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Gobbets

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Exam

Welcome to the course on Economic Growth and Sustainable Development, NA0167. In the course, you will build up your understanding the process of economic growth and its links to environmental quality and resource use. And you will learn about policies for sustainability, and the management of climate change in an international context. Furthermore, you will learn about the research process and scientific writing; great preparation for your Master's thesis!

For links to important information, such as the course schedule, grading criteria, etc., please see the left-hand menu. There is also a page on SLUNIK. Messages will be sent via Canvas.


Covid and the course this year.

I've had a few questions about the format this year. Basically, everything in the schedule will be in person, and I won't be offering the option to take part remotely. I hope that everyone will be both happy and able to come to the classes! However, note that videos from last year are available (below) and the only occasions with compulsory attendance are the seminar on 17 December and the exam on 14 January.

If you are unable to come to class due to (for instance) illness please contact me and I will do my best to offer additional help where necessary.


Here is the web page of the course book (written by me): The economics of spaceship Earth (ESE for short). This is still work in progress, but a very good basis for the course.

Note that I refer to one book, Aghion and Howitt's book on growth theory. This book gives a useful introduction to growth theory, at the right level for the course, and I therefore recommend it. However, note that it is not essential reading for the course.

See also readings, where I give guidance on articles and other useful sources, and the formal reading list.


Recording of the exercise session. Please note that unfortunately due to an oversight on my part the picture turned out very bad. If you download the video and play it using VLC you can zoom in on the picture by cropping out the black part. (Click on Tools, then Effects and filters, then Video effects, then Crop.) But it is very blurred. Sorry!


Lectures 2021

Slides Book chapter Videos (from 2020) Study qs (from 2020)
Introduction. ESE Preface. Intro. -
Technological progress and the human takeover of spaceship Earth. ESE Chapter 1. Part 1, Malthus; Part 2, post-Malthus. Study qs.
Malthusian growth. ESE Chapter 2. Part 1, Malthus; Part 2, extinction 1; Part 3, extinction 2. Study qs.
Post-Malthusian growth. ESE Chapter 3. Ch 3 p1-5. Ch 3 p6-16. Ch 3 p17-22. Ch 3 p23-30. Study qs.
The DHSS model. ESE Chapter 4. Ch 4 p 1-3 ; Ch 4 p 4. Ch 4 p 5; Ch 4 p 6-10; Ch 4 p 11-15; Ch 4 p 16-21; Ch 4 p 22-27. Study qs.
DTC and resource efficiency. ESE Chapter 5. Part a; Part b; Part c. Study qs.
Structural change. ESE Chapter 6. Part a; Part b. Part c. Part d. 2020 notes (some notation changed for 2021). Study qs.
Substitution between alternative resource inputs. ESE Chapter 7. Simple model (no DTC). DTC model.
Pollution. ESE Chapter 8. Intuition. The model. Study qs, 7 and 8.
Technotopia? ESE Chapter 10. Conspicuous consumption. -
Sustainable development? ESE Chapter 9. ISS. -

See also Research paper info. Recorded last year, but just as relevant now.

Some words on gobbets etc. (L3); More on gobbets.


Here is the course evaluation from 2020/21.