Econ 415- Environmental Economics Data Project

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Econ 415- Environmental Economics Data Project

Project Overview

Your goal is to research the data on a particular type of environmental issue. You will need to find an     acceptable, reliable source of data, compile a time series data set and then discuss the data in a paper. After the data has been discussed, you will report on any polices that are designed to improve the

situation. The paper will be approximately 7 to 10 pages in length.

Possible Data

•    Air Pollution Data- Sulfur Oxides, Nitrous Oxides, Carbon Oxides, Particulate Matter, Volatile Organic Compounds, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, CO2 parts per million, Ammonia Emissions

•    Water Data- Lead Content, Mercury Content, Biological Oxygen Demand, Freshwater Withdrawals

•    Land Use- Percent Forested Area, Percent Agricultural Area, Cereal Yields, Area of Rainforest

•    Energy Consumption- Total Energy Use, Fossil Fuels as Percent of Total, Renewable Electricity Output

•    Other- Average Temperatures, Seasonal Ice, Deaths from Heat and Cold, Fertility Rates

Paper Structure

Papers in economics journals tend to be divided into numbered sections. Please use the following format:

I.

Introduction

II.

Data Source

III.

Data Analysis

IV.

Economic Analysis

V.

Conclusions

VI.

References

Other Tips

•    Avoid exaggeration. State the facts and let the reader decide their level of concern. Do not make emotional arguments in an academic paper.

•    Back up any statement with references no matter how obvious something seems.

•    To determine a trend in the data, you can use Excel to draw a line of best fit through the data

and determine the slope of that line. You can use other statistical analysis programs too. Or you can compute a percentage change from year to year and determine trends from that.

Grading Rubric

Paper Section

Points

Introduction

•    Definitions regarding issue.

•    Why it is of environmental interest.

15 points

Data Source

•    Where you found the data set.

•    What organization produced the data set.

•    Years of time series.

•    Countries included.

10 points

Data Analysis

•    Graphs of data

•    Trends in data

o Increasing or decreasing

. For instance, increasing at a faster rate or increasing at a decreasing rates.

•    Average levels, median levels.

•    Are there systematic differences in the data between developing nations and developed nations?

•    Are there reasons to think about the data in per capita terms or in terms of per $ of GDP?

25 Points

Economic Analysis

•    Describe why there is a market failure with regards to this issue.

•    Describe what policies, if any, exist for this situation.

•    If there are no policies, explain the economics behind what possible solutions could be implemented.

•    If there are policies, but the issue is not improving, explain the economics behind why the existing policies are not working.

•    If there are policies, and the issue is improving, explain the economics behind why the existing policies are working.

25 Points

Conclusions

•    Summarize your finding on why the issue is important.

•    Summarize your finding on the trends in the data.

•    Describe the ideal policy situation.

•    Make predictions for the future of this issue.

20 Points

References

•    Choose a citation format and cite all relevant papers and websites used in the project.

•    Be sure to place citations inside the body of your work which show which reference the information is coming from.

5 Points

 


2023-08-02