master thesis environmental economics

The thesis consists of three independent chapters on environmental and urban economics. A central theme explored in this thesis is what determines the distribution of economic activities across space. My exploration in this direction begins with the roles of industrial pollution and transportation infrastructure in shaping the spatial distribution of skills, and extends to evaluate the spatial allocation efficiency of renewable energy projects. The first chapter,“The Long Shadow of Industrial Pollution: Environmental Amenities and the Distribution of Skills”, investigates the role of industrial pollution in determining the competitiveness of post-industrial cities, with a focus on their ability to attract skilled workers and shift to a modern service economy. I assemble a rich database at a fine spatial resolution, which allows me to track pollution from the 1970s to the present and to examine its impacts on a whole range of outcomes related to productivity and amenity, including house prices, employment, wages, and crime. I find that census tracts downwind of highly polluted 1970s industrial sites are associated with lower housing prices and a smaller share of skilled employment three decades later, a pattern which became evermore prominent between 1980 and 2000. These findings indicate that pollution in the 1970s affected the ability of parts of cities to attract skills, which in turn drove the process of agglomeration based on modern services. To quantify the contribution of different mechanisms, I build and estimate a multi-sector spatial equilibrium framework that introduces heterogeneity in local productivity and workers’ valuation of local amenities across sectors and allows the initial sorting to be magnified by production and residential externalities. Structural estimation suggests that historical pollution is associated with lower current productivity and amenity; the magnitudes are higher for productivity, more skilled sectors and central tracts. I then use the framework to evaluate the impact of counterfactual pollution cuts in different parts of cities on nationwide welfare and cross-city skill distribution. The second chapter, “Travel Costs and Urban Specialization: Evidence from China’s High Speed Railway” examines how improvements in passenger transportation affect the spatial distribution of skills, exploiting the expansion of high speed railway (HSR) project in China. This natural experiment is unique because as a passenger-dedicated transportation device that aims at improving the speed and convenience of intercity travel, HSR mostly affects urban specialization through encouraging more frequent intercity trips and face-to-face interactions. I find that an HSR connection increases city-wide passenger flows by 10% and employment by 7%. To further deal with the issues of endogenous railway placement and simultaneous public investments accompanying HSR connections, I examine the impact of a city’s market access changes purely driven by the HSR connection of other cities. The estimates suggest that HSR-induced expansion in market access increases urban employment with an elasticity between 2 and 2.5. The differential impacts of HSR on employment across sectors suggest that industries benefiting more from enhanced market access are the ones intensive in nonroutine cognitive skills, such as finance, IT and business services. These findings highlight the role of improved passenger travel infrastructure in promoting the delivery of services, facilitating labour sourcing and knowledge exchange across cities, and ultimately shifting the specialization pattern of connected cities towards skilled and communication intensive sectors. In the last chapter, “Where does the Wind Blow? Green Preferences and Spatial Misallocation in the Renewable Energy Sector” , I focus on the spatial allocation efficiency of renewable energy projects. How efficiently are renewable energy projects distributed across the US? Are “greener” investors worse at picking sites? Using extensive information on wind resources, transmission, electricity prices and other restrictions that are relevant to the siting choices of wind farms, I calculate the predicted profitability of wind power projects for all possible locations across the contiguous US, use this distribution of this profitability as a counterfactual for profit-maximizing wind power investments and compare it to the actual placement of wind farms. The average predicted profit of wind projects would have risen by 47.1% had the 1770 current projects in the continental US been moved to the best 1770 sites. I also show that 80% and 42% respectively of this observed deviation can be accounted for by within-state and within-county distortions. I provide further evidence that a large proportion of the observed within-state spatial misallocation is related to green investors’ tendency of invest locally and sub-optimally. Wind farms in more environmentally-friendly counties are more likely to be financed by local and non-profit investors, are closer to cities, are much less responsive to local fundamentals and have worse performance ex-post. The implementation of state policies such as Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and price-based subsidies are related to better within-state locational choices through attracting more for-profit investments to the “brown" counties, while lump-sum subsidies have the opposite or no effects. My findings have salient implications for environmental and energy policy. Policy makers should take account of the non-monetary incentives of renewable investors when determining the allocative efficiency of policies.

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List of suggested topics for thesis

for RESD students

• Invia ad un amico

List of suggested topics

Elettra Agliardi

§ Financial Derivatives and climate change

§ Evolutions of institutions and ambiguity in the context of climate change

§  Climate finance 

§ Green bonds​

§  Facilitating transition: real option valuation for green growth, energy and technology transition.

Thanasis Stengos

§  Empirical approaches to the effect of emissions on growth

§  The Environmental Kuznets Curve: different methods of estimation analysis

§ Empirical investigation of the trade off between clean and conventional energy sources in affecting growth.

Rainer Andergassen

§  Economic growth and sustainability

§  Technological change and innovation incentives: green vs dirty technologies

§  Natural disasters and risk management

Anastasios Xepapadeas

§  Cost Benefit Analysis in General Infrastructure, or Renewable Energy using the EU Guidelines.

§  Climate Change Impacts on Output Growth and/or Total Factor Productivity.

§  Spatial Aspects in the Management of Resources and the Environment.

§ Coalition Formation and International Agreements under Climate Change: The Role of Adaptation, Geoengineering, and Solar Radiation Management.

§ The UN Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of Sustainability Measurement through Genuine Savings or Comprehensive Wealth

Konstantinos Chalvatzis

§ Regulating Energy Innovation: Comparative policies for energy storage and smart grid technologies in EU countries (particular focus on the UK, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece) 

§ The EU single energy market and the role of the EU policies in enabling innovation in the energy sector (focus on energy storage and smart-grid technologies)

§ From energy consumer to energy prosumer: transforming the EU citizens

Melania D’Angelosante

§  The EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS)

§  Waste (management) as a resource

§  The environmental liability directive

Roberto Dieci

§  Agent-Based models for resource economics and management

§  Dynamic models in agricultural and resource economics

§  Mathematical modeling of emission markets

§ Mathematical modeling of agricultural price fluctuations

§ Mathematical models of tipping points and application to environmental economics and policy

Luca Fanelli

§ The econometrics of climate change (review level)

§ Shocks identification in applied macroeconomics (intermediate/advanced level)

§ The identification and measurement of oil shocks (advanced level).

Anna Montini

§  The economic cost of environmental impacts on human health

§  Appraisal of total economic value of environmental goods (specific case study to be defined)

§  Cost-benefit analysis of new municipal solid waste collection methods (or other case study to be detailed)

Roberto Patuelli

§  Regional social capital and environmental concerns

§  Balancing transport accessibility and the environment

§  The double dividend hypothesis in developing countries

§ Impact of speed limits on air pollution in Bologna

Corrado Benassi

§  Income polarization and political polarization

§  Income distribution and the working of markets

§  Income distribution and macroeconomic performance

§  Foundations of inequality and poverty measurement; measurement theory

§  Optimal population and sustainability

§  Mixed oligopolies and welfare

§  Ethical foundations of welfare theories 

Alessandro Tavoni

§ Media coverage, public awareness and climate tweets (Empirical)

§  Identifying drivers of cooperation in the laboratory (Experimental Economics)

§  Identifying drivers of cooperation in the field (Experimental Economics)

§  Eliciting climate change views with surveys (Empirical)

§  The political economy of international environmental agreements (IEA): the interplay between domenstic politics and IEA in coalition formation models (Game Theory)

§  Evolution of cooperation and common pool resource management (Game Theory)

Maria Gabrielli Baldarelli

§ Eco-justice and gambling: the role of accountability

§ Women, accounting and SDG

§ Social, environmental Accounting and poverty

§ Social , environmental and sustainable Accounting and accountability in Economy of communion entities 

Federica Farneti

§ Social Reports/sustainability reports of Italian provincial governments (international organisations): A Longitudinal Analysis. § Insights on non-financial disclosure in major corporations and reflections on SMEs, before and after the directive 95/2014: the path towards greater transparency? § Integrated reporting: Losing legitimacy when reporting talk is not supported by actions. § Social and environmental auditing

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Lead change. Learn to balance planet and profit with environmentally stable business modelling.

