Program overview
This major is a branch of economics that focuses on the economic principles behind population changes, resource utilization, and environmental protection. Simply put, it's about using economic tools to balance real-world challenges like "what to do with a growing population," "scarce resources," and "environmental degradation." Core courses include Population Economics, Resource Economics, Environmental Economics, Sustainable Development Theory, Ecological Economics, along with quantitative methods and policy analysis tools. Who is it for? If you're interested in topics like climate change, energy crises, and urban development, and enjoy thinking through data and models, this major will suit you well. Chinese universities have unique advantages in this field—for example, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, and Peking University often integrate real cases from China's rapid urbanization, resource shortages, and environmental policies into their research. Courses use plenty of local data, showing you how theory is applied on the ground.