{"id":903,"date":"2018-01-17T23:53:41","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T23:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/rahmed\/?page_id=903"},"modified":"2020-11-06T00:53:01","modified_gmt":"2020-11-06T00:53:01","slug":"green-goods-markets","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/commons.trincoll.edu\/rahmed\/courses\/green-goods-markets\/","title":{"rendered":"Econ 336: The Market for Green Goods"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fall 2020<\/p>\n

Class time: Tuesday\/ Thursday 11:15 – 12:35 pm online<\/a><\/p>\n

Class Room: WM 224<\/p>\n

Office: DM 301B<\/p>\n

Email: rasha.ahmed@trincoll.edu<\/p>\n

Office Phone: 860-297-2446<\/p>\n

Office Hours on zoom: For Tuesday 4:15 – 5:30 pm click here<\/a>, for Thursday 1:00 – 2:15 pm click here,<\/a>\u00a0 or by appointment<\/p>\n

Teaching Assistant: Anh Pham<\/p>\n

Study Group: Monday 7:00 to 7:50 pm on zoom<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Course Description and objectives <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In many contexts, environmental and social damages can be significantly reduced if consumers substitute towards greener versions of the regular products consumed, e.g. organic food, energy efficient appliances, and green diamonds.\u00a0 The course will investigate alternative methods to promote the market for green goods. These methods range from regulation to purely voluntary approaches taken by a firm or an entire industry. In addition, the course investigates the role of competition, information, technological advances, and firm image in the development of green markets.\u00a0 The analysis involves the use of microeconomic theory and empirical analysis.<\/p>\n

Text<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

I will cover different chapters from the following textbooks:<\/p>\n

Varian, Hal.\u00a0Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach.<\/em> W. W. Norton and Company, 9th edition.<\/p>\n

Bergstrom, Theodore and Hal Varian.\u00a0Intermediate Microeconomics Workouts<\/em>.\u00a0W. W. Norton and Company, 9th edition. The accompanying practice book to Intermediate Microeconomics<\/p>\n

Tietenbeg, Tom and Lynne Lewis. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics<\/em>. Routledge 10th<\/sup> ed.<\/p>\n

Grading <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The grade for this class will be calculated as follows:<\/p>\n

Midterm Exam (Oct 6)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a025%<\/p>\n

Final Exam\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 25%<\/p>\n

Paper\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a020%<\/p>\n

Presentation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 5%<\/p>\n

Quiz\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a011%<\/p>\n

Assignments\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a07%<\/p>\n

Class Participation\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 7%<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Class Work<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Book Chapters: You are required to review the chapters that will be covered beforehand. This will help you better understand and follow the material covered in class. The lecture slides for some chapters will be posted on the course website. You are expected to print the lecture slides and bring them with you to class.<\/li>\n
  2. Practice Sheets\/ End of chapter problems: I will give out a set of practice questions and homework problems every week.<\/li>\n
  3. Reading articles: There are reading articles assigned with every new topic. You are required to carefully read those articles and relate them to the concepts covered in class. There will be questions on each exam covering the readings.<\/li>\n
  4. Discussion Sheets: Whenever a reading article is assigned I will email the class a list of discussion questions. The questions will highlight the most important parts of the readings and prepare students for class discussions. Discussion sheets will be collected when we finish discussing the article in class.<\/li>\n
  5. Paper: You will write a paper analyzing the market of a green good of your choice.\u00a0 Each week I will assign a paper related question and the answer will constitute a section in your paper. The question will typically be related to the topic discussed in class.\u00a0 \u00a0I will collect your paper drafts every week, grade them and give you feedback.\u00a0 That way you are continuously working on your paper.<\/li>\n
  6. Class Discussion: You are required to participate in class discussion. Participation in class discussion by asking or answering questions or commenting on the material will greatly enhance your understanding. To be able to actively participate in class discussion you should come to class prepared. Students who participate in class typically do better.<\/li>\n
  7. Weekly Quizzes: There will be a weekly quiz every Tuesday on the material covered the week before. The quiz will take no longer than 10 minutes and will highly resemble the end of chapter problems and the practice sheets.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Policies<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. I expect you to be in class (in person and on zoom) on time.<\/li>\n
    2. I expect you to have your camera on while on zoom and to be involved in class.<\/li>\n
    3. No cell phones, laptops or electronic devices can be used for the in person class.<\/li>\n
    4. You may not leave class once class started. The same applies to exams.<\/li>\n
    5. I expect you to check your email regularly.<\/li>\n
    6. I do not give makeup quizzes, but I allow you to drop the lowest quiz grade.<\/li>\n
    7. If you accumulate more than two unexcused absences, 1% will be deducted from your final grade for every class missed. Excused absences are those absences for which I receive a note from the Dean of Students\u2019 office.<\/li>\n
    8. I do not<\/u> give makeup exams unless an emergency situation arises and<\/u> I get notified by the Dean of Students\u2019 office. The format of the make-up exam will be at my discretion.<\/li>\n
    9. Assignments submitted within a week after the due date will be discounted by 50%.<\/li>\n
    10. It is your responsibility to collect your assignment.<\/li>\n
    11. There are no \u201cextra credit\u201d assignments.<\/li>\n
    12. Dishonest conduct or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Please refer to the Student Handbook for a review of requirements.<\/li>\n
    13. I expect you to comply with COVID guidelines.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Finally, students are encouraged to speak with me directly should any concerns or difficulties arise. I am happy to work with students who need extra help. Please feel free to drop by during office hours, send an email or speak with me following class time.<\/p>\n

      Course Outline <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

      The following is an outline of the topics that will be covered. Additional readings will be assigned as the semester progresses. The outline and dates are intended as a guide and may be changed during the semester.<\/p>\n

      Week 1, 2 (Sept 8 -17): Do markets take care of the environment? Overview<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n

      Tietenbeg and Lewis chapters 1<\/a><\/u>, 2<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n