Meet the urgent global need for environmentally responsible and sustainable business practices by gaining your Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management (MScEEM).

With the MScEEM, you will learn the management practices and research skills required to balance economic demands with environmental sustainability. Prepare yourself to meet the needs of public and private organizations worldwide that are actively seeking out managers who can build and support business models that balance planet with profit.

As a MScEEM student, you will have the opportunity to complete a required graduate thesis or project. The thesis or project serves not only as a stepping stone to a PhD program, but also a competitive advantage by providing you the academic and applied research expertise, management skills and specialized knowledge you need to succeed in the emerging area of environmentally sustainable economics and management in the business sector.

Note: While similar to TRU’s Master in Environmental Economics and Management (MEEM) , the MScEEM program requires completion of a graduate thesis or project as opposed to the additional MBA program course requirements of the MEEM.

Info session

Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a virtual question and answer session with one of our coordinators, Bach Nguyen.

Why pursue a Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management at TRU?

Complete the program 100% online, off-campus!

• Students in Canada will be able to complete the MScEEM program completely virtually with no on-campus requirements.
• The eight core 6000-level ECON courses, which are normally Credential granted Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management Delivery New for Fall 2021. Students delivered face to-face on campus, are now available online during scheduled class times with all online and on-campus students in your cohort.
• Non-core courses are available online or on-campus.

YOU decide how you learn.

• In addition to the new 100% online study option, the MScEEM can also be completed on-campus or a combination of both online and on-campus.
• Study part-time or full-time. As a part-time student, you must complete the program within five years of your start date.
• Courses required for the MScEEM are offered once a year.
• You can choose to begin your GDBA courses in September, January or May.

Gain the business acumen you need to succeed.

• No matter what your educational background is, MScEEM’s unique program structure ensures you gain the business knowledge and skills you need to successfully apply the economic sustainable management principles you’ve learned to a workplace environment.
• By gaining your Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) before beginning year two of the MScEEM program. Once you have completed the six required business courses, you can apply for your GDBA and gain access into year two of the MScEEM.
• Small class sizes also ensure you are consistently receiving high quality instruction and guidance from your instructors.

Access accelerated completion options.

• If your previous post-secondary courses are acceptable, you may be able to receive course waivers for some–or all–of the six GDBA courses required to access year two of the MScEEM program.
• If you already have a four-year business or commerce degree from an accepted institution, you may be able to move directly into year two of the program. A degree committee will assess your recent undergraduate or graduate course work in the area and decide if you are eligible for this option.

What will I learn?

The economic sustainable management sector is set for considerable growth and prolific job opportunities. The MScEEM will help you stand out to employers and land a job in the green market where you can be part of the preservation and restoration of environmental quality worldwide.

Upon graduation, you will be prepared to:

• Analyze and synthesize local, regional and global environmental, natural resource and economic development problems.
• Employ positive and normative economics for the study of sustainable management.
• Formulate multiple and alternative solutions to problems effectively using analytical tools, individually and as a team player.
• Illustrate that knowledge can be uncertain, ambiguous and limited, and how these limitations might influence results and interpretation of environmental problems and solutions.
• Identify and analyze ethical and equity issues associated with environmental problems and solutions.
• Practice the scientific methods, research preparation and styles of communication used to disseminate research.
• Prepare and defend a thesis or project relating to an economic sustainability management issue or problem.
• Prepare and effectively communicate scholarly work, opinions and analysis, both oral and written.
• 8% Growth in Canada’s environmental sector is expected by 2029.
• 233,500 job openings are expected by 2029 due to job growth and replacement.
• 1 in 26 workers in Canada were in a green job in 2020.
• $163,006 Estimate salary of Environmental Economists in Canada by 2026, indicating a 14% increase.

Sources: Environmental Jobs and Hiring Trends in the Decade Ahead, 2020, ECO Canada, Source: Environmental Jobs and Hiring Trends in the Decade Ahead, 2020, ECO Canada, Source: Environmental Labour Outlook to 2025, ECO Canada, Source: Economic Research Institute

The Master of Science in Environmental Economics and Management (MScEEM) prepares you to make major contributions to the field of economic sustainable management by providing you with the required management skills, specialized knowledge and applied research expertise gained by completion of your graduate thesis or project. Completing the graduate thesis or project required by the MScEEM can help you gain access into a PhD program and eventually help you advance into a career in academia or consulting.

While similar to TRU’s Master in Environmental Economics and Management (MEEM), the MScEEM program requires completion of a graduate thesis or project as opposed to the additional MBA program course requirements of the MEEM.

To view complete details of the program requirements please visit MScEEM Program Details .

The MScEEM program is divided into two parts:

• Year one–Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA)
• Year two–MScEEM degree

Regardless of your educational background, by completing the GDBA in year one, you will gain the business knowledge and skills needed to successfully apply the economic sustainable management principles you will learn in the MScEEM.

Year one GDBA courses* (18 credits)

• BUSN 5010 or BUSN 5011, Managerial Statistics (3)
• BUSN 5020 or BUSN 5021, Financial Accounting (3)
• BUSN 5030 or BUSN 5031, Management Accounting (3)
• BUSN 5040 or BUSN 5041, Economics for Managers/Global Economics (3)
• BUSN 5050 or BUSN 5051, Marketing Management (3)
• BUSN 5060 or BUSN 5061, Human Resource Management (3)

In order to be admitted into year two–MScEEM degree–you will need to complete these six courses will an overall GPA of B (3.0) or better.

Year one accelerated completion options

• You may be eligible to receive a course waiver for some or all of the GDBA courses based on your previous academic record.
• If you have an undergraduate degree in business or commerce from an accepted institution, you may be able to move directly into year two–the MScEEM portion of the program.

Year two MScEEM courses (24 credits)

• ECON 6010, Principles of Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Economics (3)
• ECON 6020, Applied Microeconomics for Sustainable Management (3)
• ECON 6030, Foundations of Cost-Benefit Analysis (3)
• ECON 6040, Valuation Methods for Cost-Benefit Analysis (3)
• ECON 6050, Sustainable Community Economic Development (3)
• ECON 6060, Applications of Environmental Economics and Natural Resource Economics (3)
• ECON 6070, Sustainable Macroeconomic Development (3)
• ECON 6080, Policy and Regulation for Sustainable Management (3)

Additional required courses* (21 or 24 credits)

• BUSN 6950/6951, Research Methods, Preparation and Presentation (3)
• BUSN 6960, Graduate Thesis (12) or BUSN 6970, Graduate Project (9)**

*Note: Course codes ending in "1"–such as BUSN 6011–are online courses.

**Note: Additional completion time may be required depending on the nature of your chosen thesis or project research topic.

Accelerated one-year program option

Want to get your career started as soon as possible?

Find out if your recent four-year undergraduate degree in business or commerce can provide you access directly into year two of the MScEEM program. To qualify for this accelerated option, you must have gained a minimum B grade in specific undergraduate courses. We will evaluate your request for course waivers after you have formally applied to the program.

