NA0206, Resources, economics, and markets, 7.5 Hp
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Syllabus

Finalized by: Ordförande för programnämnden för utbildning inom skog (PN-S), 2025-12-18
Valid from : Autumn semester 2026 (2026-08-31)

Level

Second cycle (A1N)

Main field of study

Economics, Forestry Science

Grading Scale

5 / 4 / 3 / U

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.

Course language

English

Entry Requirements

Objectives

After completing the course, the student will be able to

• explain and discuss the multiple roles of forest resources for sustainable development;
• explain the economic principles of natural resource management;
• explain and discuss supply of and demand for forest-based materials and final forest products;
• describe and explain common forms and effects of market failures; and
• analyse, discuss and evaluate trade-offs between ecosystem services, and multiple-use forest management.

Content

The course starts by discussing the role of forests in sustainable development and continues by explaining how economic principles affect the management of natural resources, particularly forest resources. Supply and demand for forest raw materials, both timber and biomass, are then discussed, along with the supply and demand for forest-based products. Questions that are analyzed are fore example how the demand for sawn timber products affects the supply of biomass for, e.g., bioenergy. The course then analyzes how markets are influenced by market failures, such as monopolies, and how this affects the supply of forest-based products. Finally, the course analyzes and evaluates the trade-offs that forest owners need to make between different types of ecosystem services using numerical optimization and simulation methods.

The course includes lectures and exercises where the student analyses and assess real cases, as well as tasks to communicate their conclusions both orally and in writing.

Further the course includes active participation in seminars and guest lectures.

Examination Formats and Requirements for Passing the Course

- Approved examination - Passed assignments

•  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.

Responsible Department/Equivalent

Department of forest bioeconomy and technology

Supplementary information

Included in program

• Forest and Business Management (MSc)
• Forest Bioeconomy (MSc)
• Environmental Economics and Management - Master's Programme
• Forest Science - Master's Programme

Module set

Title	Credits	Code
Resources and markets - exam	5.0	0001
Seminar	2.5	0002

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.