Technology, sustainability and public policy
Summary
Technology is a driver of long-term growth but it can also undermine sustainable development. This course introduces microeconomic models of market and collective action failures, models of complex systems, as well as policy portfolios to address these issues.
Content
Technology is a critical driver of long-term welfare. Yet unconstrained technological development is testing the limits of planetary boundaries and is the source of severe environmental issues. Technological solutions to such problems often exist in theory but are frequently deployed too slowly to avoid harm. This course (1) identifies the connections between technology, welfare, and sustainability, (2) models the sources of both market and collective action failures as well as system-level breakdowns, (3) analyzes the demand for sustainable technologies and studies why firms, households, and societies sometimes reject them, and (4) identifies the optimal design of policies to address these challenges.
Keywords
sustainability, sustainable development, technology adoption, economic development, public policy, economics, society, politics
Learning Prerequisites
Recommended courses
Passing familiarity with microeconomic models is useful, but not essential.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the student must be able to:
- Synthesize knowledge on sustainability, technology, and public policy
- Model social processes
- Design solutions to complex problems
- Assess / Evaluate solutions to complex problems
- Assess / Evaluate public policies
- Sketch system models
Transversal skills
- Demonstrate a capacity for creativity.
- Demonstrate the capacity for critical thinking
- Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
Teaching methods
The course will include lectures, in-class exercises, and discussions.
Expected student activities
Students are expected to attend the class and participate in discussions and exercises.
Assessment methods
Final exam (40%)
Exercises and shorter assignments (60%).
Supervision
| Office hours | Yes |
| Assistants | Yes |
| Forum | No |
Resources
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
No
Notes/Handbook
Notes will be distributed in class.
Moodle Link
In the programs
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: mandatory
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Fall
- Exam form: Written (winter session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional
- Semester: Spring
- Exam form: Written (summer session)
- Subject examined: Technology, sustainability and public policy
- Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
- Type: optional