UnitLevel 2Undergraduate

ECX2360 Environmental economics

Faculty of Business and Economics

ECX2360 Environmental economics is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It needs ECB1101, ECF1100, ECW1101 or ECC1000.

Credit points
6
Offered in 2025
Semester 1
Clayton
Assessment
Exam 50%
and 1 other task
Workload
144 hours
per semester

This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

After ECX2360

No unit lists ECX2360 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.

Enrolment rules

To be successful in this unit, background knowledge and application of maths is required at the equivalent of VCE Year 12 Higher level. You may have satisfied this by completing relevant prerequisite unit/s, or you have covered relevant topics in your final years of secondary study. You should self-assess your maths competency prior to enrolling in this unit.

Overview

The role of government in regulating the interaction between the economy and the environment; application of microeconomic theory to environmental problems, including air pollution, climate change and the over-exploitation of open access resources; using the tools such as environmental valuation and cost-benefit analysis to discuss policy options ranging from command and control to market based approaches to address these problems.

Offerings in 2025

Teaching periodCampusMode
First semesterClaytonOn campus

Assessment

  • Within semester assessment
    50%
  • Examination
    50%

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    explain how the economy and the environment interact

  2. 2

    demonstrate the link between environmental problems and the economic concepts of property rights, externalities and non-excludability

  3. 3

    critically analyse how market failures contribute to environmental problems

  4. 4

    provide recommendations on how to correct for market failures.

Workload and teaching

  • Workshops24 hours
  • Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
  • Teaching approachActive learning
  • Teaching approachResearch activities
  • Teaching approachProblem-based learning

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.

This unit engages you in enquiry-based learning, where you will be encouraged to use your own knowledge to develop and engage in a process of enquiry, study and research to identify areas to be investigated and an approach to doing so.

This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.

This unit allows you to develop your research skills by engaging in structured inquiry using a systematic approach and discipline-specific methodologies.

This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.

Learning resources

Required resources

You are strongly encouraged to purchase your own copy of the textbook Wills (2006, 2nd edition), which is the prescribed text for this course.

Where it fits

ECX2360 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2025 handbook.

Contacts

Chief Examiners
Dr Edwyna Harris

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for ECX2360?

You need ECB1101, ECF1100, ECW1101 or ECC1000 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.

When is ECX2360 offered?

In 2025, ECX2360 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.

How much work is ECX2360?

The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does ECX2360 have an exam?

Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.

Which majors and minors include ECX2360?

ECX2360 is part of Economics; Economics and business strategy; and Sustainability and responsible management.

More details

Credit points
6
Level
2
Study level
Undergraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Business and Economics
Organisational unit
Department of Economics
Type
Coursework
EFTSL
0.125
Student contribution
SCA Band 4
Study abroad
Available
Handbook years
202220232024202520262027