Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects
- be able to determine whether or not a project is suitable for cost benefit analysis
- analyse the concept of social cost
- have knowledge on different techniques for cost and benefit estimates
- give account of what factors can have dramatic impacts on the estimated cost and benefits
- know how to account for intangible costs or benefits of a project
- describe the impact of time perspective on the outcome of a project
- know how to account for distributional impacts of a project on for example different
households and regions
- analyse the possibilities and limitations of CBA
Information from the course leader
A warm welcome to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and the course Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects!
Below, you will find general information about the student account, registration for the course and other practical information.
The student account
You will need your student account to access e.g. your e-mail, Ladok and Canvas. For information regarding how to create your student account, follow this link: https://student.slu.se/en/study-support/it-support/support/new-student---start/
Registration for the course
Self-registration for the course is done in Ladok between 2022-08-15 and 2022-08-29. Remember that you must be admitted and registered in Ladok to be able take the course. Having access to Canvas does not mean you are registered in the course and without registration, you are risking losing your place in the course. If you have been admitted to the course with conditions, you need to send your credit list to the course leader who will review it and decide if you can register. Do this as soon as possible as reviewing credits may take a few days due to the course start.
Educational support
If you are entitled extra educational support, please inform the course leader at the start of the course so that special arrangements can be made.
For educational support for an exam, see instructions in the exam registration in Ladok Student. You need to register for alternative exam arrangements no later than 15 workings days prior to the examination day. More information here: https://student.slu.se/en/study-support/study-support/funka/.
Discontinuation of a course
If you want to discontinue the course, you should immediately notify the educational administrators at econ-edu@slu.se, who in turn will inform the course leader and register a non-completion of the course in Ladok after your approval. You are also able to register an early non-completion of the course (within three weeks after course start) in Ladok yourself.
Exams
You need to register for exams in Ladok. The registration closes 10 workings days prior to the exam. You can find your anonymity code in Ladok Student. It's not possible to register for the exam after the deadline has passed.
On Wednesdays between 12:30-14:30 we have an exam hand out at the department (Ulls hus, 4th floor). Please remember to bring your ID-card.
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Do not hesitate to contact us at econ-edu@slu.se if you have any questions!
Kind regards,
The educational administrators
Course evaluation
The course evaluation is now closed
NA0153-10149 - Course evaluation report
Once the evaluation is closed, the course coordinator and student representative have 1 month to draft their comments. The comments will be published in the evaluation report.
Additional course evaluations for NA0153
Academic year 2023/2024
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10378)
2023-08-28 - 2023-10-30
Academic year 2021/2022
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10248)
2021-08-30 - 2021-11-01
Academic year 2020/2021
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10212)
2020-08-31 - 2020-11-01
Academic year 2019/2020
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10178)
2019-09-02 - 2019-10-31
Academic year 2018/2019
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10237)
2018-09-03 - 2018-11-11
Academic year 2017/2018
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10066)
2017-08-28 - 2017-11-05
Academic year 2016/2017
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10046)
2016-08-29 - 2016-11-06
Academic year 2015/2016
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10014)
2015-08-31 - 2015-11-01
Academic year 2013/2014
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10046)
2013-09-02 - 2013-11-10
Academic year 2011/2012
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10223)
2011-08-29 - 2011-11-06
Academic year 2010/2011
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects (NA0153-10144)
2010-08-30 - 2010-11-07
Syllabus and other information
Syllabus
NA0153 Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental Projects, 7.5 Credits
Cost Benefit Analysis of Agricultural and Environmental ProjectsSubjects
Economics Environmental Science Economics Environmental scienceEducation cycle
Master’s levelModules
| Title | Credits | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 7.5 | 0302 |
Advanced study in the main field
Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirementsMaster’s level (A1N)
Grading scale
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.
Language
EnglishPrior knowledge
Skills equivalent to 180 credits, including 90 credits in economics.Skills equivalent to English B from upper secondary school.
Objectives
Many decisions regarding cost and benefits of different tasks are made in everyday life. For example, a household compares costs and benefits from buying a new environmentally friendly car. The cost benefit tests are also carried out for much larger projects such as changes in national transport systems. Common to most projects is the need for attaching costs and benefits to different items which can be difficult to assess such as the value of life or cost of the risk for future catastrophic events from, e.g., nuclear power works. The purpose of this course is to give theoretical and empirical knowledge on design of cost benefit studies applied mainly on environmentally related projects. After passing the course, the students will
be able to determine whether or not a project is suitable for cost benefit analysis
analyse the concept of social cost
have knowledge on different techniques for cost and benefit estimates
give account of what factors can have dramatic impacts on the estimated cost and benefits
know how to account for intangible costs or benefits of a project
describe the impact of time perspective on the outcome of a project
know how to account for distributional impacts of a project on for example different
households and regions
analyse the possibilities and limitations of CBA
Content
Topics described and analysed are:
comparison of different cost and benefit estimation techniques
the role and choice of appropriate discount rate
considerations of distributional incidences of projects (for example among household
groups, regions, or different production sectors)
financial analysis techniques such as break even analysis, option value, net present value and
internal rate of return
cost effectiveness and computable general equilibrium analyses
development of own CBA case studies
Grading form
The grade requirements within the course grading system are set out in specific criteria. These criteria must be available by the course start at the latest.Formats and requirements for examination
Project task and exercises.
Passed project task and exercises.
If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.
The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.
If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.
For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Other information
The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.
If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.
Responsible department
Department of Economics
Grading criteria
Evaluation
The evaluation consists of a case study and an exam. The case study may give maximum 20 credits. The exam has four questions; each question may give maximum 20 credits. Thus, the maximum for the case study and the exam is 100 credits in total. In order to get grade:
• 3 you must have at least 50 points in total.
• 4 you must have at least 70 points in total.
• 5 you must have at least 85 points in total.
Seminar participation is mandatory!! Students who are not present in one of the two seminars will have to write a report on one of the papers presented on that day.
Litterature list
Anthony E. Boardman, David H. Greenberg, Aidan R. Vining, David L. Weimer, 2018. Cost-Benefit Analysis: Concepts and Practice 5th Edition, Cambridge University Press (main textbook).
Perman, R., Ma, Y., McGilvray, J., Common, M. 2003. Natural resources and environmental economics. Pearson, Harlow, UK, Chapters 11-13.** **