After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

... understand and critically reflect on fundamental concepts of Ecological Economics (resource use, sustainability, public instruments and governance).

The seminar has a significantly economic focus:

-       basic concepts of ecological economics;

-       critical focus on spatial development theories and concepts;

-       case studies on material and resource (energy) consumption, economic growth, regional competitiveness and social goals, social-ecological tax reforms (effects, tax rates, revenues), gray energy imports and regional/national greenhouse gases.

The seminar deals with the concept of ecological economics as a strand (school) of economics building on the limits to growth and on the co-evolution of and embeddedness of society in ecological systems for analyzing economic problems. Students will acquire an understanding and knowledge about

-       concepts of ecological economics compared to standard (neoclassical) economic theories;

-       limits to economic growth (development);

-       potential trade-offs among the goals of sustainability;

-       the embedding of global ecological problems such as climate change and biodiversity loss in economic theories;

-       linkages between spatial (regional, urban) development and ecological economics.

-       Introduction to the seminar topics.

-       Reading of 3 papers to prepare for a joint discussion of concepts and principles.

-       Collection and reference to a joint literature basis.

-       Individual research questions.

-       Draft of a seminar paper & presentation in the plenary session.

-       Final presentation of seminar papers (results, conclusions).

Discussion of research question, relevant literature search, theoretical and/or empirical work.

Presentation of the seminar paper.

Seminar paper.

Attendance of all units and active participation in the seminar.