Historically, much of environmental economics research has focused on developed countries.  Given the variety of environmental issues that affect developing countries, it is crucial to understand what is occurring in these contexts as well.   Recognizing this, there is a rapidly growing body of empirical research at the intersection of environmental and development economics.   In this course we will cover some of the major topics addressed in the literature, the experimental methods applied in such research, and the policy implications of these results.  We will cover some of the key topics emerging in environmental and development economics, including clean water technologies, indoor air pollution, forests, industrial inspections, and emissions trading. 

Students will not only learn about the emerging results, but also the empirical methods used to implement the studies.  As we go progress through the semester, students will learn about some of the key components of designing an experiment, including generating research questions, designing surveys, randomizing the sample population, and interpreting results.  Assignments will be to assist students in further understanding these components of evaluation.