Law and Economics of Green Transition and Social Justice

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
42
Overall hours
SSD
SECS-P/02
Language
English
Learning objectives
The course aims at offering an outlook of the general legal principles that regulate environment protection and sustainable development, and their interplay with economic models and social justice issues, with a focus on policy design. In particular, a first part will be devoted to discuss the legal tools, explore the relation between environment protection and constitutional models, and explore the Constitutional values of Sustainable Development and the relation between human rights, human health protection, animal health protection and environment protection: the so called "one health approach". The second part will be aimed at understanding environmental problems within the economic theory, and relate them to social justice and public policy.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student should have advanced knowledge of the legal and economics tool to protect environment, assess the interplay between economics and legal aspects in order to protect environment, assess the interplay between environment protection law, economic tools and the role of the State in the matter of public health (which includes environment protection), understand the interactions of Ethics and Economics and their application to public policy. Moreover, the student should be able to independently identify and analyse problems related to environment issues and its linkages with the concept of sustainable development; improve oral and written skills, including arguing convincingly with the professor and with classmates, with logical and legal thoroughness and propriety of language.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is divided into two parts: starting from a Law perspective, the green transition will be then addressed from an Ethics and Economics point of view.
The first part aims at providing a starting point to see how even one of the most important and universally recognized concepts, such as the sustainable development, can give rise to different interpretations and applications in the legal context of different States. This diffusion is observed through the mechanism of the circulation of legal models, the cornerstone of comparative legal studies.
The second part will be devoted to the study of environmental problems from an economic perspective and their relationship with social justice issues, discussing implications for public policy.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisite is needed. However, a basic knowledge of the basic legal aspects of Public Law and previous attendance of the course "Economics, Economic Policy, and Social Justice" is desirable.
Teaching methods
The didactic method combines traditional approach (lecturing by Professors) with interactive activities among participants (case-studies, case-law, group works and presentations).
Teaching Resources
Selected readings will be distributed during the course.
In particular, students can refer to the following texts:
Common M. and Stagl S. (2012), Ecological Economics. An Introduction.
Tietenberg T. and Lewis L. (2018), Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.
Hausman D. and McPherson M. (2006), Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The evaluation will be based on active participation in class, an oral presentation, and a final written essay.
SECS-P/02 - ECONOMIC POLICY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Shifts:
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 5-6 PM (only by appointment, ask by email)
Basement of the Department