Here are TRU’s undergraduate courses that can help you graduate quicker:

• ECON 1900, Principles of Microeconomics
• ECON 1950, Principles of Macroeconomics
• ACCT 2210, Financial Accounting
• ACCT 2250, Management Accounting
• ECON 2320, Economics and Business Statistics 1
• ECON 2330, Economics and Business Statistics 2
• MKTG 2430, Introduction to Marketing
• ORGB 2810, Organizational Behaviour
• HRMN 2820, Introduction to Human Resource Management

Similar courses you have completed from other approved institutions may be accepted. You will need to submit an official course outline for review unless an approved equivalent already exists. You must have gained a grade of B or higher in any course you are wishing to use as a waiver.

Please note that gaining access into the accelerated one-year option is highly selective and usually given to graduates of recognized North American business degrees.

TRU’s admissions committee will review your educational background in order to determine if you will start in year one–GDBA–or placed directly into year two–the MScEEM program.

In order to be considered, you must meet all of the following admission requirements.

Academic Requirements

• An acceptable three or four-year undergraduate degree in any discipline with a minimum B average (3.0 GPA) in the last 60 credits of study.
• GDBA course waivers may be granted based on previous academic record.
• Applicants with an undergraduate degree in business from an acceptable institution may be exempt from this requirement.
• Students required to complete BUSN 5040/5041 must achieve a B or better.

Language requirement

Applicants should demonstrate their language proficiency. Applicants who did not complete their undergraduate degree in an English language university in a country where the first language is English, should have a recent minimum academic IELTS score of 7.0 (with no band below 6.5) or institutional equivalent.

Interview and references requirement

Applicants should demonstrate the maturity, motivation, and communication skills to be successful in the program. This will be assessed by means of a personal written statement of purpose of study, a resume, and two letters of reference from academics or professionals. An interview and/or additional documentation may be required.

Quantitative skills requirement

Applicants should possess adequate quantitative skills assessed through successful completion of specific undergraduate courses in quantitative subjects.

Those deemed to be deficient in these areas may be accepted but required to undertake other approved courses or developmental activities to upgrade their skills.

Graduation Requirements

Once you have successfully completed each course–or received transfer credit– with an overall GPA of 3.0 and fulfilled the 18 credit TRU residency requirement, you will be awarded a MScEEM credential.

You will have to complete all course and program requirements within five years from your date of admission into the MScEEM program.

Your application package must include:

• Online application
• A non-refundable application fee.
• A personal resumé.
• A personal written statement of purpose of study (approximately 250 words).
• An official copy of your transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended (including a certified English language copy if original transcripts are not in English).
• Students whose second language is English must instruct testing services to send a copy of their TOEFL or academic IELTS or iBT results to TRU (Institutional No. 8989) unless one is already on file at TRU.
• TRU graduates do not need to request TRU transcripts.
• Two reference forms completed by referees (academic or professional). Applicants will be provided with the form.

International applicants must upload all required documents at the time of application. Domestic applicants will receive an email from our Graduate Admissions office requesting supporting documentation after submitting the online application.

Students interested in online delivery–which is currently only available to students residing in Canada–should apply to the on-campus program. Access to the online delivery format sections of courses would occur after formal file assessment and seat offer.

International students are encouraged to apply early to allow sufficient time for study permit processing.

We review program applications as they are received up until the deadline for the intake requested. The selection committees make all admission decisions. You will generally be notified within four to six weeks after receipt of your completed application as to whether you have been accepted into the program and if you are waived from any GDBA courses.

If you have been short-listed, you may also receive an invitation for an interview.

Career Options / Laddering options

Where will this take me.

Studies increasingly show that business sectors believe environmental and social issues have implications for capital investments, corporate strategy, brand and reputation building. This belief is resulting in increased corporate focus on sustainability including sustainable business, corporate environmental and social responsibility, ethics and initiatives to make lasting and effective changes that support social and environmental stability.

What does this mean for you, the MScEEM student?

Job security!

Green job opportunities within the business sector are expected to see continued growth as corporate leadership is increasingly requiring extensive sustainability experience and knowledge.

The top five green employment sectors in Canada include:

• Environmental protection
• Green services
• Renewable or green energy
• Resource conservation
• Sustainability planning including design and urban design

MScEEM graduates will be qualified to work in any of these sectors within government, non-profit, for-profit businesses or as a consultant:

• Building sustainable development indicators, plans and strategies.
• Developing corporate environmental sustainability policies and procedures.
• Implementing and monitoring sustainable development strategies and programs.
• Interpreting, enforcing and complying with environmental regulation and standards.
• Partnering with stakeholders.

McEEM graduates work as:

• Environmental managers in the private or public sector.
• Industry analysts and market or policy analysts.
• Managers for a not-for-profit sustainability organization.
• Managers or operators of consulting firms.
• Managers of sustainability policy development projects at various government levels.
• Marketing and sales positions for sustainability products and practices.
• Researchers and developers within corporations, research and funding agencies

Further study

Upon graduating from the MScEEM program, you can enter a PhD program in a related field or law degree with a focus on environmental law. You can also work towards your MBA.

Program Fees

Please visit our program cost page on the MScEEM website.

MScEEM Tuition

Program Details

Requirements, admission requirements, program requirements, faculty highlights, tuition & fees, cost for this program per semester:.

• International

Choose the number of courses:

Does not include a lab fee of $23.03 that may apply to some courses.

These are only estimates - your actual cost may vary.

Specific questions about this program?

Request more information, visit the program website.

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Environmental Economics

Environmental and resource economics is one of our strongest research areas and we are happy to offer you the opportunity to focus your studies toward this area. This profile will be provided in cooperation with the top-class research center CERE!

Environmental Economics - A short description

Professor Runar Brännlund about the new profile

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency describes environmental economics as:

"Good environmental quality is a part of society's welfare. Environmental economics is a way of incorporating the value of nature into society's decisions and, thus, encouraging the development of greater welfare.

Environmental economics deals with economics and the environment, and the management of limited resources. The aim of environmental economics is to encourage us to make the best use of our ecosystem's goods and services."

CERE - A center for research and knowledge

The Center for Environmental and Resource Economics (CERE) is located at the Department of Economics. CERE is one of Europe's leading research institutes within environmental economics and consists of researchers from both Umeå University and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

As a student at the environmental economics profile, you will meet the professors and researchers at CERE as your teachers and supervisors. Maybe you will be writing your final master thesis within one of the centers strong research areas:

• Property rights in the context of natural resources
• Management of natural resources (forest, wildlife, fishery)
• Valuation of environmental and natural resources
• Green accounting and welfare measurement
• Long-run relations between economic growth and the environment
• Climate economics and policy
• Energy economics and policy
• Sustainable and responsible investments
• Public policy, redistribution, and efficiency

The Center for Environmental and Resource Economics (CERE)

What will I learn?

If you are choosing environmental economics as your profile, then the third semester will be devoted to courses within the profile. The courses offered will change between semesters. Examples of courses:

• Energy economics
• Valuation of environmental goods
• Environmental economics
• Methods and tools (software et cetera.)

Master Thesis

Our chair offers the supervision of Master Theses in our main fields of research and teaching. In the module “Markets and Consumption” we offer the lecture in “Consumer Policy” and in the module “Environmental Economics” we offer the lectures “Resource Economics and Environmental Policy” and “Cost-Benefit Analysis and Environmental Valuation”. We welcome any proposal in one of these three fields.

