Οικονομικά & Διαχείριση Φυσικών Πόρων (Economics and Management of Natural Resources) (Γλώσσα διδασκαλίας: Αγγλικά) (NREcon)

The course provides a general introduction to the field of Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Management. Following a brief introduction on the relationship between Sustainable Development and Economics and the main issues in environmental protection, the course focuses on the management of natural resources. In the introductory lectures the economic approach towards environmental issues is presented. The notions of Property Rights, Externalities, Public Goods, and Common Property Resources are examined and a brief description of Benefit–Cost Analysis and valuation methods is presented. Then we shift into dynamic efficiency and sustainable development. We develop fully a two period depleatable resource management model on which we base the presentation, generalizing to different types of costs, many periods and the presence of a renewable alternative. We then examine in some detail the energy sector (demand supply and market analysis). We continue with replenishable but depletable resources with emphasis on water management. We also examine the economics of land use and forestry economics. Finally we examine common-pool resources with emphasis on fisheries management.

The objective of the course is to introduce students to the main natural resource management issues, and provide them with the necessary tools to improve their management. The course uses mainly diagrammatical analysis and puts less emphasis on quantitative analysis (which though at some points is unavoidable), since the course is also attended by Erasmus students with diverse background.