Unit Outline
BEA207
Natural Resource Economics
Semester 1, 2024
Satoshi Yamazaki
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Satoshi Yamazaki
Email: Satoshi.Yamazaki@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 
Practical, public policy-orientated lectures and tutorials in this unit explore the practical issues of resource management using international, Australian and Tasmanian case studies. There will be specific focus on the sustainable yield of fisheries and the management of forests for multiple uses. Students will also study non-renewable resources such as mining. Students will learn how to apply economic concepts to analyse the causes of resource degradation and to evaluate alternative policy options to resolve resource management problems. By the end of the unit, students will have engaged in discussion and analysis of the complex trade-offs involved in crafting policy responses to resource management issues.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Examine environmental and natural resource issues and policies using the economic way of thinking.
2.
Apply economic concepts and techniques to analyse environmental and natural resource issues and critically evaluate policy responses.
3.
Analyse environmental and resource problems as failures of the economic system to properly coordinate people's incentives and actions.
4.
Communicate economics in oral and written format.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
BEA308
Alterations as a result of student feedback
To Be Determined. 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Lecture (On Campus)
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Workshop
2-hr workshop, fortnightly, commencing in Week 2
2
1 time per fortnight
Other
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Online
Online Class
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Lecture (Online)
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Online Class
1-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
1
Weekly
Lecture (Online)
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics regularly hosts Masterclasses and Industry Engagement and Employability Events, which students are encouraged to attend. Registration and details will be available via the College of Business and Economics channel on the Uni App and/or via your Unit Coordinator.  
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Short Answer Questions
Week 6
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Presentation
Week 11
10 %
LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Research Paper
Week 12
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:
Take home Examination
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Short Answer Questions
Task Description:
This assessment will comprise of multi-part questions based on the content covered in Weeks 1 to 5.

Task Length:
12 hours
Due Date:
Week 6
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Define and explain a range of key concepts in environmental and natural resource economics.
LO1
2
Apply economic thinking to help understand and interpret environmental and natural resource issues and policies.
LO1
3
Use graphs and mathematical tools to evaluate specific environmental and natural resource issues and policies.
LO2
4
Apply welfare analysis to explain how an economic system may fail.
LO3
5
Assess and compare merits and alternative of environmental and resource policies to remedy market failures.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Presentation
Task Description:
This assessment will ask you to produce a 10-minute video that summarises the content of your project. The assessment is designed to develop your communication skills to present economic arguments clearly to an audience. Detailed guidelines and instructions will be posted on MyLo.

Task Length:
You will be required to create a 10-minute video about your project.
Due Date:
Week 11
 
Weight:
10 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Develop and justify in an oral form an argument to an audience.
LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Research Paper
Task Description:
This assignment is designed to develop your ability to apply the skills of sound economic reasoning to natural resource issues and policy evaluations. It will also develop your ability to present economic arguments and analyses clearly and convincingly in written form. Detailed guidelines and instructions will be provided on MyLo.

Task Length:
Maximum 2,500 words
Due Date:
Week 12
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Define and explain a range of key concepts in environmental and natural resource economics.
LO1
2
Apply economic thinking to help understand and interpret environmental and natural resource issues and policies.
LO1
3
Use graphs and mathematical tools to evaluate specific environmental and natural resource issues and policies.
LO2
4
Apply welfare analysis to explain how an economic system may fail.
LO3
5
Assess and compare merits and alternative of environmental and resource policies to remedy market failures.
LO3
6
Produce clear economic interpretation, analysis and policy advice in written form and supported by diagrams or mathematics.
LO4
7
Report on and defend the presented argument in a written form.
LO4
 
Assessment Task 4: Take home Examination
Task Description:
The take home exam will comprise of multi-part questions. The exam will cover all the content covered during the semester.

Task Length:
24 hours
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Define and explain a range of key concepts in environmental and natural resource economics.
LO1
2
Apply economic thinking to help understand and interpret environmental and natural resource issues and policies.
LO1
3
Use graphs and mathematical tools to evaluate specific environmental and natural resource issues and policies.
LO2
4
Apply welfare analysis to explain how an economic system may fail.
LO3
5
Assess and compare merits and alternative of environmental and resource policies to remedy market failures.
LO3
6
Produce clear economic interpretation, analysis and policy advice in written form and supported by diagrams or mathematics.
LO4
 
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.