Economics of Energy and the Environment
Econ 3391, Boston College
Prof. Richard Sweeney
Overview
This course provides an introduction to the economics of energy, with an emphasis on the implications for environmental policy. Modern life is completely dependent on cheap, abundant, reliable energy. Our current energy supply is also economically inefficient and environmentally unsustainable. Over the course of the semester, we will explore how economics can help us pursue these two goals: cheap reliable energy and transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Course Calendar
This list is tentative and subject to change. Quiz dates will be confirmed in class one class in advance.
| Date | Quiz | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 8/26 | Intro | |
| 8/28 | Electricity Markets Intro | |
| 9/2 | Electricity - Market power | |
| 9/4 | X | Electricity - Investment |
| 9/9 | Externalities | |
| 9/11 | Carbon Taxes | |
| 9/16 | Coase Theorem | |
| 9/18 | X | Coase Continued |
| 9/23 | Incidence - Theory | |
| 9/25 | Incidence - Empirics | |
| 9/30 | X | Subsidies vs Taxes |
| 10/2 | Subsidy Design | |
| 10/7 | Batteries | |
| 10/9 | Review | |
| 10/14 | No class | |
| 10/16 | Midterm | |
| 10/21 | Time Varying Prices | |
| 10/23 | Fixed Costs | |
| 10/28 | Regulation | |
| 10/30 | X | Residential Solar |
| 11/4 | Energy Efficiency I | |
| 11/6 | Energy Efficiency II | |
| 11/11 | X | Energy Efficiency III |
| 11/13 | Review | |
| 11/18 | Electric Vehicles I | |
| 11/20 | Electric Vehicles II | |
| 11/25 | Estimating elasticities (asynchronous) | |
| 11/27 | No class (Thanksgiving) | |
| 12/2 | X | AI / Data centers |
| 12/4 | AI / Data centers | |
| 12/11 | Final Exam Section I | |
| 12/16 | Final Exam Section II |