ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
Environmental Sustainability program
College of Science, Health and the Liberal Arts
Philadelphia University
SUST- 202
Spring 2017 • 3 Units
Paul Glover • [email protected]
Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00pm- 5:15pm • Ravenhall Mansion, room 305
COURSE SUMMARY
This course combines concepts from economics and ecology to explore human activity and ecosystems as inextricably intertwined processes of exchange around scarce resources. Working from this combined theoretical perspective, students will conceptualize and analytically develop models of non-degradative, non-exploitative systems that satisfy human material needs while also providing ongoing opportunities for invention. Students can expect to learn some introductory microeconomics and ecology in this course, while also working with a co-evolutionary view of human development and human engagement in the environment. Prerequisites: MATH-1xx and HIST-114 or Debating U.S. Issues
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: by the end of the semester you’ll:
* Define key terms and concepts related to sustainable development
* Prepare to merge ecology into your profession, whether corporate, community, nonprofit, government, small business.
* Prepare to organize green change and to broadcast your message.
* Develop an attitude of solutions.
GRADES:
* class discussions-- full group and subgroups of 3-4 --- 50%
* 15 weekly summaries based on theme. 200 words. -- 25%
* 2 special essays 400 words. -- 15%
* one book review. 400-600 words. -- 10%
Week One: Purposes of an Economy (January 12)
PURPOSE OF COURSE: GOALS, FORMAT, COURSE WORK, GRADES:
WHAT DOES AN ECONOMY DO?
WHAT DOES AN ENVIRONMENT DO?
PURPOSE OF AN ECONOMY:
ASSIGNMENTS
Week 2: Contrast ecological with un-ecological (January 17, 19)
CONTRAST ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS WITH UN-ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
MATHEMATICAL ECONOMICS
ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
GREEN ECONOMICS
DEEP ECOLOGY
EXTREMES OF THE ABOVE
Week 3: Cultures of ecological economies (January 24, 26)
Economies count what people value, and advertising defines what people value.
WHAT ARE ELEMENTS OF AN ECOLOGICAL CULTURE?
Week 4: Sustainability of Resources (January 31, February 2)
CHALLENGES
WHAT IS A HEALTHY ECONOMY?
VOLUNTARY RESTRAINT
IMPORT REPLACEMENT
Week 5: Measuring Progress, Growth, Productivity, Profit, Happiness (February 7, 9)
MEASURING THE IMMEASURABLE
Green Accounting: external/internal (pollution v. pollution control)
Carbon tax v. cap & trade
Quality of Life Indicators
Week 6: Politics of Change (February 14, 16)
Centralization and Decentralization
Economies of ecological scale
Bioregionalism
From charity to ownership
Philadelphia's Poverty Industry
Week 7: Economics of Change: A (February 21, 23)
GREEN CITIES
FOOD
FUEL
Week 8: Economics of Change: B (February 28, February 30)
WATER
AIR
Week 9: Economics of Change: C (March 7, 9)
HEALTH CARE
HOUSING
Week 10: Economics of Change: D (March 21, 23)
EDUCATION
TRANSPORT
CLOTHING
Week 11: Green Enterprise: A (March 28, 30)
The Creative Economy
How start business, nonprofit, or co-op
Week 12: Green Enterprise: B (April 4, 6 )
How to green your business
Cost-benefit accounting
Whole Systems Transformation
Week 13: Co-operatives (April 11, 13)
Types of co-ops
co-op principles
Fraternal benefit organizations
How to start
How to manage
Week 14: Green Jobs (April 18, 20)
Employ next TEN generations
Categories
How get
Week 15: The Mutual Class (April 25, 27)
Reasons for decline of middle class
Mutual: Getting Ahead by Getting Together
BOOK REVIEWS FROM THIS LIST (You may suggest other titles): Make reference to the explicit or implied economic impacts
Architecture without Architects, by Bernard Rudofsky
The B Corp Handbook: how to use business as a force for good, by Ryan Honeyman
Carfree Cities, by J.H. Crawford
The Creative Economy, by John Howkins
Deep Green Jobs, by Paul Glover
Design with Nature, Ian McHarg
Dwellers in the Land: the Bioregional Vision, by Kirkpatrick Sale
Earth Sheltered Housing Design, by Underground Space Center
Earthship, by Michael Reynolds
Ecocities, by Richard Register
Ecotopia and Ecotopia Emerging, by Ernest Callenbach
The Edible City, by Richard Britz
Ethical Markets, by Hazel Henderson
From Eco-cities to Living Machines, by John Todd
Going Local, by Michael Shuman
Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action., by Elinor Ostrum
Health Democracy: How to start a health co-operative, by Paul Glover
Hometown Money: How to Enrich Your Community with Local Currency, by Paul Glover
Linking the formal and informal economy: concepts and policies, by Elinor Ostrum
Los Angeles: A History of the Future, by Paul Glover
Permaculture I and II, by Bill Mollison
The Purpose Economy, by Aaron Hurst
Sacred Economics, by Charles Eisenstein
Self-Reliant Cities, by David Morris
Small is Beautiful, by Ernest Schumacher
_______________________
CREDIT HOURS
A credit hour is a measure of the amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement. A credit hour is an institutionally established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than: (1) one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately 15 weeks for one semester hour of credit of the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or (2) at least an equivalent amount of work for other academic activities such as laboratory work, studio work, internships, or academic work leading to the award of credit hours. For studio and laboratory courses, the conventional suggestion is two hours of instruction and at least four hours of work outside of class each week for approximately 15 weeks represent one hour of credit.
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Academic Support Services
Gutman Library (www.philau.edu/library)
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The Academic Success Center (www.philau.edu/SuccessCenter)
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Technology Resources (http://www.philau.edu/OIT/)
The University provides wireless network access in all campus buildings. If you need a computer, Gutman Library and Search Hall have open access computers. For assistance with technology issues, students should contact the Technology Help Desk at (215) 951-4648 or send an email to [email protected].
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