Environmental economics
Research in environmental economics addresses the economic aspects of environmental problems and how policy measures can contribute to sustainable development at the global, national, and local levels.
The Environmental Economics Group at the University of Gothenburg focuses on identifying and analyzing the underlying causes of environmental problems, often linked to market failures and coordination issues. The research covers environmental issues such as air pollution, water quality, toxic substances, solid waste, natural resources, and global warming. The group examines how various policy measures can be designed to address these challenges, and how such policies interact with human behavior.
The group's research is divided into three main areas: the causes of market and policy failures at both the micro and macro levels, the choice and design of policy instruments to address environmental challenges, and experimental and valuation studies that explore how people value environmental changes and adapt their behaviors.
Part of the group's work is connected to the international network Environment for Development (EfD), which was initiated by members of the environmental economics group. The network promotes research collaboration and policy development for sustainable development globally.
Lecture: The time to act is now
Åsa Löfgren and Thomas Sterner, two of the School’s climate change experts, discuss in a public lecture the recent IPCC report on mitigation of climate change and its implications for societal actions broadly as well as for our own education and research.
PhD Program in Environmental Economics
Since 2007 the Environmental Economics Unit runs a program for a PhD in Environmental Science with a focus on economics. The thesis work and studies have been similar to the PhD theses in economics in very broad terms. Note however that since the program no longer receive funding from Sida, admissions are very limited.
