Numbering Code	U-AGR04 3D317 LE43	Year/Term	2022 ・ Second semester
Number of Credits	2	Course Type	Lecture
Target Year	3rd year students	Target Student
Language	English	Day/Period	Wed.3
Instructor name	MITANI YOUHEI (Graduate School of Agriculture Associate Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course	Forest economics is a broad field of study that can address the decision-making associated with all aspects of forest management. This course covers a broad issue that is related to forest and economics. One objective of this course is to learn how we can use economics to understand forest-related issues and provide answers to the questions. Another objective is to learn economics methods used in the analysis of environmental issue, including game theory, public economics, experimental economics, econometrics, benefit-cost analysis, survey methods, and impact evaluation. We cover the following empirical topics such as payment for ecosystem services, deforestation, biodiversity conservation, forestry management, and non-industrial private forest. This course aims to provide you with opportunities to share and develop your research interests, improve your academic skills, and work on a collaborative group project. Through lectures and individual and group exercises, you get an overview of research methods in applied economics and important lessons in forest management and conservation.
Course Goals	(1) To get an overview of some recent analytical developments in the economic analysis of environmental issues, such as laboratory experiments and impact evaluation. (2) To get an overview of a behavioral economics approach to understanding ecosystem service supper’s behavior.
Schedule and Contents	This course consists of lectures and take-home exercises. The lectures provide an overview of background and basis of the story, methodological remarks, and reviews of the previous literature. We also cover several case studies to help better understand of the issues. The exercises provide opportunities to follow and/or summarize research procedures. The lecture plan (subject to change): Week 1: Introduction Weeks 2: Payment for ecosystem services and Coase theorem Weeks 3-4: Social dilemma: Public goods and common pool resources Weeks 5-6: Voluntary contribution and charitable giving Weeks 7-8: Common pool resource management Week 9: Old and new topics: Optimal harvesting and carbon pricing Weeks 10-11: Incentive program for private land conservation Weeks 12-13: Policy design for private land conservation Week 14: Impact evaluation of private land conservation programs Week 15: Review and feedback The detailed syllabus will be provided on the first day of the course.
Evaluation Methods and Policy	Grades will depend on participation (5%), take-home assignments (60%), and final exam (35%). Class participation is strongly recommended. My grading policy follows the department guidelines: "2022 Guide to Degree Programs." The detailed grading policy will be announced on the first day of the course.
Course Requirements	None
Study outside of Class (preparation and review)	This course involves take-home assignments. The detailed information will be announced on the first day of the course.
Textbooks	Textbooks/References	There is no textbook. The reading list will be provided on the first day of the course.