To ensure a thematically sound supervision of Master Theses at our chair, interested students have to fulfill two conditions in advance.

Please note that, as a theoretically oriented chair, we neither (co-)supervise practice-oriented Master Theses nor theses which mainly focus on business and managerial analysis. If you want to write a practice-oriented thesis in close cooperation with a company or an institution, it is generally advisable to look for a chair which teaching and research focus is in the area of business analysis.

The Master Thesis constitutes an independently written piece of scientific work and has to be completed in three months. The process of writing a Master Thesis under the supervision of our chair includes the following steps:

For further inquiries concerning the supervision of Master theses at our chair please contact [email protected] .

Workshop on academic working

For all master thesis aspirants we recommend to visit the "Workshop on academic working". The course, which is intended initially for seminars of master students, will be offered at the beginning of each semester. The target is to make you familiar with the requirements of the techniques and forms of academic working at our chair. The workshop constitutes a helpful assistance, also for your master thesis. We will provide advice and examples for academic literature research, correct citation methods as well as building a structured master’s thesis.

Additional Information

Profile of requirements Master theses Template title page Master theses

134 Economics Thesis Topics: Ideas for Outstanding Writing

Writing a thesis is not an easy task. For most of the students, it can be even intimidating, especially when you do not know where to start your research.

Here, we have provided an economics thesis topics list. After all, everyone knows that choosing the right idea is crucial when writing an academic paper. In economics, it can combine history, math, social studies, politics, and numerous other subjects. You should also have solid foundations and a sound factual basis for a thesis. Without these elements, you won’t be able to master your research paper.

The issue is:

It is not always clear what could be seen as an excellent economics thesis topic. Our experts can assist you with this challenge. This list contains some outstanding examples to get you started.

• ⭐ Thesis in Economics
• 🔥 Supreme Thesis Topics
• 👍 Bachelor’s Thesis
• 😲 Master’s Thesis

📊 Microeconomics

📈 macroeconomics.

• 🤔 Developmental
• 👨‍💼 Behavioral
• 💼 Financial
• 🌱 Agricultural
• 🤝‍ Sociology
• 📚 Ph.D. Topics
• 📝 How to Pick a Topic

⭐ What Does a Thesis in Economics Look Like?

A good thesis in economics is a blend between an empirical paper and a theoretical one. One of the essential steps in choosing a topic in economics is to decide which one you will write.

You may write, research, analyze statistical data and other information. Or build and study a specific economic model.

Or why not both!

Here are some questions you can ask when deciding what topic to choose:

• What has already been written on this topic?
• What economic variables will my paper study?
• Where should I look for the data?
• What econometrics techniques should I use?
• What type of model will I study?

The best way to understand what type of research you have to do is to write a thesis proposal. You will most probably be required to submit it anyway. Your thesis supervisor will examine your ideas, methods, list of secondary and primary sources. At some universities, the proposal will be graded.

After you get the initial feedback, you will have a clear idea of what to adjust before writing your thesis. Only then, you’ll be able to start.

🔥 Supreme Economics Thesis Topics List

• Fast fashion in India.
• The UK housing prices.
• Brexit and European trade.
• Behavioral economics.
• Healthcare macroeconomics.
• COVID-19’s economic impact.
• Global gender wage gap.
• Commodity dependence in Africa.
• International trade – developing countries.
• Climate change and business development.

👍 Economics Bachelor’s Thesis Topics

At the U.S. Universities, an undergraduate thesis is very uncommon. However, it depends on the Department Policy.

The biggest challenge with the Bachelor’s Thesis in economics concerns its originality. Even though you are not required to conduct entirely unique research, you have to lack redundant ideas.

You can easily avoid making this mistake by simply choosing one of these topics. Also, consider visiting IvyPanda essays database. It’s a perfect palce to conduct a brainstorming session and come up with fresh ideas for a paper, as well as get tons of inspiration.

• The impact of the oil industry on the economic development of Nigeria. The oil industry is vital for the economic development of Nigeria. In this thesis, students can discuss the notion of the resource curse. Analyze the reasons why general people are not benefiting from the oil industry. Why did it produce very little change in the social and economic growth of the country?
• Sports Marketing and Advertising: the impact it has on the consumers.
• Economic opportunities and challenges of investing in Kenya .
• Economic Development in the Tourism Industry in Africa. Since the early 1990s, tourism significantly contributed to the economic growth of African countries. In this thesis, students can talk about the characteristics of the tourist sector in Africa. Or elaborate on specific countries and how their national development plans look like.
• Globalization and its significance to business worldwide .
• Economic risks connected to investing in Turkey .
• The decline in employment rates as the biggest American economy challenge .
• The economics of alcohol abuse problems. In this thesis, students can develop several essential issues. First, they can examine how poverty is connected to alcohol abuse. Second, they can see the link between alcohol consumption and productivity. To sum up, students can elaborate on the economic costs of alcohol abuse.
• Causes and solutions for unemployment in Great Britain.
• Parallel perspective on Global Economic Order: China and America. This thesis can bring a comparative analysis of the economies to a new level. China and The US are the world’s two largest economies. These two countries have a significant impact on the global economic order. So, looking at the set of institutions, policies, rules can be constructive.
• The new international economic order after COVID-19
• Financial stability of the banking sector in China.
• New Electronic Payment Services in Russia.
• The influence of culture on different entrepreneurial behaviors.
• The impact of natural cultural practices on entrepreneurial activity.
• The relationships between national culture and individual behavior.
• The main reasons for salary inequalities in different parts of the U.S.

😲 Economics Master’s Thesis Topics

Student life can be fascinating, but it comes with its challenges. One of which is selecting your Master’s thesis topic.

Here is a list of topics for a Master’s thesis in economics. Are you pursuing MPhil in Economics and writing a thesis? Use the following ideas as an inspiration for that. They can also be helpful if you are working on a Master’s thesis in financial economics.

• The impact of visual aid in teaching home economics.
• The effect of income changes in consumer behaviors in America.
• Forces behind socio-economic inequalities in the United States. This thesis can explore three critical factors for socio-economic differences in the United States. In the past 30 years, social disparities increased in the United States. Some of the main reasons are technology, trade, and institutions.
• The relationships between economic growth and international development.
• Technological innovations and their influence on green and environmental products.
• The economics of non-solar renewable energy .

• The economic consequences of terrorism . Terrorism not only takes away lives and destroys property but also widely affects the economy. It creates uncertainty in the market, increases insurance claims, slows down investment projects, and tourism. This thesis can address all of the ways in which terrorism can affect economies.
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) implementation in the Oil and Gas Industry in Africa.
• Use of incentives in behavioral economics.
• Economic opportunities and challenges of sustainable communities .
• Economics of nuclear power plants.
• Aid and financial help for emerging markets. This topic is very versatile. Students can look at both the positive and the adverse effects that funding has on the development. There are plenty of excellent examples. Besides, some theories call international help a form of neocolonialism.
• Multinational firms impact on economic growth in America .
• The effect of natural disasters on economic development in Asia.
• The influence of globalization on emerging markets and economic development.

📑 More Economics Thesis Topics: Theme

For some students, it makes more sense to center their search around a certain subject. Sometimes you have an econ area that interests you. You may have an idea about what you want to write, but you did not decide what it will be.

If that’s the case with you, then these economics thesis topics ideas are for you.

