Search result: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2015

Environmental Sciences Master Information
Major in Environmental Systems and Policy
Theoretical foundations for environmental policy
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-0758-00LEcological Economics: Introduction with Focus on Growth CriticsW2 credits2VI. Seidl
AbstractStudents become acquainted with the basics / central questions / analyses of Ecological Economics. Thereby, central will be the topic of economic growth. What are the positions of Ecological Economics in this regard? What are the theories and concepts to found this position in general and in particular economic areas (e.g. resource consumption, efficiency, consumption, labour market, enterprises)?
Learning objectiveBecome acquainted with basics and central questions of Ecological Economics (EE): e.g. 'pre-analytic vision', field of discipline, development EE, contributions of involved disciplines such as ecology or political sciences, ecological-economic analysis of topics such as labour market, consumption, money. Critical analysis of growth and learning about approaches to reduce growth pressures.
ContentWhat is Ecological Economics
Field of the discipline and basics
Resource consumption, its development and measurements
Measurement of economic activity and welfare
Economic growth, growth critics and post-growth society
Consumption, Money, Enterprises, labour market and growth pressures
Starting points for a post-growth society
Lecture notesNo Script. Slides and texts will be provided beforehand.
LiteratureDaly, H. E. / Farley, J. (2004). Ecological Economics. Principles and Applications. Washington, Island Press.

Seidl, I. /Zahrnt A. (2010). Postwachstumsgesellschaft, Marburg, Metropolis.

Ausgewählte wissenschaftliche Artikel.
Prerequisites / NoticeParticipation in a lecture on environmental economics or otherwise basic knowledge of economics (e.g. A-Level)
701-1652-00LEnvironmental Behaviour and Collective Decision Making Information W3 credits2GR. Hansmann
AbstractEnvironmental Behavior and Decision-making is considered from different perspectives (psychological approaches, evolutionary biology, game theory, and political sciences). The course is focusing ascending levels of human regulatory systems (individuals, groups, organizations) in contexts of forest & landscape management and other environmentally relevant areas.
Learning objectiveEnvironmental decision-making can be analyzed from different disciplinary perspectives, and the level at which scientists analyze decision-making depends on the context and research goals. In the course, students get acquainted with theoretical approaches from psychology and political sciences. Theories are explained through examples of their application in different contexts of environmental behaviour, management and planning.

The course focuses environmental behaviour and decision-making on ascending levels of human regulatory systems:
1) Individual behaviour and decision-making
2) Decision-making in small groups
3) Decision-making in Institutions, and organizations
Psychological theories are frequently applied to individual behaviour and decision making and various social psychological theories focus on small group decision making. The course shall provide a framework for the students, which enables them to identify and apply theories that are helpful for answering certain research questions. Exercises and examples of application shall enable the students to get in depth knowledge of certain theories, which shall enable them to apply the models and theories themselves in own research activities.
ContentDecision-making is considered from different disciplinary perspectives (psychology, game theory, political sciences) and in different contexts. The course is structured by focusing decision making on ascending levels of human regulatory systems in contexts of focusing forest & landscape management and other environmentally relevant areas:
1. Individual-level models (psychological theories and modeling, communication and public campaigns, leisure activities, green spaces and health and well-being, waste disposal and recycling behavior)
2. Group level models (psychological theories and modeling, group think phenomena, group techniques, decision process analyses)
3. Organization-level models (institutions, political science, green space and urban planning)

- Psychological theory shall be taught in connection with economic/political approaches and with an orientation towards modeling of individual behavior and group decision-making. (Approaches covered include e.g. Theory of planned behavior, Norm activation Theory, Neutralization Theory, Rational Choice and Expected Utility models, Social Decision Schemes, DISCUSS model, Probabilistic model of Opinion Change including Distance).
- Solution oriented approaches towards influencing environmental behavior (environmental education, communication, campaigns) and improving group processes (Groupthink phenomena, Group Techniques) shall be covered by the course.
- Political and economic approaches on individuals, organizations and Management of Human-Environment Systems complement the psychological view (e.g. Collective Action Theory by E. Ostrom).
Lecture notessee
http://www.uns.ethz.ch/edu/teach/masters/ebcdm/
Literaturevarious book chapters, and research or review articles, see
http://www.uns.ethz.ch/edu/teach/masters/ebcdm/
364-0576-00LAdvanced Sustainability Economics Information W3 credits2GL. Bretschger
AbstractThe course covers current resource and sustainability economics, including ethical foundations of sustainability, intertemporal optimisation in capital-resource economies, sustainable use of non-renewable and renewable resources, pollution dynamics, population growth, and sectoral heterogeneity. A final part is on empirical contributions, e.g. the resource curse, energy prices, and the EKC.
Learning objectiveUnderstanding of the current issues and economic methods in sustainability research; ability to solve typical problems like the calculation of the growth rate under environmental restriction with the help of appropriate model equations.
752-2121-00LConsumer Behaviour IIW2 credits2GM. Siegrist, B. S. Sütterlin
AbstractThis course examines important concepts and theories in order to describe and to explain consumer behavior. The focus is on decision making processes, influencing consumer behavior, consumer research, and market segmentation. Selected topics are explained in some depth.
Learning objectiveThis course examines important concepts and theories in order to describe and to explain consumer behavior. The course Consumer Behavior I provides an overview, whereas in this course selected topics are explained and discussed in some depth. The focus is on decision making processes, influencing consumer behavior, consumer research, and market segmentation.
752-2123-00LRisk Awareness, Risk Acceptance and TrustW3 credits2VM. Siegrist
AbstractThe course provides an overview about risk perception and acceptance of new technologies. In addition, the most important findings of the research related to decisions under uncertainty are presented.
Learning objectiveStudents know the most important theoretical approaches in the domains of risk perception and acceptance of new technologies. Furthermore, students understand the paradigms and the research results in the domain of decision making under uncertainty.
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