Amsterdam, Netherlands

Climate Change

This course is about one of the greatest challenges of our time: climate change. What are the latest insights of the science of economics into its causes and potential solutions? How large are the costs of climate change? Should we tax carbon, cap-and-trade emission rights, or subsidize solar and wind power? Why is it so difficult to stick to environmental agreements such as ‘Paris’, despite the evident benefits to all? How can we prevent our industry from moving abroad if we take a leading role and ‘go it alone’ in taking environmental action? What is the role of economic growth and development? Should we stop it to avert a climate catastrophe and biodiversity loss, or can we pin our hopes on green growth?

Topics
Introduction to the economics of climate change
Optimal climate policy, carbon budgets and uncertainty
International environmental agreements
Green growth, limits to growth and degrowth
Climate policy instruments and carbon leakage

Course leader

Carolyn Fischer (Prof. at VU Amsterdam), Gerard van der Meijden (Ass. Prof. at VU Amsterdam), Rick van der Ploeg (Prof. at University of Amsterdam), Steven Poelhekke (Prof. at VU Amsterdam) and Florian Wagener (Ass. Prof. at University of Amsterdam).

Target group

Level
The Summer School welcomes (research) master students, PhD students and post-docs who are interested in learning the state-of-the art economics of climate change. We also welcome professionals from policy institutions such as central banks or international firms and institutions.

Admission requirements
Students currently pursuing a MSc, MPhil or a PhD degree; professionals with a MSc, MPhil, PhD, or equivalent degree. Especially a background in quantitative studies (mathematics, statistics, econometrics, engineering, etc.) and a basic knowledge of differential equations is useful, but no formal specific background will be required.

Credits info

3 EC
Participants who joined at least 80% of all sessions, hand in the team assignment and deliver a quality presentation at the end of the week receive a certificate of participation stating that the summer school is equivalent to a workload of 3 ECTS. Note that it is the student’s own responsibility to get these credits registered at their own university.

Fee info

EUR 800: Early Bird for PhD and Master students (available until April 15) € 800
PhD and Master Students € 1.000

The course fee covers tuition, course materials, daily lunches and coffee/tea during short breaks, social event including a dinner and farewell drinks. The course fee does not include accommodation.
EUR 2000: Academics (incl. postdocs) and Professionals € 2.000

The course fee covers tuition, course materials, daily lunches and coffee/tea during short breaks, social event including a dinner and farewell drinks. The course fee does not include accommodation.