Module manager: Alice Damiano
Email: A.Damiano@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Economic ideas and theories form the foundation of our understanding of resource management. Economists have often set the agenda for how policy makers have sought to address the grand resource management, sustainability, and social challenges of our times. In this module, we will think critically about what the study of economics is, how it has contributed to policies and practices for resource management, environmental and social issues, and how different schools of economic thought can provide different perspectives for a more sustainable future.
On completion of the module, students will have met the following objectives:.
1. Acquiring a clear understanding of basic economic principles relevant to resource management and sustainability.
2. Acquiring an ability to apply the main economic principles and tools to resource management and sustainability problems.
3. Acquiring a clear understanding of key facets and tools of the economic system, including the financial system, social and environmental policies.
4. Acquiring a clear and critical understanding of the Neoclassical, Environmental, and Ecological Economics schools of thought.
5. Familiarising with selected Heterodox economic perspectives beside Ecological Economics. These may include topics such as Behavioural Economics, Doughnut Economics, Degrowth, and Decolonising perspectives.
6. Applying concepts from Ecological and other Heterodox economic perspectives to real case studies of resource management and sustainable development, evaluating their potential impact.
These objectives will be met through a combination of lectures, seminars and private study. Lectures will take the form of 1.5-hour sessions with a combination of lecturer-led explanation of key concepts and student engagement with interactive exercises to test understanding and for reinforcement. During the seminars, concepts and ideas will be further explored and applied to real world problems in small-group discussions and other interactive activities. Readings and other activities will be provided for students to prepare for lectures and seminars.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
LO1: Explain the basic principles of mainstream economics and the main facets and tools of the economic system
LO2: Apply basic tools of mainstream economics to the study of environmental problems
LO3: Understand the basic principles of Environmental and Ecological Economics and of other selected Heterodox schools of thought and economic models
LO4: Compare the pre-analytic visions of different schools of economic thought and models
LO5: Critically discuss the implications of different economic schools of thought and models for resource management and sustainability policies
Skills Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
SKLO1: Communication [Work ready skills]
SKLO2: Reflection [Academic skills]
SKLO3: Critical thinking [Sustainability skill]
SKLO4: Problem solving and analytical skills [Work ready skills]
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 20 | 1.5 | 30 |
| Seminars | 10 | 1.5 | 15 |
| Private study hours | 155 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 45 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Students will receive formative feedback at the biweekly seminars, by doing exercises and other learning activities that include formative feedback.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 60 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) | 1.0 Hrs 20 Mins | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 40 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 02/07/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team