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My review might be colored by the fact that I got this book for one of my favorite classes, taught by one of my favorite professors, in my entire three year Master's program. I remember the book being easy enough to follow though, and I really appreciated that, although it was a bit older and maybe a bit dated, that the professor felt that he was able to draw from it what was really necessary/important/the basics (the Kuznets Curve jumps to mind, for example) and sort of gloss over the less pertinent or out of date parts. This way, I was able to buy this book used on Amazon for literally just a few dollars, rather than being forced into buying the flashiest and newest textbook that he could have chosen for $120 or $150, which always struck me as a total rip-off, in general. Again, part of that 5 stars really belongs to the professor and his didactic dexterity, but in general with higher education already being ludicrously expensive, it's nice to be able to get good information at a very low cost. At the end of the day, all books end up out dated anyway..

Great book

good product

This is the primarily used textbook for Environmental Economics only because it is one of FEW books on the topic. This book is full of errors: grammatical, mathematical, mispellings, etc.. My professor was constantly going off book because it was so bad. The examples were unhelpful and the book is difficult to follow. The author chooses great topics but doesn't really go through them well. The math is confusing and the book is clearly written by someone to smart to understand what undergraduate students need. The book needs serious editing, a clear solution manual, and online resources for students and professors. Professors are better off making their own text or course packets to achieve the goals of the course.

It has some typos, and you need to have a solid microeconomics background to get through. But it is an excellent source to know the subject and its technicalities. It states the downsides of each methodology fairly, so you get the whole picture.

Everything as promised

Actual rating - 4.5 stars.

I have read this book as a must-read for the Environmental Economics course I had taken in the beginning of the last semester.
I think this book is a great choice for students that are interested in the topic. I didn't know what to expect in the beginning of the course, but it turned up to be surprisingly interesting and important - with the good help of this book.

I have to say I've learned a lot from reading this book, and that it has been a pleasant experience. Professor Kolstad has really accomplished a commendable achievement in writing a fluent, methodical and thorough book about Environmental Economics, nearly anyone can read and understand .

I write this as a student who hasn't read other works on the subject but nevertheless feels this book has many pluses as an introductory tool:

- The author makes far-reaching efforts to explain nearly every statement he proclaims (although announcing the book is despite announcing the book for persons that have taken an Intermediate Microeconomics courses in the beginning). These explanations are useful as reminders of forgotten material, excluding the need to use fundamental books for better understanding.

- Significant number of chapters include only a moderate use of mathematical tools. This may serve as a considerable help for the layman who is intimidated by many mathematical formulas,
and just wishes to expand horizons.

I believe the following points characterize many tutorials, but feel it's important to note them anyway;

- Every figure the author uses is accompanied with detailed explanations that improve the reader's ability to understand the sketch above is and the whole subject in the process.

- Every chapter includes an introduction and a summery:
The first one connects the upcoming chapter to the previous one and assists in understanding the place it will take in the big picture of things.
The second one summarizes the major issues dealt with in the chapter. This method organizes the material and construct an understandable structure of knowledge.

The one last thing is the appearance of questions and problems in the end of each chapter aiming at helping the reader to check out his understandin - but with the irritating absence of answers and solutions. What's the point in composing personal examinations without any achievable, certified solutions? I recommend authors to attach a booklet/extra pages with the correct answers, along with a full description of the way to the solution plus explanations.

Excluding the last disadvantage, I'm most pleased with this book, and would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the environment, economy and its protection problems.

**September 2014 updates: A reader has commented the a teachers' booklet exists - get it!

This is a TERRIBLE book. Instructors should avoid this book at all cost. I teach this subject to senior economics majors at a large state university, and I made the mistake of choosing this book as a basis of my lectures. Bad idea!

It is FILLED with errors in the graphs - typographical errors and errors in logic. Over and over, I pull my hair out trying to figure out what he is saying, only to conclude that he's WRONG.

His explanations also don't make sense. And even when they do, he approaches his main point from such weird angles that it is difficult for me to follow, and virtually impossible for me to distill his observation into something that an undergrad can understand.

There are lots of well-written competing books (Tom Tietenberg's, for example). Do yourself a huge favor and pick one of those, and avoid Kolstad.