Summary: The schedule provides a detailed road map of the course. When we say that we are on the same page, this is the page. The schedule works with updates to the Bulletin Board, which is updated for each class session.
A term paper proposal counts 6 points. This assignment is due by February 10 for review in class on February 17.
Your report on The Necessary Revolutioon counts 16 points and will be due on March 3.
A term paper draft will count 10 points. This assignment is due by March 31.
A review of a Marc J. Epstein, Making Sustainability Work, counting 16 points, is due on or before April 14.
A five to ten minute class presentation of your term paper @ 10 points. Expect 10 minutes of discussion. The presentations are scheduled for class on April 28.
A term paper (or other approved project) of at least 12 pages based on your proposal, above, counting 32 points. The term paper or project should support economic aspects of your anticipated final project or contribute in any other way to your goals as a student pursuing advanced study around an economic aspect of a theme related to sustainability. The paper will be graded as to depth, content, writing style, and integration. The project is due by May 5.
January 20: Introduction to Economics of Sustainability| Explain sustainable development game then discuss its principles and implications.
January 27 (Part A): We will paticipate in the role playing simulation, Hitana Bay, distributed last class.
January 27 (Part B): Aspects of economics for sustainability
We will review the seminal article by Steffen, Will & Paul J. Crutzen & John R. McNeill. 2007: The Anthropocene: Are Humans Now Overwhelming the Great Forces of Nature?, Ambio v36n8 (December 2007): 614-621. This helps to historically ground how the economy intersects with sustainability. You may wish to visit the Living in the Anthropocene web site. Note the video. See my PowerPoint presentation.
Please review for class discussion the articles listed below:
February 3: Brundtland and the origins of sustainable development: The World Commission on Environment and Development (aka, Brundtland Commission), Our Common Future. I will provide a PowerPoint presentation.
February 10: Introduce Senge, The Necessary Revolution. Note that this important book lays out the analysis of the underlying problem of sustainability according to the principles of organizational leadership with a concentration on corporations.
Please read Senge, Parts I, II, and III, to page 167.February 10: The term paper proposal is due.
February 17 & 24: Continue and conclude Senge, The Necessary Revolution. Discussion of term projects and discussion of proposed projects.
Book report onThe Necessary Revolution is due by March 3.
March 3: Sustainable development and economic growth: Herman Daly's ecological economics challenges growth and orthodox microeconomics.
March 10: Overview of economics for sustainers.
Note: March 17 is spring break. No class. Please work on the term paper draft, due on March 31.
March 24 & 31: Epstein, Making Sustainability Work on defining and implementing corporate sustainability
The term paper draft is due by March 31. This assignment counts ten points. You may submit drafts up until this date for comment and suggested revisions.
April 7: Select cases of corporate sustainability and social responsibility reports.
Book review of Epstein is due April 14.
April 21: The first part of our class will be a discussion on globalization with Professor Behzad Yaghmaian. The second part will focus on finalizing the term projects. For Professor Yaghmaian, please read:
April 28: Presentations and workshop on final reports
May 5: Final paper due.
May 12: Last class: conclusion, evaluation, discussion