Module Identifier RS36820  
Module Title ECONOMIC TOOLS FOR POLICY EVALUATION  
Academic Year 2003/2004  
Co-ordinator Dr Michael Christie  
Semester Semester 2  
Pre-Requisite RS25210  
Course delivery Lecture   33 Hours 11 x 2 hour and 11 x 1 hour lectures  
  Practical   15 Hours 5 x 3 hour practicals  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4  50%
Semester Assessment Case study application Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4  50%
Supplementary Exam2 Hours Outcomes assessed: All  100%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Critically discuss econometric principles and their application to policy evaluation tools;
2. Critically discuss the issues relating to the design, administration and analysis of economic tools for policy evaluation;
3. Critically evaluate the merits of a range of policy evaluation tools;
4. Critically discuss peer-reviewed publications and policy relevant evaluation studies.

Aims

This module aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to undertake and critically assess the merits of a range of economic tools for the evaluation of rural and environmental policy. The tools discussed in the module include contingent valuation, choice experiments, travel cost method and cost-benefit analysis. To develop expertise in these methodologies, students will first develop a critical understanding of econometric principles. Based on this background, students will then be required to critically assess a series of methodological peer-reviewed papers and contemporary policy evaluation studies, as well as analyse actual datasets from recent studies. Finally, students will be required to develop and critically assess their own case study example of a policy evaluation tool.

Transferable skills

.1 Independent project work
Students will be required to develop, administer, analyse and review their own policy evaluation tools as part of their assessed course work assignment.

.2 IT and information handling
Students will need to develop skills in IT packages relevant to policy evaluation, including MS excel, SPSS and Pinpoint. The case study course work will assess the student?s competence in the use of these packages.

.3 Use and analysis of numerical information
Students will be required to analyse datasets from comtemporary policy evaluation studies, as well as develop and analyse their own datasets.

.5 Oral discussion and presentation
Students will be required to present summary reviews of relevant peer-reviewed papers to the class. These reviews will then form the basis for class discussions.

Reading Lists

Books
Arrow K et al (1993) Report ot the NOAA Panel on contingent valuation. Resources for the future: Washington DC
Christie M and Scott A J (1998) The economic impact of Welsh national nature reserves CCW Bangor
Christie M and Midmore P R (2002) Choice experiments: a new approach to environmental valuation Edward Elgar Ltd
Garrod G and Willis K G (1999) Economic valuation of the environment Edward Elgar Ltd
Hill R C, Griffiths W E and Judge, G G (2001) Undergraduate econometrics John Wiley and Son
Louviere J J, Hensher D A and Swait J D (2000) Stated choice methods: Analysis and application Cambridge University Press
Mitchell R C and Carson R T (1989) Using surveys to value public goods: the contingent valuation method Resources for the future: Washington DC
Willis K G and Corkindale J T (1995) Environmental valuation: new perspectives CABI

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6