential features of the market mechanism to control environmental degradation for sustainable economic development, the nature and treatment of environmental effects in economic reasoning and decision-making, and the application of environmental policy instruments based on economic analysis. The course work is based on contemporary environmental management approaches (e.g. ecological modernization, ecological economics, and industrial ecology) with substantial (physical) economy dimensions. After successfully completing this programme the students should:
• Have a basic understanding for the measurement of net social impact of alternative environmental options.
• Be able to apply economic tools for valuation and other non-economic decision-making tools; and also distinguish between economic valuation tools and policy instruments.
• Describe, critically review, and engage in the appropriate selection of the major existing economic tools for environmental management.
• Be familiar with the essential features of the range of contemporary conceptual frameworks and sustainability assessment approaches with a significant economic component.

Vision:

Knowledge Creation and Dissemination for Sustainable Human-Nature Interaction.

Mission:

Conduct and facilitate research focusing on the CORE, e.g., Conservation, Optimization, Reduction and Exploration.

In view of the current lack of awareness and knowledge of environmental issues, the M Phil Environmental Economics Program is designed to:

  • Impart sound and critical understanding of the nexus between the economy and the environment.
  • Teach major concepts and theories to explain and describe the economic behavior of human beings and its impact on the environment.
  • Outline and contrast the major economic schools of thought on the environment, and highlight the weaknesses of each market system (especially with regard to environmental issues) and discuss the associated role of the government in the economy.
  • Supply high quality personnel, focusing on dissemination of knowledge on environmental issues, to the federal and provincial governments, to educational and research institutions and to the private sector.
Eligibility Criteria for M.Phil Environmental Economics:

The eligibility criteria is: Masters in Economics, Agricultural Economics or BS-Honors with Economics, Biology, and Environmental Sciences (with at least a second division (annual system) or CGPA of 2.50 (out of 4.0 in the Semester System) are eligible to apply. Additionally those who have done masters or hold a BS-Honours degree (in other disciplines) but have sufficient working experience in the areas of Environment and Climate change may also apply.

Academic Program:

Total Credit Hours: 39

Core Course Credit hrs: 21

Elective Course Credit hrs: 06

Thesis/Research Work 12
Duration: 2 years (with the provision of one year extension)

Semester wise program structure
Course CodeCourseCreditsSemester
ENV-600 Economics of Environment and Natural Resources3Semester-I
ENV-601 Microeconomic Theory3Semester-I
ENV-615Sustainable Development and Economic Policy3Semester-I
Elective-I3Semester-I
ENV-602Macroeconomic Theory3Semester-II
ENV-605Measurement and Valuation in Environmental Economics3Semester-II
ENV-610Estimation Techniques for Environmental Economics3Semester-II
Elective-II3Semester-II
ENV 631Research Methodology for Environmental Economics3Semester-III
Research Proposal/ ThesisSemester-III
Thesis12Semester-IV
List of Elective Courses
S.NoCourse CodeCourse TitleCredits Hrs
1ENV 700Population Dynamics and Environment3
2ENV 702International Economics and Environment3
3ENV 704Agricultural Economics and Environment3
4ENV 706Industrial Economics and Environment3
5ENV 708Governance and Global Environmental Issues3
6ENV 710Urbanization and Environment3
7ENV 712Poverty and Environment3
9ENV 716Environment and Technology3
10ENV 718Environment and Health3
11ENV 720Environmental Economics: Energy Issues3
12ENV 722Environmental Economics: Water3
13ENV 724Environmental Economics: Forests3
14ENV 725Economics of Climate Change3
15ENV 726Public Finance and Environmental Policy Instruments3
16ENV 728Remote Sensing and GIS for Environmental Economists3
17ENV 730Ecological Economics3
18ENV 731Science and Environment3
19ENV 732Environmental Quality and Standards3
20ENV 734Environmental Issues, Policies and Institutions in Pakistan3
Proposed Areas of Specialization for Environmental Economists
Course CodeCourse TitleAreas of Specialization
ENV 700Population Dynamics and EnvironmentEnvironment and Socioeconomic Well being
ENV 710Urbanization and EnvironmentEnvironment and Socioeconomic Well being
ENV 712Poverty and EnvironmentEnvironment and Socioeconomic Well being
ENV 718Environment and HealthEnvironment and Socioeconomic Well being
ENV 725Economics of Climate ChangeEnvironment and Socioeconomic Well being
ENV 702International Economics and EnvironmentEnvironment, Trade and Industrial Development
ENV 706Industrial Economics and EnvironmentEnvironment, Trade and Industrial Development
ENV 716Environment and TechnologyEnvironment, Trade and Industrial Development
ENV 720Environmental Economics: Energy IssuesEnvironment, Trade and Industrial Development
ENV 731Science and EnvironmentEnvironment, Trade and Industrial Development
ENV 704Agricultural Economics and EnvironmentAgriculture and Natural Resources
ENV 722Environmental Economics: WaterAgriculture and Natural Resources
ENV 724Environmental Economics: ForestsAgriculture and Natural Resources
ENV 728Remote Sensing and GIS for Environmental EconomistsAgriculture and Natural Resources
ENV 730Ecological EconomicsAgriculture and Natural Resources
ENV 708Governance and Global Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Laws and Governance- National and Global Issues
ENV 726Public Finance and Environmental Policy InstrumentsEnvironmental Laws and Governance- National and Global Issues
ENV 734Environmental Issues, Policies and Institutions in PakistanEnvironmental Laws and Governance- National and Global Issues

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