• An analysis of the energy market in Russia.
• The impact of game theory on economic development.
• The connection between minimum wage and market equilibrium.
• Gender differences in the labor market in the United States. This topic can shed light on gender differences in the labor market in the United States. In the past years, the overall inequality in labor in the markets decreased. However, there is still a lot of work that can be done.
• Economic reasons that influence the prices of oil .
• Relationship between the Lorenz curve and the Gini coefficient.
• Challenges of small businesses in the market economy.
• The changes in oil prices: causes and solutions . Universal economic principles do not always apply to the sale and purchase of the oil. The same happens with its cost. In the thesis, talk about what affects the prices. What are the solutions that can be implemented?
• The economic analysis of the impact of immigration on the American economy.

• Economic inequality as a result of globalization . Economic inequality becomes even more apparent on the global level. There is a common belief that globalization is the cause of that. Discuss what can be the solutions to these problems. This topic is vital to minimize the gap between the rich and the poor.
• The economic explanation of political dishonesty .
• Effect of Increasing Interest rates costs in Africa .
• The connection between game theory and microeconomics.
• Marketing uses in microeconomics.
• Financial liability in human-made environmental disasters.
• Banks and their role in the economy. Banks are crucial elements of any economy, and this topic covers why. You can explain how banks allow the goods and services to be exchanged. Talk about why banks are so essential for economic growth and stability.
• Inflation in the US and ways to reduce its impact.
• The connection between politics and economics.
• Income Dynamics and demographic economics.
• US Market Liquidity and macroeconomics.
• Macroeconomics and self-correction of the economy .
• The American economy, monetary policy, and monopolies .
• The importance of control in macroeconomics. One of the central topics in macroeconomics is grouped around the issue of control. It is quite reasonable that control over money and resources should become a topic of discussion.
• Analysis of Africa’s macroeconomics and its performance.
• Economics of education in developing markets.
• Problems and possible solutions for Japan macroeconomics .
• Comparative analysis of British macroeconomics concerning the US .
• Public policies and socio-economic disparities.
• The world problems through macroeconomic analysis. Indeed, macroeconomics is very complicated. There are many influences, details, and intricacies in it. However, it allows economists to use this complex set of tools to examine the world’s leading problems today.

• The connection between employment interest and money.

🤔 Development Economics

• Economics of development . This topic is very rich in content. First, explain what it is. Then pay particular attention to domestic and international policies that affect development, income distribution, and economic growth.
• The relation between development and incentive for migration.
• The impact of natural disasters on the economy and political stability of emerging markets.
• The economic consequences of population growth in developing countries.
• The role of industrialization in developing countries . The industrialization has been connected with the development. It promotes capital formation and catalyzes economic growth in emerging markets. In this thesis, you can talk about this correlation.
• Latin American economic development.
• Gender inequality and socio-economic development .
• Problems of tax and taxation in connection with economic growth.
• The economic impact of terrorism on developing markets.
• Religious decline as a key to economic development. Not everyone knows, but a lot of research has been done in the past years on the topic. It argues that decreased religious activity is connected with increased economic growth. This topic is quite controversial. Students who decide to write about it should be extra careful and polite.

👨‍💼 Behavioral Economics

• Risk Preferences in Rural South Africa.
• Behavioral Economics and Finance .
• Applied behavioral economics in marketing strategies. If you want to focus your attention on marketing, this topic is for you. Behavioral economics provides a peculiar lens to look at marketing strategies. It allows marketers to identify common behaviors and adapt their marketing strategies.
• The impact of behavioral finance on investment decisions.
• Behavioral Economics in Child Nutrition Programs in North Texas.
• Guidelines for Behavioral Economics in Healthcare Sector.
• Cognitive and behavioral theories in economics .
• Cross-cultural consumer behavior and marketing communication. Consumers are not only affected by personal characteristics, but also by the culture they are living in. This topic focuses on the extent it should determine marketing strategy and communication.
• Behavior implications of wealth and inequality.

• Optimism and pessimism for future behavior.

💼 Financial Economics

• Financial Economics for Infrastructure and Fiscal Policy .
• The use of the economic concept of human capital. Students can focus on the dichotomy between human and nonhuman capital. Many economists believe that human capital is the most crucial of all. Some approach this issue differently. Therefore, students should do their research and find where they stand on this issue.
• The analysis of the global financial crisis of 2020s. Share your thoughts, predictions, ideas. Analyze the economic situation that affects almost everyone in the world. This thesis topic will be fresh and original. It can help to start a good and fruitful conversation.
• The big data economic challenges for Volvo car.
• The connection between finance, economics, and accounting.
• Financial economics: Banks competition in the UK .
• Risk-Taking by mutual funds as a response to incentives.
• Managerial economics and financial accounting as a basis for business decisions.
• Stock market overreaction.

🌱 Agricultural Economics

• Agricultural economics and agribusiness.
• The vulnerability of agricultural business in African countries.
• Agricultural economics and environmental considerations of biofuels .
• Farmer’s contribution to agricultural social capital.
• Agricultural and resource economics. Agricultural and resource economics plays a huge role in development. They are subdivided into four main characteristics which in this topic, students can talk about: – mineral and energy resources; – soil resources, water resources; – biological resources. One or even all of them can be a focus of the thesis.
• Water as an economic good in irrigated agriculture.
• Agriculture in the economic development of Iran.
• The US Agricultural Food Policy and Production .
• Pesticides usage on agricultural products in California.

• An analysis of economic efficiency in agriculture. A lot of research has been done on the question of economic efficiency in agriculture. However, it does not mean there is no place for your study. You have to read a lot of secondary sources to see where your arguments can fit.

🤝‍Economic Sociology

• Theory, approach, and method in economics sociology.
• Economic sociology of capitalism. While economists believe in the positive effect capitalism has on the economy, the social effect is quite different. The “economic” part of the issue has been studied a lot. However, the sociology of it has been not. This thesis can be very intriguing to read.
• Political Economy and Economic Sociology.
• Gender and economic sociology .
• Progress, sociology, and economics.
• Data analysis in economics, sociology, environment .
• Economic sociology as a way to understand the human mind.
• Economic sociology of money.
• Economics, sociology, and psychology of security.
• Major principles of economic sociology. In the past decade, economic sociology became an increasingly popular field. Mainly due to it giving a new view on economics, human mind, and behavior. Besides, it explores relationships between politics, law, culture, and gender.

📚 The List of Ph.D. Topics in Economics

If you decide to go to grad school to do your Masters, you will likely end up getting a Ph.D. as well. So, with this plan in mind, think about a field that interests you enough during your Masters. Working with the same topic for both graduate degrees is easier and more effective.

This list of Ph.D. Topics in Economics can help you identify the areas you can work on.

• Occupational injuries in Pakistan and its effect on the economy. Injuries are the leading cause of the global burden of disability. Globally, Pakistan was ranked 9th populated country with a large number of unskilled workers. In this dissertation, consider the link between occupational injuries and their effects on the economy.
• The study of the Philippines’ economic development.

• Financial derivatives and climate change .
• Econometric Analysis of Financial Markets.
• Islamic Banking and Financial Markets .
• Health economics and policy in the UK.
• Health insurance: rationale and economic justification. In this dissertation, students can find different ways to explain and justify health insurance. Starting to philosophical to purely economic grounds. In the past years, there was a lot of discussion regarding the healthcare system for all. What are some of the economic benefits of that?
• Colombian economy, economic growth, and inequality.
• Benefits of mergers and acquisitions in agribusiness.
• Methods to measure financial risks when investing in Africa.
• The significance of financial economics in understanding the relationship between a country’s GDP and NDP.
• Network effects in cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrencies are not new anymore. However, it is still an original subject for a dissertation. Students can decide to choose several crypto coins and evaluate the importance of the network effect. This effect is particularly significant for Bitcoin. Explain why.
• The comparison of the Chinese growth model with the American growth model.
• An economic justification versus political expediency.
• Pollution Externalities Role in Management Economics .

