Module Identifier
RS36820
Module Title
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY APPRAISAL AND EVALUATION
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Dr Michael Christie
Semester
Semester 2

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 1 x 2 hour lecture per week
Lecture 1 x 1 hour lecture per week
Practical 5 x 3 hour practicals per semester
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Case study application  Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4  50%
Supplementary Exam 2 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 List


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

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6