Time Schedule:
Joseph H Cook
PB AF 595
Seattle Campus
Examines various topics of public importance in environmental policy and management. Integrates the political, managerial, and economic dimensions of these issues.
Class description
This course will examine the economics and policy aspects of providing water supply and sanitation (W&S) services in developing countries. We will begin with a review of the state of water and sanitation services in different parts of the world and then discuss of the goals (e.g. MDG 7) and objectives in trying for improvements on the situation. We will spend several sessions focusing on three broad categories of benefits from water and sanitation improvements: economic, environmental and health. After a brief introduction to new and old W&S technologies, we will move on to aspects of the planning process, including institutions & stakeholders, demand- and supply-driven approaches, community participation models, and a discussion of the role that the private sector in providing W&S. How do we finance W&S infrastructure? We will discuss whether water is an economic good, look at various approaches to designing water tariffs and pricing policies, and examine approaches for protecting the poor. Finally, we look at the “way ahead”, including the question of how we can measure progress in meeting our goals, the comparison between W&S investments and investments in vaccines against water-borne diseases, and the issue of water scarcity and global climate change.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