📝 How to Select an Economics Thesis Topic

As your academic journey is coming to an end, it’s time to pick the right topic for your thesis. The whole academic life you were preparing to undertake this challenge.

Here is the list of six points that will help you to select an economics thesis topic:

• Make sure it is something you are genuinely interested in. It is incredibly challenging to write something engaging if you are not interested in the topic. So, choose wisely and chose what excites you.
• Draw inspiration from the previous student’s projects. A great place to start is by looking at what the previous students wrote. You can find some fresh ideas and a general direction.
• Ask your thesis advisor for his feedback. Most probably, your thesis advisor supervised many students before. They can be a great help too because they know how to assess papers. Before meeting with your professor, do some basic research, and understand what topic is about.
• Be original, but not too much. You do not want to spend your time writing about a project that many people wrote about. Your readers will not be interested in reading it, but your professors as well. However, make sure you do not pick anything too obscure. It will leave you with no secondary sources.
• Choose a narrow and specific topic. Not only will it allow you to be more original, but also to master a topic. When the issue is too broad, there is just too much information to cover in one thesis.
• Go interdisciplinary. If you find yourself interested in history, philosophy, or any other related topic, it can help you write an exceptional thesis in economics. Most of your peers may work on pure economics. Then, the interdisciplinary approach can help you to stand out among them.

Thank you for reading the article to the end! We hope this list of economics thesis topics ideas could help you to gather your thoughts and get inspired. Share it with those who may find it useful. Let us know what you think about it in the comment section below.

🔗 References

• Economics Thesis Topics List: Seminars Only
• How To Pick A Topic For Your Economics Research Project Or Master’s Thesis: INOMICS, The Site for Economists
• What Do Theses and Dissertations Look Like: KU Writing Center, the University of Kansas
• Writing Economics: Robert Neugeboren with Mireille Jacobson, University of Harvard
• Economics Ph.D. Theses: Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School, IDEAS_RePEc
• World Economic Situation and Prospects 2018: United Nations
• Undergraduate Honors Theses: Department of Economics, University of California, Berkeley
• Economics Department Dissertations Collection: Economics Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst
• Topics for Master Theses: Department of Economics, NHH, Norwegian School of Economics
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The dilemma I faced in getting Thesis proposal for my M Phil programme is taken away. Your article would be a useful guide to many more students.Thank you for your guidance.

Thanks for the feedback, John! Your opinion is very important for us!

I wants it for msc thesis

These are very helpful and concise research topics which I have spent days surfing the internet to get all this while. Thanks for making research life experience easier for me. Keep this good work up.

Thank you, Idris!

Glad to hear that! Thank you for your feedback, Idris!

Excellent research

For research

A very well written, clear and easy-to-read article. It was highly helpful. Thank you!

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This page contains automatically translated content.

The unit of Environmental and Behavioral Economics supervises Bachelor and Master theses. You can apply for an advertised topic or submit your own research proposal. Own proposals must be related to the research focus of the unit and already contain a specific research question and description of the methodology. Please note that specific requirements apply to the preparation of theses and possible topics. Under "Assignment of topics and supervision" you will find general information on the assignment of theses. Under "Requirements and topics" you will find information on specific requirements as well as currently advertised topics. 

Assignments of topics and supervision: Bachelor and Master theses

The topic of your thesis should be related to the unit’s research focus areas. You can apply for one of the open topics or suggest a topic of your own. If you choose an open topic, please directly contact the supervisor mentioned in the topic description. In case you want to suggest a topic yourself or if you have general questions, please feel free to contact Marcel Lumkowsky .

2. Assignment

After you have discussed your topic with your prospective supervisor, you can hand in your formal application. The application must contain the following elements:

• Proposal The proposal contains a maximum of 2 pages. It includes the background and motivation of your thesis and formulates a clear research question that you intend to answer within the thesis. In addition, it includes a detailed description of the methodological approach you intend to use. For quantitative research, please outline the methodological fundamentals as well as available data. In case of theoretical or literature-based research, the relevant literature in particular must be described.
• Structure of the thesis Briefly outline the structure of your thesis. The length of the sections and subsections should reflect their importance within the thesis. Do not include more than three structural levels.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Overview of courses and grades of your current study program
• Contact sheet

3. Revision of the proposal

After consultation with us, a revision of the proposal and the structure may be necessary. After the successful revision of the proposal the first examiner will officially register the thesis at the examination office.

4. Registration

After the official registration of your thesis at the examination office, you will have to complete your thesis within the frame set by your examination regulations. You will receive a letter with information about the registration and deadline of your thesis from the examination office.

Requirements and topics: Bachelor thesis

Bachelor  thesis Requirements:

• Successful completion of a course offered by our department.
• Good ability to systematically research, obtain and analyze scientific literature (mostly in English)

In addition, further specific prerequisites may apply to individual topics. The prerequisites must be fulfilled at the time the topic is assigned.

For your own topic suggestions, please note the following guidelines:

• In Bachelor theses, questions are possible that are answered exclusively with the help of a literature review. Please note that you should already name a very concrete question that represents the basis for the literature review. It is not sufficient to mention only a general keyword or phenomenon (e.g., loss aversion or polarization) as a possible topic. Empirical work is also possible in the context of a Bachelor thesis. In particular, replications of published experiments or econometric analyses are possible.

Currently, the following topics for Bachelor theses are advertised: 

Literature review on interventions to reduce meat consumption (Bachelor)

In the past, the following topics were studied in Bachelor  theses: 

• Motivationale Auswirkungen und Potenziale von Gamification-Methoden im Kontext von dezentralen Arbeitsmodellen
• Welche Auswirkungen hatte die Covid-19 Pandemie auf die Lebensmittelverschwendung der Haushalte?
• Online vs. Labor – Eine vergleichende Analyse der Umgebung in der experimentellen Ökonomie
• Der Einfluss der Illusion of Control und des Near-Miss Effekts auf das Glücksspielverhalten von Individuen
• Do people accept nudging?
• Einfluss verhaltensökonomischer Interventionen auf das Recyclingverhalten bei Plastik: Eine systematische Literaturrecherche
• Natürliche Feldexperimente in Zusammenarbeit mit karitativen Organisationen: Ein Literaturüberblick über Gegenstand und Ergebnisse der Forschung seit dem Jahr 2010
• Replikationsstudie „Beeinflussen verbale Nudges die Entscheidung der Verbraucher für nachhaltige Mode?“
• Der Anker-Effekt im Hinblick auf das Fällen von Kaufentscheidungen
• Tap water versus bottled water consumption: Motivational factors and the impact of environmental information on intended behavior
• How can food waste nudges change consumer behavior and how can they be improved? A systematic literature review
• Does provision of information influence the intended bottled water consumption?
• Do younger generations drink less bottled water?
• Ein Stups in die richtige Richtung? - Die Wirksamkeit und Legitimität von Nudging im Kontext des Energieverbrauchs
• Wirtschaftliche Folgen der Ausbreitung der pazifischen Auster im Wattenmeer
• Nachhaltigkeit in der Küche – Ein Vergleich der Treibhausgasemissionen von veganer und omnivorer Ernährung
• Mit Carbon Capture aus der Klimakrise?
• Ökonomische Bedeutung invasiver Arten am Beispiel des Waschbären
• Unethical Workplace Behavior
• Transboundary Cooperation: A Look at International River Treaties
• Plastic Bag Consumption - Governmental and Behavioral Approaches to Reduce the Amount of Plastic Bags
• Pro-Environmental Behavior Spillovers
• A collection of views on geoengineering

Requirements and topics: Master thesis

Master  thesis Requirements:

• Successful completion of a course offered by our department (at Master level)
• Good ability to systematically research, obtain and analyze scientific literature (mostly in English)
• Successful completion of a course with econometric content (including exercise with statistical software) or of the course "Quantitative Methods of Experimental Economics"
• In Master theses, it is mandatory to conduct one's own quantitative empirical analysis. Data can stem from own data collection or publicly available data. In the case of own research proposals, the research question must be as concrete as possible; in addition, information on methodology and data should be provided. Topics based on purely qualitative data collection (e.g., interviews) cannot be submitted.

