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 2026 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton. It needs ECB1101, ECC1000, ECF1100 or ECW1101.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Caulfield, Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
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Requisites
Before ECX2360
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After ECX2360
No unit lists ECX2360 as a prerequisite in the 2026 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.
Prerequisite no longer offered:
- ECS1101 Introductory microeconomics
Prohibitions no longer offered:
- ECC2360 Environmental economics
- ECM2360 Environmental and natural resource economics
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 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Caulfield | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Quiz / Test30%
- Written20%
- Examination50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
explain how the economy and the environment interact
- 2
demonstrate the link between environmental problems and the economic concepts of property rights, externalities and non-excludability
- 3
critically analyse how market failures contribute to environmental problems
- 4
provide recommendations on how to correct for market failures.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops36 hours
- Assessments-
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- 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 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 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 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 5 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
- ECONOMIC07Energy, environment and sustainabilityEconomicsNo reviews yet
- ECBUSSTR05MicroeconomicsEconomics and business strategyNo reviews yet
- ECONPOLY01Cluster 1: SustainabilityEconomics and economic policyNo reviews yet
- SSRSPMGT01Core unitsSustainability and responsible managementNo reviews yet
- SSRSPMGT02Caulfield and Clayton unitsSustainability and responsible managementNo reviews yet
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Edwyna Harris
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ECX2360?
You need ECB1101, ECC1000, ECF1100 or ECW1101 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is ECX2360 offered?
In 2026, ECX2360 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Caulfield and 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 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include ECX2360?
ECX2360 is part of Economics; Economics and business strategy; Economics and economic policy; and Sustainability and responsible management.