Energy Economics OpenCourseWare: A Free Online Bachelor Level Class on Energy Economics by MIT

Published Feb 06, 2009

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Energy has become one of the leading concerns in the global economy. 'Energy Economics,' an online self-study course from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, approaches this concern from the perspectives of economic theory and empirical observation. This undergraduate course was offered by the Department of Economics at MIT and is now free to the public as part of the OpenCourseWare program.

Energy Economics: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Undergraduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
No Yes No

Energy Economics: Course Description

Many factors influence the changing supply and demand for energy, whether the energy source is oil, coal, electricity, natural gas, nuclear power or any other means by which an industrialized nation powers its economy. 'Energy Economics' examines energy demands from both individual and industrial consumers as well as the capacity of the energy supply to meet those demands. Professor Paul Joskow taught this lecture course on the MIT campus. OpenCourseWare students may access an extensive reading list for the course. The readings cover topics such as the taxation of energy, exhaustible resources versus renewable power, the oil shortage, energy efficiency and the regulation or deregulation of energy prices. At MIT, this course was part of the Bachelor of Science in Economics program, although the content is also applicable for graduate students. The suggested prerequisite for 'Energy Economics' is any introductory to intermediate microeconomics course; several microeconomics courses are also available through MIT's OpenCourseWare.

A reading list as well as problem set assignments with solutions may be downloaded for this OpenCourseWare. To access these materials, visit the economics of energy course page.

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