Graduate Education in Ecological Economics

Interest in graduate education in ecological economics is increasing. However, no formal plan of study for a Ph.D. in ecological economics has been disseminated. The lack of a formal plan is problematic as the field of ecological economics matures, interest grows, and new programs are being developed. This paper attempts to fill a void by creating a program of study addressing the proficiencies a graduate student in ecological economics should have upon completion of his/her Ph.D. based on the US educational system. The plan of study presented in this paper has been developed to make the graduate of an ecological economics program as competitive on the labor market as students awarded traditional economics degrees. The plan I describe is created to meet the requirements necessary for a Ph.D. in ecological economics. Further, fields of specialization are suggested to complement the core of an ecological economics program, to enhance the education process and to give the student with an ecological economics degree a higher level of marketability.

Distributional Impact of Globalization-Induced Migration: Evidence from a Nigerian Village

One of the contentious issues about the globalization process is the mechanism by which globalization affects poverty and inequality. This paper explores one of the various strands of the globalization?inequality?poverty nexus. Using microlevel survey data from over 300 poor households in the small village of Umuluwe (about 30 miles west of the regional capital of Owerri) in Southeast Nigeria, the paper investigates whether individuals who migrate from the village to take advantage of the urban-biased globalization process do better than non-migrant villagers. The paper concludes that while the migrant villagers tend to earn slightly higher incomes than the non-migrant villagers, the poverty profiles of both categories of households are essentially the same. In other words, and contrary to conventional wisdom, globalization has not succeeded in alleviating poverty amongst the poor villagers who explicitly took advantage of the process. The paper argues that, by changing relative prices in the urban areas, structural adjustment appears to have eliminated any advantage that globalization may have bequeathed to the migrant villagers.migration, Nigeria, poverty, prices

Urban Sprawl: Scenario Analyses For Public Policy - Makers

This paper examines the likely effects of public-policy on residential development in the Wappinger Creek Watershed within Dutchess County in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.  An econometric model is used in combination with Monte Carlo simulation to project residential development in a spatial format using a Geographic Information System (GIS).  GIS was used to extract data with bio-geophysical attributes, such as slope, soil, and location characteristics, to project growth trends for residential use of undeveloped land parcels due to changes in public policy.  Detailed scenarios present stakeholders the economic, social, and environmental implications of a possible course of action.  The results indicate that public-policy can be effectively used to counteract the effects of urban sprawl and increased population

Assessment Of The Economics Curriculum At A College Of Pharmacy

This paper describes the method of assessing the outcomes of students’ training in the Economics of Health Care course at the Albany College of Pharmacy (ACP).  The following sections will: (1) describe the course and the various techniques that were used to ensure that the course outcomes were achieved, (2) explore the literature on assessment instruments for economics courses, (3) describe and analyze the assessment tools that were used in the course and the results from these instruments, and finally (4) discuss the different assessment methodologies that were used and their effectiveness and how the Economics of Health Care will be altered in the future to ensure greater comprehension by the students

Jevons Paradox And The Economic Implications For Europe

Energy consumption has increased considerably in the past two hundred years despite more efficient technology advancements. This positive correlation between increased energy consumption and increased efficiency is known as Jevons Paradox. Increased energy consumption should be of concern because all the inputs to economic production come from the environment and the consumption of resources from the ecosystem will cause an economic slowdown. Additionally, the consumption of natural resources to provide energy is an irreversible process, worsening the human condition instead of improving human welfare. Therefore, sustainable development policies need to be considered to end the continued excess consumption, beyond sustainable levels, of natural resources and the potential resulting conflicts. To design environmentally sustainable policies, the effect of economic activity, of resource utilization, and increased efficiency must be understood. In this paper, we attempt to illustrate how energy consumption alters the natural state of the economy and the environment. Further, using energy data from the Energy Information Administration we develop models that provide empirical support that Jevons Paradox may exist on a macro level for the countries of Europe. Specifically, eighteen European countries are examined. Finally, the resulting policy implications and the applications for an ecological economic approach are explored

Labor Migration And Rural-Suburban Symbiosis In Igbo Society

Two southeastern Nigerian villages were surveyed to study labor force migration in a traditional African society. A binary logit model was used to examine paid work differences between males and females in both Umuluwe (the ancestors’ village) and Obigbo (a suburban village) and paid work differences between the residents in the two villages. The results show a strong correlation between education and employment; and between education and the likelihood of migration to Obigbo. We found that each village plays its own symbiotic part in terms of economic activity, life stages of the villagers, and gender roles

Understanding The Brain-Drain From The Capital District Of New York State

The Capital District Region of New York State, home to twenty-five colleges and universities with a combined 14,000 students per year is attempting to leverage this educational resource to transform its economy away from its traditional government services, industrial, and manufacturing base towards high-technology.  Millions of dollars have been invested to develop the infrastructure necessary to have economic growth fueled by high-technology.  However, many of these highly skilled college graduates leave the area.  This exodus, or brain drain, is a major concern for regional economic developers and policy-makers because the social and economic vitality of a region is at risk.  For the high-tech industry to be successful in any region there must be complementary support industries and services.  Therefore, the retention of college graduates in various fields, not just those in technology disciplines, of study is vital for regional economic development.  Due to the considerable threat that the brain drain poses for a region in terms of social and economic vitality, one must have a complete understanding of the problem before attempting to correct it.  This study will answer the following questions: (1) How big is brain drain from the region; (2) What are the characteristics of the graduates who leave the region; (3) What are the differences between the graduates that stay in the region and those that leave; and (4) What factors can be changed to increase the probability of retaining graduates?

Whose Standards? (B) Reaching The Assessment Puzzle

Love it or hate it, assessment has become the new reality on college and university campuses. Although measuring student achievement of course outcomes is not an easy task, assessment does not need to be a complex or painful experience. This paper describes the methods used to assess student achievement of the stated course outcomes in introductory level economics courses at two different colleges, the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) and Siena College, during the 2007 academic year. Specifically, we outline the course assessment activities that are used. We examine whether there are differences in the attainment of the course objectives of the students at the two very different institutions. Finally, we argue that an assessment exam designed using the course objectives is a better assessment tool than a standardized test

The Supply Of Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has undergone both a rapid increase in growth and interest over the last two decades.  As such, the amount of literature on the subject has also increased.  However, there are few, if any, theoretical models of supply for CSA memberships (shares) that have been developed from CSA farm data.  This paper uses both survey and anecdotal data from the Roxbury Biodynamic Farm, one of the largest CSA in the United States, to present a theory of supply for CSA membership.  Included in the discussion is the consideration that CSA farms are not profit maximizing and that the farmers (i.e. the suppliers) knowingly take on the responsibilities and earnings associated with a CSA

The Demand For Community Supported Agriculture

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has undergone both a rapid increase in growth and interest over the last decade.  As such, the amount of literature on the subject has also increased.  However, there are few, if any, theoretical models of demand on CSA that have been developed from membership data. This paper uses both survey and anecdotal data of members of the Roxbury Biodynamic Farm, the second largest CSA in the United States, to present a theory of demand for CSA membership. Included in the discussion is consideration of the evidence that there is a direct relationship between production method and demand, usually a shibboleth in traditional economic analysis. Further exploration considers the possibility that over time participation influences the very nature of demand for CSA membership, and hypothesizes that this dynamic demand is a necessary but insufficient condition for the sustainability of CSA