Currently, the following topics for Master theses are advertised: 

• There are currently no topics available. 

In the past, the following topics were studied in Master theses: 

• Impact of the livelihood diversification on behaviour - based on a resource extraction game with fishers located in Uganda
• How to get people to use ashtrays – field experimental evidence on the impact of gamification and information to reduce cigarette butt littering
• Peak-end rule: The evaluation of pleasurable and unpleasurable experiences
• Comparative analysis of values and pro-environmental behavior in Germany and Armenia
• Risk attitudes and compliance behavior of small-scale fishermen
• Terminology change and voluntary climate action: A field experimental analysis of the effect of word choice on contributions
• Green nudge intervention to reduce meat consumption at the university restaurant
• Can green nudges help reduce retail food waste? A survey experiment on consumer behavior in Germany
• Cooperation and strategy choice in the infinitely repeated Prisoner's Dilemma when players can cheat
• Examining German Millennials’ purchase intention towards sustainably packed cosmetic products 
• Social norms, observability and food choices 
• How do years of experience and place identity of Tanzanian fishers at Lake Victoria influence self-reported compliance behavior? 
• Der Effekt von Informationen und sozialen Normen auf den Konsum von Trinkwasser aus PET-Einwegflaschen - Ergebnisse eines Survey-Experiments 
• The effect of knowledge about health and environmental impacts of bottled water on consumption - Results from survey data 
• The reframing of climate change as a health problem and its influence on the acceptance of the CO2 price in Germany 
• Conspicuous Vegetarianism – Experimental Evidence on Observability, Information and Sustainable Behavior 
• The Role of Nudges in Changing Consumer’s Behavior Toward Energy Efficiency 
• Economic Preferences and Corruption: An empirical Analysis with the Global Preference Survey 
• Using Normative Influence to Promote Pro-Environmental Behavioral Change: A Cross-Cultural Perspective 
• The Link between Time Preferences, First Language, Savings Behaviour and Health 
• Cooperation and Strategy Use in the infinitely repeated Prisoner's Dilemma: An experimental Investigation 
• The First Commitment Period of the Kyoto Protocol: Compliance or Defiance 
• Strenght in numbers: On competition and resources of resilience in women and men 
• Does competition increase cheating behavior in teenagers? 
• Spenden für Klimaschutz: Feldexperiment zum Spendenverhalten von KinobesucherInnen für Klimaschutz in ihrem Kino 
• Explaining Fishery decision of fisherman in the multispecies fishery of Lake Victoria 
• Perception of 2C target 
• Experimental Investigations in Economics of Discrimination 
• Die Bedeutung von Step Returns: Eine Meta-analyse von Public Good Games mit einem Grenzwert 
• How Conditional and Prestigious Thank-you Gifts Impact Giving 
• Factors that affect the views of climate negotiators 
• Common Pool Resource Games - A Meta-Analysis 
• Competitiveness and honesty of left-behind children in China: a lab in the field experiment 
• Cheating to Win or Cheating to Keep Up: Online Experiment 
• Views of Climate Negotiators - An empirical analysis 
• Guidelines for writing Bachelor or Master Theses - PDF 404,34 KB (opens in a new window)
• Principles of Good Scientific Practice for Writing Scientific Theses - PDF 54,30 KB (opens in a new window)
• Notes on data protection for empirical and experimental theses - PDF 60,39 KB (opens in a new window)

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Graduate Theses

An analysis of cover crops and yield risk: a parametric moment based approach, demand for information by u.s. southwest wildland fire managers, economic analysis of groundwater use patterns and environmental justice considerations, farm adoption of computer technology, the effect of extreme weather on mortality: evidence from the united states, the spatial and dynamic patterns of climate variability and change in the united states, variable selection in economic applications of remotely sensed weather data: evidence from the lsms-isa, commodity price effects on agricultural land values in wisconsin, crop remix farmer’s crop choice in response to covid-19 evidence from burkina faso, eating patterns and weight status: evidence from the american time use survey.

• Startpage SLU
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• Master's programmes
• Environmental Economics and Management

Environmental Economics and Management MSc in Business and Economics

Programme information.

How do we find solutions to the world’s growing environmental problems? Learn how to answer this question (and more) in this international programme that is a perfect match if you’re interested in economic issues and would like to focus on the environment, natural resources management and sustainable development.  

Topics covered in this Master’s programme include biological resources, value chains and various policy instruments, giving you the possibility to specialise your knowledge to gain a Master’s degree in either business administration or economics.  

As a graduated economist with a profile in environmental and natural resources you will have adequate knowledge to gain employment in industry, the media, consultancy firms, authorities, international organisations and policy agencies. You will also be well equipped to continue your studies towards a PhD.  

FACTS & REQUIREMENTS

Tuition Fees: Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are required to pay application and tuition fees. First semester: SEK 62500 Total: SEK 250000

Application deadline for international students: 2024-01-15 Application deadline for Swedish students: 2024-04-15

Study location: Uppsala Pace of study: Full-time Teaching form: On-campus Application code for Swedish students: 81016 Application code for international students: 81030

Admission to the Environmental Economics and Management – Master’s programme requires a first-cycle qualification comprising 180 credits and including: - studies comprising 90 credits within business administration for specialisation business administration or - studies comprising 90 credits within economics for specialisation economics. The qualification must also include at least 5 credits of mathematics and 5 credits of statistics; or 15 credits of statistics. Two specialisations are available on this programme, and the constituent courses have different specific entry requirements. The specialization business administration requires a specialization in that subject at first-cycle level. The specialisation economics requires a specialization in that subject at first-cycle level. Applicants with the equivalent qualifications obtained by means of a degree from another country, or with the equivalent knowledge obtained in some other way, may also be regarded as fulfilling the specific entry requirements. This programme is taught in English. The applicant must further have a level of English equivalent to upper secondary school English, called English 6. An applicant with a first-cycle qualification from SLU comprising 180 credits automatically fulfils this requirement. Special rules apply for applicants with qualifications from one of the Nordic countries and some English-speaking countries. Specific requirements apply for admission to the individual courses included in the programme.

Degree awarded on completion of the programme

Upon completion of the programme, the degree of Master of Science is awarded. Other general qualifications may be awarded, provided that the requirements for them are fulfilled. More information can be found in SLU´s degree regulations.

Students who fulfil the qualification requirements for a degree will be issued a degree certificate upon request. The degree certificate will specify the qualification as Degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a Major in Business Administration or with a Major in Economics .

Degree requirements

A degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a major in business administration is awarded to students who fulfil the course requirements (courses with a Pass grade) of 120 credits, of which at least 90 credits at second-cycle level, according to the following:

• at least 30 credits of courses with specialised study in the main field business administration (A1N; A1F),
• at least 30 credits from an independent project (degree project) in the main field business administration (A2E).

In addition, the student must hold a degree of Bachelor or professional qualification of at least 180 credits or an equivalent qualification.

A degree of Master of Science in Business and Economics (120 credits) with a major in economics is awarded to students who fulfil the course requirements (courses with a Pass grade) of 120 credits, of which at least 90 credits at second-cycle level, according to the following:

• at least 30 credits of courses with specialised study in the main field economics (A1N; A1F),
• at least 30 credits from an independent project (degree project) in the main field economics (A2E).

More information about what supporting documentation is required: https://www.slu.se/en/education/application-and-admission/supporting-documents/

Admission:  There are two admission rounds for this Master's programme. The first admission round is open to all international applicants at www.universityadmissions.se . SLU strongly encourage all international students to apply in this first admission round.

Depending on their major of either business administration or economics, students will develop understanding and insight into local and global use and management of natural resources. They will learn to address complex problems from both an industrial and societal perspective, with an interest in understanding and promoting sustainable development.

Students specialising in business administration study environmental management, production economics, quantitative finance, strategic management, environmental risk management and accounting as well as ethics.

Students specialising in economics will develop an understanding of micro economic theory, environmental policy, econometrics, policy evaluation and sustainable development. Part of the programme is arranged jointly with Uppsala University.

Visit the student pages to find out more.

Upon completion of the programme, students will possess the skills needed for addressing environmental issues in national and international businesses and organisations, government agencies and other public sector organisations. There are ample employment opportunities for economists specialising in environmental and natural resources in industry, the media, consultancy firms, authorities, international organisations and policy agencies. Students will also fulfil the requirements necessary to be able to apply for doctoral studies.

Degree awarded

Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in Business and Economics with a Major in Business Administration, or with a Major in Economics.

PROGRAMME COURSES

Course schedule Environmental Economics and Management 2024/2025.

Programme syllabus

Programme Code: NM005 Finalized by: Utbildningsnämnden, 2007-05-03 Revised: 2024-01-12 Revised By: Programnämnden för utbildning inom naturresurser och jordbruk SLU ID: SLU.ua.2024.3.1.1-90 Education plan valid from: Autumn 2024 Responsible programme board: The programme board for education in natural resources and agriculture

Entry Requirements

Admission to the Environmental Economics and Management – Master’s programme requires a first-cycle qualification comprising 180 credits and including:

studies comprising 90 credits within business administration for specialisation business administration or

studies comprising 90 credits within economics for specialisation economics.

The qualification must also include at least 5 credits of mathematics and 5 credits of statistics; or 15 credits of statistics.

Two specialisations are available on this programme, and the constituent courses have different specific entry requirements. The specialization business administration requires a specialization in that subject at first-cycle level. The specialisation economics requires a specialization in that subject at first-cycle level.

Applicants with the equivalent qualifications obtained by means of a degree from another country, or with the equivalent knowledge obtained in some other way, may also be regarded as fulfilling the specific entry requirements.

This programme is taught in English. The applicant must further have a level of English equivalent to upper secondary school English, called English 6. An applicant with a first-cycle qualification from SLU comprising 180 credits automatically fulfils this requirement. Special rules apply for applicants with qualifications from one of the Nordic countries and some English-speaking countries.

Specific requirements apply for admission to the individual courses included in the programme.

Programme description

Master students on the Environmental Economics and Management – Master’s programme study theoretical, methodological as well as applied knowledge within the fields of environmental economics and environmental management, respectively. The programme offers insights into environmental problems and provides the students with tools for evaluating such problems from different perspectives. The teaching prepares students for positions within businesses and organisations requiring decisionmaking skills based on an understanding of natural resources, environmental issues and sustainable development. The programme also prepares students to continue their studies as doctoral students.

Courses in the programme

Main fields of study FÖ=Business administration, NA=Economics, LB=Agricultural science, MX=Environmental science, BEM=Bioeconomy management, SBV=Forestry science, LU=Rural development

Specialisation: Business administration Year 1 Leadership and entrepreneurship in sustainable development, 15 credits, FÖ, A1N Sustainable marketing in the biobased sector, 15 credits, FÖ, A1N  Research methods for business studies, 7,5 credits, FÖ, A1N Innovation and sustainability, 7,5 credits, FÖ, A1N Value chains and networks in the bio-economy, 15 credits, FÖ, A1N Year 2 The global forest sector, 7,5 credits, BEM/SBV, A1N  Resources, economics and markets, 7,5 credits, NA/SBV, A1N Sustainability and financial reporting, 15 credits, FÖ, A1N Master thesis in business administration, A2E, 30 credits, FÖ, A2E Specialisation: Economics Year 1 Production economics, 15 credits, FÖ/NA A1N  Analytical methods, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N Experimental methods for economics and business studies, 7,5 credits, NA/FÖ, A1N Macroeconomic theory, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N Econometric theory, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N Applied econometrics, 7,5 credits, NA, A1N Policy for food system sustainability, 7,5 credits, NA A1F Environmental policy, 7,5 credits, NA/MX, A1N Year 2 Cost benefit analysis of agricultural and environmental projects, 7,5 credits, NA/MX, A1N Management of biological resources, 7,5 credits, NA/MX, A1N Economic growth and sustainable development, 7,5 credits, NA, A1F Topics in agricultural economics for sustainable development, 7,5 credits, NA, A1F Master thesis in economics, A2E, 30 credits, NA, A2E

Additional courses Research methods – master level distance course, 7,5 credits, FÖ, A1N

The courses offered may change during the course of the programme. Decisions on the courses offered are taken well in advance of the next academic year.

For each course, there is a course syllabus providing more detailed course information. Information on when courses are offered is available on the SLU student web.

General objectives

The general objectives for first- and second-cycle courses and programmes are specified in the Swedish Higher Education Act (Chapter 1, Sections 8–9).

Objectives for a Degree

In accordance with the annex to the Ordinance for the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, for a degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall:

Knowledge and understanding

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Qualification Requirements

Otherinformation.

General regulations for first- and second-cycle courses and programmes

For more information on semester dates, examination and credit transfer, see the Regulations for education at Bachelor´s and Master´s level available on the SLU student web.

Possibilities for further studies

Students who complete the programme and are awarded a degree of Master have the option to continue their studies at doctoral level.

Student life

Studying at SLU is not just about attending lectures and seminars. It’s also about newfound friends, sports, fun parties, and exciting experiences. It’s about creating memories that will last a lifetime.

How to apply

Sweden's unique application system makes it possible to apply for programmes and courses at different universities on the same application.

Fees and scholarships

Who has to pay application and tuition fees? What is the cost of living in Sweden? Read more about these and other questions regarding tuition fees and scholarships.

Chat with our students

Connect with our international student ambassadors and explore their blogs for a firsthand glimpse into their journeys as students in Sweden and at SLU.

The Swedish Way

Are you on your way to Sweden and wondering what it’s like to study here? Well, get ready to question the way things have always been done. Studying in Sweden comes with critical thinking, freedom and responsibility.

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Campus Uppsala

Uppsala is Sweden’s fourth largest city, and the hub of SLU’s educational activities. Located just outside of the city centre, SLU’s Uppsala campus is spacious, leafy and picturesque. It is a fitting setting for Sweden’s only agricultural university, and possibly the most research-intensive of all universities. With two universities located in Uppsala, students can enjoy a lively, dynamic and stimulating atmosphere. 

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